Now that the UK has lifted their travel restrictions, this is the first time since the pandemic hit that there will be no rules to follow when returning from holiday.
While countries abroad have different entry requirements, the rules in the UK cuts the cost down of the overall travel experience in comparison to when everyone had to take a covid test before and after arriving.
Airlines have seen a surge of bookings as eager travellers flood airports across the UK, with many ready to have a taste of a holiday abroad for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak.
READ MORE: Edinburgh Airport: What food and drink options there are before and after security
Of course, holidays can be expensive and with energy, fuel and food going up in price, money saving expert Andrea Knowles of vouchers.co.uk has shared her best tips to bag a holiday on a budget.
1. Always book your accommodation before your flight for the biggest saving
When booking a holiday, many people start the process by looking for the cheapest flights, however, this is rarely the best practice.
As your accommodation is likely to be your most expensive cost, it should be your priority when booking as you can generate the biggest saving.
When searching for your dream accommodation, just make sure that you’re looking in areas that are accessible via an airport that you’re willing to travel to.
2. Try and book your flights 56 days before you wish to travel for the best deal
After analysing more than 13.2 billion prices across 100 popular routes, the travel search engine, Momondo, found that booking a flight 56 days in advance turns out to be the cheapest.
However, this also factors in sales so make sure to take it with a pinch of salt. Book in advance if you’re in doubt.
3. Discover which airlines offer free luggage upgrades with this feature
Whilst many airlines, such as Ryanair and Jet2, used to allow you to travel with a carry-on small suitcase for free, this is no longer the case.
Nowadays, Ryanair are charging up to £32 per flight so what would have been a bargain £40 return trip to Paris will now cost up to £102.
However, many don’t realise how much more expensive it costs until they go to book, which can cause some serious problems if you’ve already sorted your accommodation and are tied to specific dates.
With this in mind, it’s definitely worth booking all of your flights via Google Flights as they let you search with a ‘carry-on bag’ option ticked – showing you the true price of a ticket.
4. Choose an Airbnb with a washing machine to cut down additional luggage costs
Another way to skip the cost of adding luggage to your flights is to book self-catering accommodation with a washing machine.
Airbnb allows you to search for properties with this specific feature, meaning you can pack light and wash your clothes while you’re out there.
In addition, you should also look for accommodation with a kitchen so you can save money by not having to eat out for all three meals per day.
5. Wanting to book a cruise? Always book it on a Thursday
The price of a cruise can fluctuate throughout the year and is dependent on several factors, such as if there’s been an increase in bookings or the total availability left.
However, research from Cruise Critic has revealed that prices tend to drop mid-week, with booking on a Thursday likely to get you the best deal.
6. Wanting to book a package holiday? Always book it on a Monday
It also turns out that there’s a best day to book a package holiday. A former Thomas Cook insider revealed that they always give their best deals on a Monday, as the prices are sometimes dropped to try and entice customers who’ve had a quote at the weekend, but not completed a booking.
7. Never book a holiday without estimating the cost of airport transfers
Before booking any flights, always make sure to check the distance and travel options from the airport to your accommodation once you land. If there is no public transport, or it’s too difficult to get to, this could cost you hundreds in return taxi fares or transfers – ruining your budget.
8. Always clear your cookies before booking a holiday to save sneaky charges
If you’ve been searching for a holiday for a while, you should definitely clear your browser cookies before booking. For those that don’t know, cookies are bits of data stored in your browser that store data of the websites that you’ve visited.
Travel websites can then use this information to hike up prices simply because they know that you’ve visited their site and plan on booking. You should, therefore, always clear them before booking.
9. Pay for your holiday with a credit card to financially cover any misfortunes
If your holiday costs more than £100, purchase it with a credit card so that you’re covered if anything goes wrong.
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act means that the credit card company is liable to pay out if anything goes wrong. For example, the cost of your flight is covered if the airline goes bust, or the cost of your holiday if the holiday company goes bust. Another example is if you had to buy more expensive flights to get home after an airline goes bust.
However, it’s also important to know what isn’t covered, such as ‘flight only’ purchases from a travel agent which are classified as a third party and only contracted to provide the ticket and not the flight. Alternatively, if the airline that you’re using went bust but you decided to extend your stay, you won’t be able to claim the extra costs.
10. Always buy these travel necessities from pound shops
Travel accessories and toiletries can really add up in cost, especially if you end up buying them in the airport. Instead, you should visit your local pound shop or other bargain store, such as B&M or Home Bargains.
Here you can buy everything you need from travel adapters to sun cream. However, just make sure that it comes with a UVA sticker and an SPF of 50.
