10 Tips on How to Save Money When Booking Your Next Holiday

28% of the UK plan to book their holidays about 7 – 12 months before the travel date. The highest bookings occur in January (post-Christmas blues), with bookings levelling out in February and March but remaining 10% higher than the rest of the year. Although travel restrictions have been dropped due to a 25% price hike in holiday prices, British families may decide not to travel abroad and instead remain in the UK. However, before we all give up and decide that going aboard is far too expensive, there are plenty of valuable tips and tricks on the video streaming platform TikTok that could help save those few extra pennies. With this in mind, discount expert Nick Drewe at WeThrift has revealed some top tips that will help you save money when booking your next holiday.

So if you’re ready for that blast of heat to hit you as you walk off the plane, here are some easy ways to save some cash this year: 

10 Tips to save money when booking a holiday

1. Check a few different airlines for flight deals

When booking a holiday, it may feel like the easier option to book flights, hotels and transfers as a package, but by checking comparison websites like Skyscanner, you may find you can secure a better deal on your flights. 

Top tip: Download the Chrome extension ‘CheaperThere’. When booking online through comparison sites, click on the extension to find the best price for the flight or hotel. 

2. Consider a non-direct flight 

Though it may seem a bit more inconvenient, flying non-direct and stopping through another country can be a great way to save a little bit of money. Usually, this will be for a couple of hours, then take you to your connecting country. The great thing about choosing this option is that flights are typically a lot cheaper, and you have the chance to see another country on the way to your destination. 

Tip: Turn your search mode to private or incognito. Booking sites will often track your browsing habits to see how often you check rates for particular dates and may increase the price of holiday packages, so you feel the urgency to book. 

3. Stay in hostels 

Not all accommodation has to be expensive. It’s important to remember that when you go on holiday, you will spend most of your time exploring, especially when you’re on a city break.

So, unless you’ve opted for a poolside villa holiday, it’s an idea to consider the cheaper accommodation option of a hostel. If you don’t want to share a room with someone else, there are often options for a private room – which can still be cheaper than a hotel. 

4. Check for group discounts 

Are you travelling as a group when you go on holiday next year? If the answer is yes, it’s always worth checking for group discounts that will make your trip cheaper. 

Sharing rooms and group bookings will often lower costs, so if you’ve always wanted that fun trip away, grab your friend and enjoy the sunshine together. 

5. Book your Holiday in advance 

Though it may seem quite obvious, the best way to save money when booking a holiday is to book far in advance or at the very last minute. 

If you are pretty flexible with dates, then seeing something last minute might work in your favour; however, if you are set on dates, then your best option is to book it as far in advance as possible to get the best deal.

6. Be flexible with dates 

It’s always the best idea to stay off-season when booking a holiday, as school holidays can often make things much more expensive. Not only that but going on holiday between July and September can often mean there will be kids and families around, which will make excursions a lot busier and potentially harder to book. 

Top tip: Use Google Flights for cheap holiday inspiration. Click ‘Explore Destinations’ to suggest when and where the most affordable flights are from your chosen destination. 

7. Try a staycation instead of going abroad

While trips abroad have been off the cards for a while, that doesn’t mean you can’t still holiday in the UK for a cheaper trip. The UK is home to some of the most beautiful locations, including Cornwall, which has a vast array of stunning beaches that will make you feel like you are on a warm trip abroad. 

8. Search for travel insurance deals 

If you plan to go abroad this year, you might consider where you can get the best travel insurance deals. At the very least, you should always make sure you have travel insurance before going to another country so you don’t have to pay for additional treatments while you are away. 

9. Get a sightseeing or city pass

While you are away, if you are planning to visit tourist attractions in the area, it is always worth checking to see if they do group passes.

Not only can this save you money, but you may be able to get a few attractions for the price of one, depending on where you book. Before opting for a city pass, ensure you know where you want to visit first to see whether using a multi-experience ticket is worth it. 

10. Keep within luggage allowances 

One way that could lead you to spend a little more than necessary is by not keeping within luggage allowances, whether the size of your carry-on or the weight of your suitcase when you get to the airport.

To avoid extra costs, check up on luggage allowances before you leave for the airport or invest in some luggage scales so that you can check you are within restrictions. 

Summary

If, like us, you find that the post-Christmas blues hit and the long January days fill you with dread, then even if you don’t book your holiday, you can still plan out when, where and how you will get there—seeing if there are any deals to be had. That could be the answer to how to save money when booking your next holiday and enjoying some summer sun.

Like what you see on our blog? Join our mailing list to receive emails with freebies, projects and exclusive content. You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. We value our reader’s support and would love it if you would share this post with your friends. 

[mailerlite_form form_id=9]