Think you can't afford a holiday? Try some of our ideas...
Summer is almost here and we all just want to get away for some rest and relaxation, but with the recent price rises and the credit crunch hurting our pockets it's looking impossible for some. But it doesn't have to be. If you're clever you can have a holiday on very little. Here are 50 ideas that can save you a lot of money in Britain or abroad. You probably have some of your own too, so do let everyone else know on our messageboards (in fact some already have). 50 ways to save
1. Use your credit card to get a free flight
If you can afford to pay off your credit card each month you will be rewarded by your company with cashback (souvenirs anybody?), points (new travel luggage) or airmiles. These are a great incentive to stay out of the red and treat yourself to a holiday. Read more about credit cards with rewards and check out the new reward cards from Citibankthat give you a free easyJet or BMIbaby flight.
2. Book early
It cannot be said too many times, if you want cheaper flights with the major airlines, especially long-haul, then you should try and get in as early as possible. Over a matter of weeks, or sometimes days, prices can change immensely. Planes, trains and buses all have a quota of seats they will sell for the lowest price - then prices just increase.
However, if you’re not fussy about where you go, you can get some very good deals at the last minute. With sites like Lastminute.com and Laterooms you may be able to book a cheap spur-of- the-moment holiday.
3. Embrace the internet
These days, the price of online deals outstrips those available on the high street or over the phone – it has become the place to get the good deals. Whether you’re putting together a holiday yourself or getting a package it’s easy to find the best deals if you know the best websites to try. Flightmapping can tell you exactly which airlines fly between where you are and where you want to go, plus all the possible prices for your journey. Look for short haul flights on Kayak and Skyscanner; and the more common search engines like Opodo and Expedia will be able to come up with good fares for those long haul flights.
4. Try couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a great way to meet new people and have a ‘local’ experience rather than a tourist experience. You choose who to stay with and they give you a bed to sleep in. They also often tell you the best places and take you out to see the sites. It’s great fun for an individual traveller, and you could potentially spend six months travelling Europe without having to pay for accommodation. Of course, you can then repay the gestures and sign up as a host yourself. Other sites include globalfreeloaders and hospitality club.
5. Try a house-swapping holiday
If you have a family and need a big space (not just a couch) then you can swap houses with anyone in the world. It’s usually for 2-4 weeks and cars are included. No money swaps hands. People post descriptions of their house and facilities, their exchange destination and how many people they would bring to stay in your house. Become a house swapper with Home for exchange and Intervac.
6. Take the right credit card
Take a pre-paid credit card to avoid fraudsters and make sure you stick to your budget. You just load the card up with the amount of cash you want to spend on your holiday. There is no way to borrow on it, which will stop you spending over your limit. You pay in the normal way you would use your regular debit or credit card, but fraudsters don’t have access to your bank details. For cards with no monthly fee, try the Prime payment card or Splash Plastic Maestro card.
7. Travel Britain using a railcard
Two out of three Britons qualify for a travelcard. Mature students and 16-25-year-olds can get a third off all rail fares across Britain with a 16-15's railcard. The senior's railcard will take a third off rail fares for those over 60; and for groups travelling with children make sure you have a family and friends railcard.
8. Invest in research
Before you leave, spend some time researching your destination. Booking in advance can lead to big savings, and there are often special offers online that can save you cash when you get there. Check out the Days out guide for some great two-for-one offers and see what lastminute can offer you. 9. Travel outside of school holidays (...if you don't have kids)
Travel, hotels and holiday packages are significantly cheaper outside of school holiday dates. If you possibly can, travel during these times. If you don't have children and you're wondering when the holidays are look at Direct.gov.uk - the government's information site. It has all UK term dates and school holidays listed and you can search using your postcode. Put 'school holidays' into the website's search and you'll find it quickly.
10. Take advantage of partnership offers
Use existing partnership points or offers where you can. For example, if you’re making a dinner reservation and have a railcard book with Toptable and you will be rewarded with a free meal when you register. Loyalty cards like Nectar and Oyster offer a range of travel-related opportunities such as Legoland entry and discount theatre tickets.
11. Chuck the disposable camera
Most of us have moved into the digital camera age, which can be really great. You have nice shots, can take as many as you like, delete the ones you don’t want, and you don’t have to pay lots of money to have them printed while abroad, or carry film cases around. A good idea is to get a second memory stick - there are good prices at Staples - and use the following sites to print photos for free when you get home. By signing up to these four photo galleries you can get yourself 105 free digital photo prints. PhotoboxPixum give you 25 free prints - look out for special offers and discounts on personalised gifts. Kodak Gallery give you 30 free prints - you can store, share and print your summer photos for free, and turn them into high-quality gifts. Pics then cost from 5p. Snapfish give you 30 free prints - they cost 10p each after that. Photobox give you 30 free prints - get prints from just 5p each plus 1GB free space to store your photos. They offer an excellent service and are highly recommended.
