How to save money booking a holiday is a question we all want the answer too. We are all looking forward to some time off this summer; relaxing on the beach, exploring the sights and all the while surrounded by friends and loved ones. Summer holidays can quickly become very expensive, especially If you are going abroad, however, they don’t have to be! We have compiled 5 tips and tricks to help you save on your holiday this year.
1. Fly off-peak
When booking your flights, make sure to take into consideration not only the day of the week, but also the time of day you fly. This is important, as you will often find cheaper flights when searching for options early morning or late at night on the weekdays, avoiding the crowds.
However, you may not have the freedom of being able to fly midweek – to get the best deals during peak times we recommend a tool such as Skyscanner. Skyscanner is a brilliant website that will allow you to compare flights from multiple airlines at different days and times to be able to see which one is the best option for you.
2. Choose a travel friendly debit card
While out for dinner, shopping or just sight-seeing, you will run into plenty of costs and transactions, most of which will come with a foreign exchange fee when using a credit or debit card. Although at the time these transaction fees may not look like much, throughout your holiday these will add up.
This does not have to be the case. Try opening an account with an online bank such as Monzo. Paying with your Monzo account removes any exchange fees as the bank is completely based online, not from any one country.
3. Make sure to find the best exchange rates and get your cash before hand
Preparation is key and before you set off on your holiday, ensure you have everything ready, including your finances. Taking out your cash beforehand not only helps you to set a budget for the holiday, it also gives you the chance to find the best exchange rates.
Have a look online to compare the exchange rates of different exchange agents, such as No1 Currency, The Post Office and Eurochange. Please keep in mind that not all currencies are available at all exchange agents.
4. Let your bank know you are going on holiday
If you are relying on using your debit or credit card while on holiday, it is important to keep it safe and reliable in order to have the most relaxing holiday possible.
Before you travel, let your bank know. This can stop you running into problems down the line. Transactions completed abroad could be flagged as fraudulent by your bank if they have received no prior notice. Some banks also let users set up text alerts that notify them of charges to help make spotting fraudulent activity easier, in case your card is stolen while you are traveling.
5. Eat like a local
When visiting your favourite tourist locations, you may have noticed the restaurants are filled with other holiday goers and you may be wondering where all the locals are. Restaurants aimed at tourists are lovely, however, they are usually expensive. If you do some digging and asking around, you will often find cheaper and more authentic restaurants.
Feel free to stick to what you know food-wise if you’re really missing those home comforts, After all, if you can’t splash out a bit on holiday, when can you?
I hope that this blog showed you how to save money when booking a holiday. Holidays always end up costing more than expected, so do not feel bad about having a good time. I hope you take on some of these tips and tricks and save some money on your next trip abroad. If you are staying in the UK for your holiday this year, you can always check out our top money saving tips for a staycation here.
