- Travel expert reveals the five ways travellers can save this Summer
- Being flexible, doing research, and planning ahead are key
For some holiday-goers, the school holidays is the only time throughout the year that they can travel.
Research has shown that almost six in 10 (58%) Brits plan to reduce their leisure-related spending (e.g., restaurants, cultural activities, gym membership) to save for their holiday, while more than half of people (54%) will delay major purchases prioritise travel.
With the summer holidays in full swing, Gavin Lapidus, Company Director at eShores, has shared six ways families and teachers alike can save money on their well-deserved holiday.
The six ways to save on Summer holidays:
- Flight dates are crucial
The first 2 weeks of August are peak travel times and are likely to be even more expensive. Flying at the weekend can also cost more so try and stick to midweek if the plans allow. Consider the very start or very end of the school holidays for better deals.
Extra tip: Try comparing different airport options
When booking, use the ‘add nearby airports’ filter to see if flying from or to a different airport could save you money. For example, flying out from a different UK airport than you usually would, or landing at a different airport near your destination, might be cheaper.
- Splash out on an airport lounge (yes, really)
Using an airport lounge might sound like an expensive luxury, but retreating from the chaos of the airport could actually save you £10 per person! If you’re waiting a while for your flight and are planning on having food and drinks at the airport, it could ultimately save you money. Pre-booking the lounge at Manchester Airport, for example, is £40.99 per adult, and includes freshly prepared food, unlimited tea, coffee and soft drinks, and a selection of wine, beers and soft drinks!
- Research your accommodation
Be prepared to do some research, it may be the case that booking the flight and hotel together as a package deal works out cheaper than booking them separate directly with the provider, or vice versa.
Some sites offer “free cancellation” meaning you can reserve a room and monitor for price drops. If the price drops, you can simply cancel your original booking and rebook again at the lower price (just make sure it’s before the cancellation deadline or you can get charged!).
Instead of bed and breakfast or the different board options, utilise self-catering meaning you can cook your own meals and save on dining out.
- Getting around
Avoid renting a car and where possible, use public transport. A lot of major cities have great metro/underground systems and are easily walkable.
Check with the local tourist office or with your accommodation to see if there are any bus routes that you can utilise. Renting a bike would be an affordable option as well, while allowing you the freedom to explore.
If you do need to rent a car, compare prices on online sites and always check for sneaky hidden charges.
- Activities and attractions
Depending on the destination, many major cities offer attraction passes where you can visit a variety of attractions at a discounted rate. This could potentially save a lot of money if there are multiple visitors who are planning on a lot of sightseeing.
If you’re maybe only looking to visit one attraction, or there is only one excursions or day trip that you want to do, booking online in advance usually allows you to save money.
It can also be helpful to look up free events in the local area by looking on tourist websites or local Facebook groups. Museums for example may offer free entry days or reduced prices for children.
- Everyday travel costs
Avoid eating near major tourist sites, instead try walking 5 or 10 minutes out of the town centre. Sometimes the best places are down a side alley and seem very unassuming, but these are some of the best places for food!
It’s also worth visiting the local supermarkets, bakeries, and food markets where you can find local produce at a more affordable price. Bring reusable water bottles too so you can fill up with water on the go.
Bonus: use apps and tools
Use multiple flight search engines to search for flights and have price alerts set up which will notify when the price drops for your preferred route.
Browser extension tools can also track flight prices, find deals, and search for coupon codes. Be sure to utilise social media too – join Facebook and Twitter groups as well as signing up to newsletters as companies may send discount codes.