How you can go on a cheap holiday and not get crazy.
1. Idea – where and when you want to go?
2. Booking flight
3. Hotel
4. Transfer from the airport
5. Rent a car
7. Insurance
I am not writing here to show you how you can buy cheap ready holiday package – I can help you how you can make a cheap holiday package by yourself. This is not very difficult, but if you like to go on a cheap holiday, usually you have to be ready for a quite long time to spend on research, but this is worth it! Off course, you can go directly to the travel agency and they do it for you – but, I think you know, how much agency charges. If you reading this, means you looking for a cheap holiday and following my instructions – you can do it!
Just remember – you need to spend some time by yourself to find the right fly, hotel, transfer from the airport and maybe some attractions. But I can imagine your satisfaction if you are finally safe a few hundred pounds!
Idea – where and when you won a go?
Im writes this after my experience and after doing a few packages for my friends, I know everybody is individually and everybody needs different things to do on holiday. So firstly what you need to do is thinking – which place is the best for me to go and when I can go.
Usually, my first moment, when I start thinking about the summer holiday for next year, is around Christmas. Why this time? Because I already forget my last summer holiday and during Christmas time I have a lot off time to dream about summer.
Where I can go? The most time I don’t know where is the best place for me for the next holiday. What I am doing? I am going to the website and checking, which is interesting for next summer. Which website? Could be anyone with a summer holiday, some of them has research – you can put when you like to go and what price per person and you can get some inspirations. If you know the destination – just starting research at the date, which is good for you. On some destinations, which I like to go, when I am checking prices it is too expensive, so I just thinking to go maybe in another time.
Sometimes if I am thinking about few destinations and I can’t make a decision, I just starting to looking price of fly, I am opening few different fly airlines website and checking tickets prices to my interesting places. And usually, I decide to go to the cheapest destination. But you must be very careful because sometimes you can find the cheap flights, but the prices of hotels are very expensive, so occasionally is better to check both prices – tickets and hotel. And also a few destinations, for example, fly from the UK to Turkey, tickets price is few hundred pounds, but five stars very good hotel all-inclusive costs less than a few hundred pounds per family per week.
You must remember one very important thing - in every time in school holiday is more expensive than in school time, so if you do not necessarily need to go in school holiday time – is better to choose time out of school holiday. Sometimes you need to choose just a few days before school time is ending and you can get much cheaper flights. Another thing – fly during the weekends usually is more expensive than in weekdays. So if you wont to find a cheap holiday, you have to be very careful, if you planning when and where to go.
Now you are going to make a decision about the place and the time of your holiday. But is good to have some flexible time, sometime just one or two days to go earlier or late can change the price of your holiday very much.
Booking flights.
It is not easy to find very cheap flights to holiday destinations, special in very popular time like summer holidays. But this not means you can’t find it.
The most expensive prices are during weekends from Friday to Sunday, because a lot of people are going on holidays in those days. On weekdays you can notice much cheaper prices, special on Wednesday. So it is possible this is better for you to try avoiding very popular days to save some money. And how I told you before if you avoid school holidays always is much cheaper. But if you have to go on the weekend and during school holiday, just try to find the cheapest option.
In my opinion, the best way to buy cheap tickets is by buying trough airlines website than trough searching pages. But sometimes you don’t know which airlines are flying to your destination and from which airport. So then you can go to the searching pages, for example, Skyscanner or kayak and check all information. You can buy your tickets through those pages or you can go to the website which airlines are showing on those pages. But remember – not always price which is showing now on the website is the best for you, because very important information for you is, that tickets prices on the website are never permanent – that means prices are changing all the times. If your holiday is going to be in a few months, you have plenty of time to checking and find the best prices.
Usually, airlines have few tickets at particular prices, and when is sold that few tickets, next tickets is growing up to the next prices and again the same to next prices. For example – the first price is £1.00 and they are having 10 tickets at this price. When that 10 tickets are sold, the next 10 tickets price is £15.00 so their selling 10 tickets for £15.00 etc. But if their sold 7 tickets for £1.00 and you won to buy 4 tickets in that price – system showing you just tickets for £15.00! So that is some time difference when you put in a searching system 1 or 4 people. So, if you decide to buy tickets now, even the price for 4 is bigger than for 2 or 3 people, you can do it in 2 different reservations. I know this taking more time but if you like to save some money, this is worth to do this, because more airlines are charging their fees per person, not per reservation, but you should check it before you finish the reservation. If you are not sure how much their charging extra, try to do trial reservation without paying by card – just on the website.
