Holiday season may seem like it’s come and gone, but there is truly never a bad time of year to effect a much-needed getaway. And even if you’re not quite ready to burst out the door with family in tow, it’s never a bad idea to put some hard yards in now for an upcoming holiday of dreams.
Many people will be happy enough to settle for an all-inclusive deal they’ve spied, whether online or on an advert – but all-inclusive isn’t always the best idea. All-inclusive trips are often more prohibitive than they seem, and far more costly than what they’re offering really ought to be. If you want to experience a holiday like no other, and not have to spend your savings in the process, you’re in exactly the right place; here’s how to book your next holiday both cheaply and smartly.
DIY Holidays: Flights and Stays That Save You More
Your hard-earned euros don’t need to be thrown into a black hole of third-party travel planners and all-inclusive agents; in exchange for taking a little control over the ins and outs of your travel and accommodation, you’ll find booking cheap holidays a veritable breeze. Flight comparison sites are great tools for checking out the best deals – and sometimes, certain airlines might unlock exclusive discounts for certain hotel chains. There are synergies everywhere for those with the eyes to see!
How Flexibility Unlocks Cheap Holidays
Of course, the real money-saver here is your ability to keep flexible. Buying tickets well in advance is one way to keep prices down, but so too can buying tickets last-minute. There’s the matter of the off-season, too; if your chosen destination is a tourist trap in the summer, there’s an outside chance that it’ll be far less oversubscribed in the winter – something that will be reflected in the price of travel and accommodation. This is true on a macro scale too, where off-peak travel and mid-week stays can be dramatically cheaper than peak travel over a weekend.
The Rise of Holiday Rentals
Accommodation can be its own pitfall when it comes to cost, though. It isn’t always the most economical option to stump up for a hotel, especially when a whole new world of holiday letting has been opened up by platforms like Airbnb. Holiday rentals can get you closer to the action, be it the city centre or the beach, while giving you the modern conveniences of a full home as opposed to the costly service charges of a hotel room.
A note of caution again here, though. Airbnb is not immune to surge pricing in busy times, and in some cases can be just as expensive as a hotel – with less convenience, if you find yourself working hard to tidy up after yourself. This is another thing to research carefully, while also asking yourself what’s most important to your trip.
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