10 Ways to Get a Cheaper Summer Holiday

Cheaper summer holiday anyone? Is that a Yes Puh-LEASE I hear? Here are some of the best things you can do, to get a cheaper summer holiday this year…

You know I like you to travel as much as possible. It’s just that damn thing called ‘money’ that gets in the way, and work, but for today we’re talking cold… hard… cash. ‘Cheaper’ summer holidays mean more of them. Like.

Any kind of beach or city break fun is all the more enjoyable when you’ve saved a fistful of cash on it. That satisfying feeling is very welcome in my life. Here are a few tips for you to try out to save money on your summer holiday in 2017. Let me know how you get on!

10 Ways to Get a Cheaper Summer Holiday

1. Look for discount codes

Sites like My Voucher Codes regularly feature money off vouchers for you to spend on your holidays. Looking now I can see you can save up to £600 on specific trips. It’s always worth having a look for codes and vouchers to see if the destination and type of holiday you want has any offers.

It doesn’t take long to search, but just make sure you read all the terms and conditions and small print before you go getting too excited. We’ve all been there.

2. Go off season

Obviously.

If you don’t have to go on holiday mid July to beginning of September – because of the kids – I’d strongly recommend you don’t. It’s expensive, busy and children are everywhere. Leave the world to the mums, dads and school agers and enjoy your homeland.

Save your cash and wait till the kids have gone back to school to get the best deals.

3. Packages vs DIY?

The answer to this can only lie with you. Just recently I’ve taken a few tours and package holidays, and I have to say having someone there to ask questions and guide me has been brilliant, and comforting. But then, if you’re trying to save money, it can be cheaper to book your flights, hotel and transfers separately.

Sometimes.

There’s no one answer fits all to this conundrum. Depends on what you’re doing, where you’re going, when and how confident you are to link it all up yourself. It’s definitely something worth researching though. Have a look at how much the separate parts of your holiday would cost vs the price the packages give you.

4. Be flexible

Research (not mine) shows that a Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly. If you can, book your travel midweek rather than at the weekend and you’ll notice a good drop in price. If you want the best deal, never fly at the weekend.

5. Sign up for flash sales

Do your research into which companies and websites offer flash sale deals. Then, make sure you’re either signed up to the email list, or following them on Facebook to be the first to know about the deals.

I follow quite a few travel companies on Facebook and can’t believe some of the deals they offer. You’ve got to be quick though – a good deal goes fast!

• READ MORE: The Best Festivals in Summer

6. Book as late as possible

If you’re not too fussed about where you go – you just know that you want sun, sea and relaxation (I presume) – then stand your ground and wait for the deals to reveal themselves nearer the departure date you want. You can expect them around 8 weeks before.

Holiday companies have chartered entire planes and hotels to create their package deals, and if they’re not filling them up then it means a loss for them. They just want to get rid of the places, at whatever price they can get for them. This is where you step in.

7. Or book as early as you can

If you’re opting to DIY your summer holiday, you could find that the best deals are to be had when you book early. Generally trains and ferries are much cheaper when you book in advance, and you can also have more of a pick of the best hotels. It all comes down to doing your research thoroughly, so you know what you should be expecting to pay, and you know when the time and price is right.

8. Open your mind to the destination

The usual holiday favourites are going to be more expensive, of course. As with point number 6, if your heart’s not set on somewhere in particular then try somewhere new. How about Montenegro instead of Croatia? Or Samos in Greece rather than Mykonos in Greece? Or even Turkey instead of Spain.

You can get some real deals if you go against the grain and try somewhere a little out of favour right now.

9. Never accept the first price you see

It’s always worth looking around online, calling the travel agent or just asking friends – investing a little bit of time with a few questions could save you quite a bit of money.

I’ve got faith in you. You’ve got this. Now go out there and find yourself a cheap summer holiday to enjoy.

10. Use tricks to find the cheapest flights

Sites like skyscanner.net, cheapoair.co.uk and flightchecker.moneysavingexpert.com are the best way to compare flight prices in one go to find cheap flight tickets. I used to use travelsupermarket.com, but they don’t include Ryanair in their listings and I ended up paying an unfortunate amount to get to Ibiza one year while my friends checked in on the cheap.

If you do end up having any sort of problem with your flights then you’re entitled to compensation. You can check out myflyright.com for information on flight delays, on flight cancellations and delayed boarding issues too.

You can save my money by going multi stop, or flying in the night. Follow the rules of your chosen airline to make sure you don’t have to pay any extra fees.