For example – the one-way ticket price on the website is £30.00 per person, if you clicking for four people, but if you putting three people are just £15.00. So, you can pay £120.00 for 4, or do 2 reservation and paid £45 for 3 plus £30.00 for one person, which in total is £75.00 – you saving £45.00 just because you spend about 5 minutes more to do other reservation!
Another way to save money just on flight tickets could be not necessary to buy return tickets on the same reservation which is going to. If you know the exact date your holiday, and while you checking tickets price sometimes tickets to go is a better price than tickets to come back – again you can do 2 different reservation to save some money. I know this is the risk – by the time when you waiting for prices to drop off for return ticket price maybe still the same or bigger, but this is the risk. On my last holiday I book my tickets to Lanzarote in December because has been in a very good price, and the return tickets I bought in April – I saved about £150.00 in total – just be patient! And also my return ticket has been to land at a different airport in London and from other airlines – but that was worth to do it. So that means you don’t need to buy yours all tickets from the same airport, airlines or on the same reservation. This is just taking a few minutes to open a few different websites to compare prices and sometimes this means to compare it a few time in a week but in this way, you save your money! Just be patient.
Very often airlines are doing a special offer. Special offer may mean cheaper price, no tax or free online check-inn. If you are comparing all off this offer, the last one usually is the best price. But again you have to remember – are just a few tickets on a special offer price. If their end, next price may be normal. Airlines usually are changing prices every week, some of them, for example, Ryanair is changing prices every Monday and Thursday night. Another airline may change prices not too often and on different days. But most of them haven’t got the same price all the time.
What is another error committed by people – buying luggage for all family? if you going on holiday – you should know how many things you need or how much baggage you really need. That means you don’t need to cut all your necessary things – sometimes people are paying extra money for luggage but not really needed all that stuff. Most airlines have hand luggage 10 kilograms which is including in tickets price and if you wish to have extra baggage you have to pay for it. You should know – some airlines during the summer holiday are charging extra £30.00 per 15 kilograms luggage per person per way. That means you have to pay extra £240.00 per 4 people family – this is a lot of money, which you can spend on something nice on holiday instead of pay for airlines. Maybe is better to buy just one extra baggage and put to this all cosmetics, liquids and things not allowed to have in hand luggage and your clothes pack to hand luggage which in most airlines is 10 kilograms? This is up to you, but I think is worth to plan before you buy tickets how much extra baggage you really need. And another one very important things – you should buy you extra baggage during your buying tickets or any time before online check-inn. If you wish to add your baggage at the airport – you have to pay twice or more.
If you anyway really need to have baggage for all your family – some time is worth to buy tickets in these airlines which prices is including baggage or if you compare prices tickets plus prices baggage is cheaper to buy more expensive tickets and don’t pay extra money for baggage.
Additional fees.
Credit/debit card fee – some airlines are charging for pay credit or debit card per person per way. You can check fees on their website or to do trial reservation – you can put any date and any destination, name (of course without card details) and you can check all the fees in your reservation. This is showing you fees for payment method, baggage price, taxes and all airlines fees.
Some of the airlines are offer credit cards and when you pay that cards you don’t need to pay extra per payment method, or they not charging for pay, for example, MasterCard prepaid card. This is worth to check it, because you may save up to £50.00 per 4 people.
Priority - some of the airlines offer a priority - usually a separate queue to go to the plane. Im not saying is a bad option, but just think if you really want to spend an extra £9-10 for every person on every flight? But some of the priority allowed you to take a piece of extra hand luggage on the board.
Hotel
Choice of the hotel is very important for me - Im always following a few points:
- type of holiday which Im going,
- localisation,
- type of board options,
- amenities,
- opinions,
- price.
When Im going most for city sightseeing Im trying to book a hotel close to the main attractions which I want to see - don't need to spend much time to travel there. Also, I know Im not spending in a hotel much time, usually just nights and breakfast, so don't have to be expensive, just good and have all that I need.
