Whether you're ‘on a budget’ or not, you naturally don't want to overpay for your holiday – so why would you? That's why we're giving you five practical tips on how to go on holiday as cheaply as possible.
1. Book travel and accommodation separately
Most people book their travel and accommodation together these days. However, it is often cheaper to book your travel and accommodation – for example, flights plus hotels – separately. Of course, this takes a bit of extra time and effort, but at the end of the day, you can save a lot of money with a bit of detective work.
2. Don't be tempted by early-bird discounts
Are you an early bird? 50 percent early booking discounts are tempting, but ask yourself the following. Isn't a tour operator more interested in selling off last-minute remaining spots for a pittance? The answer is ‘yes’. Research also indicates that a last-minute deal is considerably cheaper than the Early birdrate.
3. Go on holiday outside of the main season
If you have the opportunity, it's significantly more advantageous to go on holiday outside the peak season. For example, in September instead of July or August. With a bit of luck, the weather will still be pleasantly summery and you'll have the entire hotel or holiday park practically to yourself. A possible disadvantage: outside of the season, you may not have access to all facilities.
4. Look for ‘alternative’ accommodation and transport options
Thanks to initiatives like BlaBlaCar and Airbnb, you can travel and stay somewhere cheaper these days. With BlaBlaCar, you travel with someone else to your destination and save at least 50 percent on your travel costs. And with Airbnb, you can affordably rent a room, apartment, house, or holiday home from private individuals.
5. Go on holiday together
Going on holiday together can not only be great fun, but is also significantly cheaper. You can split many costs, such as the rental of your hire car or van. Did you know that travelling with a minibus, particularly for short stays and relatively short distances, is in many cases cheaper than other forms of transport, such as flying?
Do you have any money-saving tips for other holidaymakers? Let us know in a comment!
