Saving money on holiday can be tricky. You can easily get carried away and waste money on things you don’t really need. We’ve put together our top 10 thrifty travel tips to help you save some cash.
Make sure you don’t waste money by tipping when you don’t need to with our guide to tipping.
Photo by: Comugnero Silvana/Fotolia
Our thrifty travel tips
- Eat in local restaurants
- Go out of season
- Book your hire car with Economy Car Hire
- Travel on a weekday
- Consider a house swap
- Hire a large villa with friends and family
- Cut the luggage as much as you can
- Cut out the inflight extras
- Call in favours from old friends
- Avoid hotel breakfasts if not included
Avoid restaurants in touristy areas with menus in every language under the sun. Head off the beaten track to find the restaurants the locals eat in. You’ll get authentic cuisine, better prices, and a warm welcome.
Everyone knows July and August in the Mediterranean is peak season. Prices go up and it’s busy. Consider travelling in the shoulder season. You can get great deals in locations such as the Greek islands and Sicily if you go in April, May, or September.
This one doesn’t need an explanation. Simply book great value car hire with us.
As many newlyweds have discovered, a weekday wedding saves a fortune. The same can be said for a weekday departure. Travelling at weekends is usually more expensive so avoid if possible. Tick the “I’m flexible on dates” box to see your options, choose the best deal, and count the savings.
Photo by: Boris Stroujko/Fotolia
Whether you’re planning a trip abroad or a staycation, a house swap can be a great way to save money. Try www.houseexchange.org.uk and www.lovehomeswap.com, which are both great places to start.
Why not turn your holiday into a family trip? The larger the group, the larger the savings. A large villa in Provence with swimming pool, internet and satellite TV can cost as little as £175pp in peak season if you’re sharing with 9.
Most budget airlines charge fees for hold luggage. Simply take a carry-on bag to save money.
Flybe are great for this. They currently offer 3 prices on a one way ticket to suit your needs:
– The basic “Just Fly” price covers a ticket, a cabin bag, and Avios points.
– “Get More” allows a cabin bag, 20kg of hold luggage, changeable ticket, reserved seating, on the day flexibility, and Avios points.
– “All In” offers a fully changeable ticket, 40kg hold luggage, cabin bag, reserved seating, executive lounge access, on board snacks, and double Avios points.
The prices for the dates I’ve selected? £33.24, £57.24, and £182.74. Since I only need a seat on the plane, I can save £149.50 on the flight alone.
If you’re visiting Australia for example and know someone from Brisbane, get in touch. Simply ask if they can recommend places to go or if they’d like to be your guide. If all goes well they may even offer you their spare bed.
Photo by: Aleksei Potov/Fotolia
If breakfast isn’t included in the rate, find out how much it is before you sit down. The chance are you can get a continental breakfast round the corner for €3-4 instead of the €10 hotel breakfast.
What are your money saving travel tips?
Let us know your thrifty travel tips below. Make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest travel tips and news. Remember to sign up to our newsletter below for the latest deals.
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