It's not always working like this, sometimes hotels close to main attractions are too expensive so is better to choose another option.Localisation - like I said before it depends on the type of holiday. Also for me is very important safety, so localisation of the hotel must be in a safe place. Very often Im travel with my daughter or my friend, very occasionally solo, so for women travelling choice of localisation of the hotel is very important.
Type of board options - again is depending on your preferences and type of holiday.
When Im going on a beach holiday I prefer to go on all-inclusive option - don't need to worry about food and drinks, even if you plan to go for some excursions still is worth to pay an extra, but it depends on your preferences.
When Im going for city sightseeing mostly I chose hotels with breakfast option - don't need to spend time looking places for breakfast or prepare by yourself.
Another option is half-board. Is including breakfast and dinner but mostly you need to pay for drinks for dinner.
Some of the food of the destination is very cheap so is better to avoid hotel restaurants and go out for i.e dinner. Sometimes is better to rent an apartment and feel completely independent with the choice of what and where you want to eat. Always is worth to try local kitchen :)
Amenities - if Im renting a car always checking if the hotel has its own car park or it is the place to park close. Im not really checking other amenities but again this depends on your preferences.
City tax - some of the hotels charging you city tax - per person per night - always you pay it at the hotel. This is country regulations, independent of the hotel, but some of the hotels charging a different price so always check an extra when you book the hotel.
Opinions - before I choose hotel always checking opinions about it, mostly on TripAdvisor. You can check opinions and also travellers photos so very often you can compare pictures on the hotel website and reality. Bear in mind some of the opinions are ludicrous but always check the number of bad reviews to compare well or very good. Some of the people expecting a luxury in 2-3 stars hotels - just to remember - most of the time you get what you pay for.
Price - like I said before - you get what you pay for. Most of the time Im not going to expensive hotels. Is always depending on the type of holiday. If Im going on holiday and I know Im spending most of the time in the hotel or close to the hotel, sometimes is worth to pay an extra if you know you will enjoy your stay. Is nothing worst then go on holiday and be annoyed all the times. Off course always can happen something but you going on holiday to relax, not to be in stress all the time!
For short holidays or city sightseeing if you know you not spending much time in the hotel - is not worth to pay a lot of money - is better to spend it on attractions or a nice meal. But it depends on your budget.
Another thing which I always check is the possibility of cancellation if something happens and you have to change your plans. Some of the hotels and websites allow you to cancel booking up to 24 hours before arrive. Very often the best price of the room is non-refundable but if you think your plans may change, is worth to pay more for free cancellation. Always check the terms & conditions of the cancellation.
Transfer from the airport
After choosing the hotel, the next step should be book transfer from the airport. You can check the prices on websites which compare transfers like Hoppa.com Usually you have a few options like shuttle bus, speedy shuttle (maximum 4 stops), private cars or even executive car. If the hotel is close to the airport, a good option is a taxi from the airport or prebooked cab. Lots of hotels also offer airport pick up but usually is more expensive. Everything depends on your budget or even the time of your arrival. If you decide to go with the transfer company, all that you need to do is check your confirmation voucher and go follow instructions.
Rent a car
For rent a car I use a few searching websites to compare the prices. Very often the same rental company has different prices on different websites, so again is worth to check. Most of them have free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival. What you need to think is what type of car you need, how often you going to use it and what the price is suited to you. Most the companies will charge you deposit for the car and offer you insurance. Im always buying car insurance after arrival when Im picking a car. Very often if you buy full insurance you don't need to pay a deposit - is including in insurance. Always check the car before you drive from the airport and if you notice any fault tell the person which assist you and take the pictures. The basic insurance is included in a rental price but is better to pay extra money for insurance and have a piece of mind. But once again is better to buy insurance directly from the rental company than from a searching website.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is the most important thing which Im buying when I go on holiday. Is not very expensive and that will cover all of your expenses if you need to use it. Just check on searching websites and choose which one is the best for you, most important is an amount of medical cover, is better to pay extra money to have good insurance to cover everything which could happen.
So that is the step after step instruction how you can buy your holiday an save some money. This is my point of view, you don't have to agree with all of this but it can just open your eyes how to save sometimes a few hundred pounds per family. All what you need to know is just spend some time and search and compare. Good luck!