10 Tips for reducing costs on holiday
16/06/2011
When you reach retirement age it’s more important than ever to be careful with your cash. Those who would like a holiday without breaking the bank this year are in luck; for cheap holidays 2011 things are looking good if you book with a low-cost airline.
When you’re on a tight budget, there are times when an annual holiday seems impossible. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the cost of going away considerably.
1. Book Early
Many airlines, particularly the low-cost carriers, offer good value for money, releasing their cheapest seats first. This means that you should aim to book your seats as soon as possible in order to bag the best deals.
The booking in advance philosophy also applies to the other aspects of your holiday. Booking your accommodation well in advance will give you more options; leaving everything until the last minute may mean compromising on room size, preferred dates and locations.
2. Juggle the Dates and Times
It can be possible to save a considerable amount of money by simply juggling your travel dates and times around a little. Generally speaking, weekend daytime flights are the most popular and therefore the most expensive. Choosing to fly midweek or late at night/early morning can often reduce costs by a substantial amount.
Those enjoying retirement can take full advantage of these discounts as there are no work holidays to consider. You’re also likely to benefit from a quieter destination during a midweek break, and a better (and possibly cheaper), choice of accommodation, as most tourist destinations are far busier on weekends.
3. Think Off-Peak
With no children to consider you can take advantage of cheaper travel prices outside of school holidays. The weeks immediately either side of the school summer holidays are often great value for a peak-time break.
Alternatively, there are many destinations that enjoy brilliant sunshine all year round. The Canary Islands for example, are only a short flight away and have much to offer in terms of off-peak breaks.
When you choose to holiday off-peak you’ll benefit from cheaper flights and accommodation, as well as a more relaxed and peaceful destination.
4. Use Review Sites
Getting great value for money doesn’t always mean taking the cheapest option. Before you book flights to a specific destination, resort or hotel, ensure that you research thoroughly to ensure you’re making the right choices.
Review websites are great as they allow you to read honest traveller accounts, and even see their genuine holiday snaps.
5. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Special Offers
Special offers such as ‘third night free’ or a percentage discount can reduce the total cost of your holiday significantly.
6. Location, location, location
Consider staying outside of main tourist hotspots in order to get the best deals on accommodation, as well as a quieter break.
7. Transfer Window
Don’t just jump into a taxi when you walk out of the airport. Take advantage of low-cost bus transfers, often run by your flight operator. Car-hire can also be a good option for those who want to travel around a lot.
8. Get More for Your Money
When changing Sterling into other currencies, shopping around is essential; the cheapest deals are rarely found on the high-street and most certainly not at the airport, so have a look online instead. Alternatively, the Post Office is usually a fairly good choice.
9. Eat Smart
Consider your dining options when booking your holiday. While some people may find all-inclusive to be great value for money, others will find the flexibility of self-catering a little better.
Those who like to enjoy eating out while on holiday should invest in a great guidebook, such as those written by Lonely Planet, and use it to hunt down the best value eateries.
10. Enjoy! (On a budget)
Once on holiday it can be easy to get carried away with the holiday spirit (or spirits!), and throw budget caution to the wind. However, nothing spoils the memory of a good holiday more than returning from it penny-poor. So, enjoy yourself by all means, but don’t undo all the hard work you did securing the best value deal.