In and Around Mag Aug19

Easy Ways To Save Money
ON YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAY
Summer holidays provide much-needed rest and
relaxation in the middle of our often-busy year
and may even be considered essential to our health
and wellbeing. They don’t need to cost the earth,
but how can you save money without detracting
from the enjoyment of this precious time away?
Here are a few tips to free up some extra spending money, or
cash to put towards next year’s getaway.
Negotiate on price
It’s possible to negotiate down your holiday price, particularly
if it’s last minute. Tour and hotel operators are likely to be open
to negotiation if it means they can fill the last few places on a
tour, or the remaining empty airline seats.
Also be aware that tour operators sell package holidays to
many different travel agents, so it’s a good idea to find out
the prices from two or three. You may be able to offer your
favoured travel agent the ‘opportunity’ to match the lower
price of a competitor.
Choose your travel times carefully
The times you travel can directly influence price so if you’re
able to fly during the night, for example, you may be able to
save some money. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are said to be
less popular for travelling when compared with Fridays and
over the weekend, so if you can go midweek it might be worth
it.
You can set up price alerts with a number of airlines or compare
prices across the board on websites such as Skyscanner,
Kayak, and Travel Supermarket. If you’re building your own
holiday, you might even find that buying two one-way tickets
is cheaper than a return.
Do you need to fly direct?
If you don’t need to fly directly to your ultimate destination,
taking an indirect flight can save you money, particularly in
the case of long-haul journeys. It does cost you more in time,
however, so this may not appeal to everyone.
If time isn’t an issue you could view the extra stop-off as a
holiday bonus, seeing a place you wouldn’t
normally have visited. Even if you’re only there
for a few hours you might be able to head into
the city for a while to enjoy a nice meal or take
in the sights.
Avoid the added flight extras
Flight extras such as extra legroom, on-board
meals and additional luggage allowances add
a considerable sum to your ‘cheap’ flight if
you’re not careful. Some airlines include these
elements in the advertised price, but beware
if you’re using a budget operator as they may
be added extras.
Streamlining your flight costs is an easy way
to save money, and if it’s a relatively short
journey it may not matter if you can’t choose
your own seats. You just need to be clear
about what you’re paying for when you book
so there are no nasty surprises when you
board the plane.
Combine airport hotel and parking
If you’re travelling early in the morning or
from an airport a long way from home, you may need to stay in
an airport hotel the night before. If so, you can save money by
combining the accommodation costs with car parking for the
duration of your holiday.
The hotel may arrange your parking, in which case it will often
be on-site, and there’s typically a free shuttle bus service to the
airport terminal. You may even get a breakfast included in the
deal so you can also save money on food at the airport.
Travel while you sleep
Travelling while you sleep is a great way to make savings on
the cost of your holiday. Whether you’re starting your journey
by train, coach or cross-channel ferry, overnight travel using
these methods can be considerably cheaper than booking a
hotel for the night.
Just be aware that a cabin on a cross-channel ferry might be
expensive when compared with sleeping on a reclining seat
or booking a budget hotel room. Coaches in particular are a
cheap method of travel, and if you’re in no rush you can see
lots of places in Europe for a fraction of the flight cost between
cities.
Independent excursions
The cost of excursions can be eye-watering, especially for a
family, so try organising your own days out to save money. You
may be able to buy admission tickets to attractions and events
before you go on holiday, and by booking transport locally
you’ll have a truly authentic experience.
If you’re unsure about making your own travel arrangements
when you’re there, you can always ask the hotel rep for
information about the trains and buses that run in your area.
The rep is there to help and should literally point you in the
right direction. You can then use the money you’ve saved for a
lovely meal out.
Going to different places and enjoying new experiences are
life-affirming, and can be more affordable than you think. Save
money on your summer holiday by driving down prices across
the board, whether that’s for an all-inclusive package deal or
an independently created journey of a lifetime.
by Ann Haldon
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