12. Get the right travel cover
Insurance policies for travel can range between £20-150, but the policies are generally the same. If you have more than two holidays a year, you are better off getting annual cover. But you may need even more expensive cover if you are doing winter sports or visiting the United States. Basically, the greater the excess, the lower the premium. Insurers know you are more likely to make small claims than big ones, but you will both make more if you don’t claim for small items. If you don’t claim for small items because of a high excess, you will retain your no-claims discount and next year’s premium will not be increased. The best thing is to shop around on the internet. See our article here about how to pick the best travel insurance for you.
13. Smart car insurance
Never buy car insurance from the place where you are going to hire your car. They will want to charge you about £10 a day, but by getting your own insurance online you can save a lot and can end up paying as little as £2.50 a day from sites like insurance4carhire and worldwideinsure.
14. The man in seat 61
This is the best site I have found which shows you ways to travel abroad without taking a plane. So if you are scared of flying or want a different type of adventure then check it out. Seat 61 has all the links to help you organise your trip within the UK and Ireland, from the UK to Europe, and in Asia, Africa, America and Australasia. It will open you up to a larger variety of travel and a host of cheaper options.
15. Know your flight rights
New regulations mean airlines should compensate passengers affected by delayed or cancelled flights. The law applies if you have a confirmed reservation and check-in time for your flight, and depart from an EU airport, or one that has its headquarters within the EU. The airline must offer you (if appropriate) meals and accommodation, two free phone calls or emails, and compensation according to the distance you were supposed to travel. For journeys up to 932 milesyou get £180, from 932-2174 miles you get £287 and for flights over 2174 miles you should receive £430 in compensation.
16. Drive carefully to save petrol
It goes without saying that you must drive carefully anyway, but be aware that stopping and starting often and zooming along the motorway will not help you financially as you'll use more fuel. Plan your trip and where you are going to stop for petrol using petrolprices.
17. Use a travel guide for cheap eats
Pick up the latest travel guides from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides or Let’s Go and see what they say about eating. Most will give you an idea of those tourist-centred places where you’re bound to get ripped off, and instead direct you to cheaper, nicer places that will give you more of a local experience. You can also book abroad with Toptable and gain points that will help you towards a free meal.
18. Visit cheaper countries
If you want to cross the channel take into account the strength of the pound against the currency of your destination, as well as the average cost of living, when planning a holiday. As the euro is strong against the pound at the moment, you will get fewer euros for your money in Eurpean countries. In light of this, look at places a little further east like Turkey or the Czech Republic, which are great tourist destinations and don't have the euro. America is a great place to visit at the moment. Not only is the cost of living lower than in Britain, but the current exchange rate means that you get almost two dollars for every one of your pounds. It's like everything is 50% off. Remember, though, the further away you go, the more expensive the flight will be. 19. Holiday Which?
If you are a serious traveller, and certainly if you are serious about making the very most of your money when you go away, you should subscribe to Holiday Which? It is full of money-saving tips, genuine reviews of hotels, countries, airlines and the like. It also has useful facts about how to complain and get your money back if there are problems.
20. Train compensations
If your train is delayed or cancelled and the problem was down to the train company, then you have the right to claim a full refund for day tickets if it made you miss your intended train. If you arrive more than an hour late at your intended destination station you are able to claim at least a 10% refund. You will need to keep your ticket as evidence, but you can claim other expenses such as a taxi to complete your journey (as long as you keep the receipt). You can claim refunds at the station, by writing to the train-operating company or by using one of their complaint forms. The independent national rail watchdog Passengerfocus can help rail passengers get the best deal.
21. Keep in contact online
If you travel with your laptop or make use of cheap internet cafes, you can use free and cheap Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers to call home and let Mum know you got there safe and are eating properly. Attaching a headset to your computer and downloading VoIP software allows you to call home and tell everyone what they’re missing out on. Skype and BT Broadband are good choices of VoIP providers, but see our article for more providers and an explanation of how it all works.
22. International SIM cards
If you want to take your mobile phone travelling with you, it’s really easy and a lot cheaper to buy an international SIM card for multiple countries. Compare prices and call rates, including any specials with free calls or texts included. An international SIM card will cost you around £30 to buy, but once you've got it, the credit simply never expires. Ultimately, these SIM cards are worth having just so that you can receive calls for free, but they also can often beat the rates of your domestic provider on making calls to the UK and sending text messages. Check how much your network will charge you and then work out if you can save money by getting an international SIM. The main providers are Go SIM, SIM4travel and GeoSIM.
