An expert has shared some top tips on how families can have a cheap holiday this October half term.
People across the country are struggling with the rising costs of living and the weakened currency has made going on holiday simply unaffordable for many. However, those who are still able and willing to take a trip away during their children's half-term break may find this advice useful, reports The Mirror.
The following tips have come from Chelsea Dickenson, who offers her advice as the Cheap Holiday Expert. And they might help you bag a holiday without breaking the bank.
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Choose your destination wisely
With the pound very weak and slumping to levels against the dollar not seen in decades - thanks to the Conservative Party's economic plan - some destinations are more expensive now than they've been in a long, long time.
While the US may be off the cards, there are still bargains to be had in lots of European hotspots which don't use the Euro.
"It is all about looking for those places that are super affordable against the pound, where the pound goes a little further, where accommodation is cheaper than in the UK," Chelsea explained.
"In Europe, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Lithuania. Places in central and eastern Europe."
Go all inclusive
With the value of the pound going up and down (mostly down) every half an hour, planning a trip abroad can be a worry.
While a carefully well worked out budget may cover you for a trip in October half term now, in a month's time your planned cash may go 10 per cent less far.
Chelsea has advice to help you stop worrying about the fluctuating markets and how it will affect the amount of cash in your pocket.
"Because we have no sway over what the pound will be doing, it has never been a better time to go all inclusive," she said.
"In terms of you're not having to think about everything versus the cost of the pound. If you're going somewhere with the euro, paying up front in pounds is a good idea as it's all done. You don't have to think about it again."
Don't give up in the hunt for staycation bargains
If you're looking for somewhere to stay in the UK over October half term now, you may be shocked at the prices being advertised, Chelsea admits.
"Most of the really well priced places will have gone if you look now," she said.
"You may think everyone is charging a fortune. But that's because people plan ahead to get their bargains."
Chelsea advises people not to give up the search as cheaper accommodation often gets freed up closer to the time
"I would keep searching and keep refreshing if you want to stay in the UK, because cancellations will happen," she said.
"That is the best way to get the best value in the UK right now."
Don't get sucked in by cheap flights
Many people make the mistake of choosing the warmest looking place that can be travelled to for the cheapest amount of money, Chelsea says.
Often this means you end up paying through the nose for somewhere to stay, as many other people have had the same idea.
Chelsea said: "People are often fixated on cheap flights, which are always fantastic, but for me, accommodation is key. It is your nightly costs. It will cost you the most."
Start swapping
While Chelsea admits that this tip is a bit of a "rogue" one and may not appeal to everyone, she is a big fan of house-swapping.
There are plenty of websites around which allow you to put your home out for a stranger to live in it and you get to live in theirs for return.
If that doesn't appeal, then doing a work away can be an equally cheap and adventurous way to see the world.
"It can be a really lovely learning holiday," Chelsea said.
"For example, you can take your small children to a farm. That could end up being a fantastic experience for a family."
When it comes to transport, using a peer-to-peer car swapping service such as Turo can be much cheaper than renting a car out through a normal firm.
Use a map
Most booking sights will take you to the centre of a city or resort when you're searching for accommodation.
As prime as such locations may be, choosing somewhere a little out of town can be a lot cheaper and not too inconvenient so long as the transport links are good.
Chelsea recommends using a map function on booking websites to look away from the centre.
Take the train
Less than a month out from October half term, flight prices are on a steady march upwards as people finalise their plans.
The way plane tickets are priced means the more demand and the fewer seats there are available, the higher the cost.
In many continental European countries the same is not true for trains, with certain networks having a fixed, often heavily subsidised price for a seat.
So booking yourself onto a train at the last minute means you get a good deal and get to travel in a much more environmentally friendly way.
"I recently went from Prague via Bratislava to Budapest. I spent 21 pounds and I was in business class. I had my own compartment with a bottle of sparkling wine. Bottles of beer were 68p."
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