Our 24/7 culture allows for greater freedom when holidaying. The ease of the internet means we can all be our own travel agent. But with so much choice, where does one start?
Establish the Budget
Identify how much money is in the pot. The smaller the budget, the more creative one has to get. This is also true if the holiday needs to be paid for in instalments. This does not necessarily mean that you must use a travel agent - although many of them can offer better deals for families - but does mean getting organised. For example, one month you can pay for flights or train tickets, the next month pay for accommodation. But whichever route you choose, remember that the total amount is inflexible.
Long-Term Plans
If you know where you want to go and you start planning early then the travel agent should be your first port of call. They can offer great family deals, including free child places and discounted theme park tickets which are not readily available elsewhere. Most major tour operators have extensive websites, which will calculate the cost as you search. You can save the sites in your favourites and get quotes sent to your email address. This can also be true of low cost travel. A little known secret among those with a holiday home is flights and train tickets are cheapest when they first come on sale and even peak times can be booked at extremely low prices.
Short-Term Plans
Those traveling at the last minute, price comparison websites come into their own, especially for flight-only deals and car hire. Travel Supermarket, holiday autos and booking.com all bring up great deals. Another way to save money is to stay in unconventional lodgings. If you have camping gear at your disposal then using campsites can save you a bundle. Alternatively, stay in a youth hostel. Forget the horror stories from yesteryear, youth hostels are a brilliant way to stick within your budget. The rooms can accommodate as few as two people and every hostel has full internet access.
Flexibility
Why not enjoy two smaller breaks rather than one big holiday? This could become a city break and a beach holiday, or a hiking trip and a history tour. The savvy traveller signs up for travel newsletters, to keep abreast of all the options available.
Incidentals
These can really hike up the cost of your holiday - and are often unnecessary. Planning is key. Buy everything you may need before you travel, keep all your holiday necessities in one place for use time and time again and take snacks and sandwiches to eat while you travel. Use cashback sites to find cheap holiday insurance and check exchange rates daily.
Finally, kick back and enjoy a well earned rest.