23. Get the best exchange rate you can
When you're changing money 'commission-free' does not mean profit free. There will be deals that are better than others both on the high street and online. Again it's all about shopping around and seeing who is offering the best deal at the time. The best rates can generally be found at Travelex, The Post Office and Marks & Spencer. However, do try a few to see which offer the best price and the best service for you.
24. International calling cards
Abandon your mobile and get a prepaid international phone card. Phonecard companies buy 'bulk minutes' from line carriers at huge discounts and so they are able to pass on savings to their customers. You'll get a lot more minutes for your money using a phonecard than you would if you used your mobile. However, the one major drawback is that to use your minutes you have to dial a local or free access number. This means you'll have to find a public payphone and you often get fewer minutes than advertised when you use the freephone access number because you are essentially paying for the access with the credit you've already got. Despite the pit falls, it's still worth looking to see if these cards would work for you when you are travelling. In cities and developed countries public telephones are not hard to come by and you'll still get more minutes for your money when using the freephone number, compared to mobile charges. Sites to look at are: Planet Phone Cards, 1st4phonecards and The Post Office.
25. Share journeys
By sharing a journey with a stranger you save money, reduce CO2 and have a whole lot of fun. Once you know your plans, register on a site like carshare, liftshare or nationalcarshare where you can find a buddy to share your travels with.
26. Snuggle into a hostel
Forego the flash hotels with free towel and mint on the pillow, and join the throng of travellers banding together in an 8 or 12-bed dorm room in a hostel. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s lots of fun because you get to meet many people just like you. Hostels are a lot nicer than they used to be, and sometimes can resemble a three-star hotel. Some offer breakfast and they all have reasonable facilities to help you get by during your stay. Book with Hostelling International, Hostelworld or Hostel Bookers.
27. Package or individually tailored?
Package holidays are great when you are going to resort destinations or big festivals where thousands of people flock annually; accommodation and coaches have been organised for you and in some cases visas. To get in and out of Munich during Oktoberfest, getting to Gallipoli for Anzac Day and going through Russia, where you need special tourist visas to step foot over the border, are all examples where a package would make life that little bit easier for you. Otherwise planning your own trip is a lot better because you can pick and choose exactly what you want to do and where to go.
28. Buy your holiday from a cashback site
If you find your holiday on high-profile online search engines like Expedia, buying it through a cashback site will let you book it and take your share of the affiliate marketing revenue. The cashback can be quite low; only about 2.5% of the price of the holiday, but some providers will give you as much as 10% cashback which effectively means you get a 10% discount on your holiday. These are some of the main cashback sites; it's worth having a look at all of them as they have partnerships with different companies. If you don't know how cashback sites work, have a look at our cashback sites article.
29. 1p flights are never 1p
It’s a disgrace that flight companies are still able to advertise flights for as little as 1p or even free, when there are many hidden costs involved. So don’t get caught out - discover the full costs involved in your travel. This includes the fare, booking costs, credit card fees, insurance, air passenger duty, carbon off-setting, baggage check-in fees, and on-plane meals. Plus, many of the cheap airlines fly to out-of-the-way airports where you have to travel an hour to get to the main city, so add on another few quid for transport costs.
30. Hotels for dummies
These sites are great for those who don’t really know where you want to go or what kind of hotel you want. Have a look at Lastminute, Expedia and eBookers. If you find the trip you want, have a look on the cashback sites (above) first to see if you can book through one of those.
31. Travel during unsociable hours
Off-peak travel such as early morning, late nights, mid week, and avoiding school holidays, are generally cheaper than those that are during normal waking hours. Drag yourself out of bed at two in the morning to catch a 4am flight (or sleep overnight at the airport – a lot of people do it)!
32. Go away with friends
Lots of places - accommodation, restaurants and tourist attractions - offer discounts for big groups. So gather together your mates and plan a fun trip away, telling everyone it is a lot cheaper than going independently.
33. Trainspotting
When purchasing train tickets sometimes it can work out cheaper to buy two single tickets rather than one return ticket. You may also be able to get a better deal by talking to the phone booking centres and having a look online as sometimes the prices can be different. Prices can also vary on the exact same website as well, so buyer beware.
34. Plane, train or automobile?
When planning your trip, it is best to work out how much time you have to travel and the best and cheapest way to do so. You can take the train to Oxford tomorrow for £45, but it only costs £15 to go by coach in the same amount of time. Ryanair has cheap flights to Newquay for the end of July at £10 return (bearing in mind you still have to get to the airport), but it’s almost £100 by train. The Eurostar is not always cheaper than the plane, but once you factor in the spend on airport transfers it can work out around the same. Again it's a case of booking a long time in advance, booking online and avoiding travelling on Fridays and Saturdays.
So you see, the bus is an increasingly thrifty alternative to the train or plane. You are driven in comfort straight to your destination. The appearance of the Megabus has forced other bus companies, especially National Express, to offer competitive fares so you can now travel to lots of UK destinations in a really nice coach for just £1 single. National Express also have a 2plus2 annual family pass for £16 a year. It allows two full-paying adults to take two children for free. If it's just you and your child they also do a 1plus1 deal on the same basis. National Express also own Eurolines which operate all over Europe and have fares to Ireland, Paris, Amsterdam and other destinations for just £15 single.
35. Change money before you go
Avoid changing money at airports. ATMs and currency exchange facilities are not there for your convenience, but to take your money by giving you bad rates because you were too lazy to organise your money beforehand. Do it before you go. When finding somewhere to change your money, remember that commission-free does not mean profit-free. Shop around and see who is offering the best deal at the time. The best rates can generally be found at Travelex, Marks & Spencer and The Post Office.
36. Win over the cheap airlines
If you feel compelled to squish yourself into one of the cheap airline’s flights, here’s a few tips. Book online, and tick that you will check-in online. Save £4 on check-in fees and score yourself a free first preference ticket for seats; take a small suitcase that will fit as carry on luggage, which eliminates £10 of check-in baggage fees; and pack yourself a few nibbles or a sandwich for a longer flight to save £2-10 on buying food on the plane.
37. Pack light
The more souvenirs you want to bring home, the more space you’re going to want in your suitcase. A great way to pack properly - backpacking style - is to carefully roll your clothes and pack them in side by side. You’ll find you’ve got twice as much room than if you just fold them.
38. Sign up for special offers
Take advantage of promotional offers from flight companies when they send you advertising. You could come across some really good deals. Sign up for a free email to handle newsletters that could clog up your normal email, and then sign up for newsletters with travel places such as Travelbag, Trailfinders, Expedia and Accor Hotels.
39. Nuts and nibbles
To save you spending money in transit and at the airport, carry a small bag of nuts, rice crackers or dried fruit with you to stave off hunger. Just make sure you discard them if they need to be declared in some countries.
40. Public holidays in other countries
Many countries have their own public holidays where you could find yourself stranded without food because shops are closed, so be aware of other countries' holidays and steer clear or be prepared for lots of crowds if it’s during festivals or any celebrations.
41. Get yourself an ISIC
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) for under-26s can give you thousands of discounts in the UK and around the world. An annual card is worth £9 from isiccard. 42. Park for cheap
Try sites like Parkatmyhouse and Parklet for cheap places to park near your chosen airport. People who live near, say, Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted airports offer their driveways for much less than the airport parking.
43. Indulge in duty free
If you want to buy jewellery, electronics, alcohol and chocolates at the airport, make sure you know your prices beforehand to ensure you are actually getting a good deal and not just paying for something because it is duty free.
44. Discount sports stores
Buy your ski or summer gear before you go, but bypass the flashy expensive shops for those hidden discount warehouses and even online shops that can save you more. Kitbag has some great deals.
45. Haggle with tour operators
It's tough out there for travel agents. They have to compete with the internet. So use this to your advantage. Do some research into prices first and then challenge them to create you a package that includes a serious discount. Many of them can rise to it and save you some dosh.
46. Know your currency
It can be difficult to remember how much foreign money converts to. Take a currency converter with you, or some basic figures on the back of an envelope, so that you know how much you're really spending.
47. Cash is king
If you're really undisciplined then just take cash with you. You can have an emergency credit card with a low credit limit (to avoid temptation) but make sure you never use, unless it genuinely is an emergency. Only use the cash for the entire holiday. It's much easier to budget when you can see the money physically going out of your wallet.
48. Go green
The greener option is usually cheaper too, so go for a green holiday like walking or cycling. You will keep fit and cut down hugely on transport costs. 49. Make money from your trip
If you have a talent for writing and want to get paid for blogging about your holiday then visit Pay Per Post.You have to submit samples and they must first be approved, but if they are you could earn as much as £10 a post. 50. Free phrases
You can download a free phrasebook on to your mobile phone, iPod or iPhone from Coolgorilla. You can either learn them by listening to them or simply play the relevant phrase out loud to the person you are trying to communicate with. Languages available are French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
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