How to Make the Most of Your Holiday Budget

Travel Money Saving Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Holiday Budget

Travelling can be such an amazing experience but it can quickly get expensive. In this article, we are going to explore some ways for how to make the most of your holiday budget. This way, you might be able to afford going somewhere you didn’t think was possible, or simply enjoy spending more of your money on the fun stuff when you get to your destination – food and experiences!

Whether you are booking a weekend trip, your family’s yearly holiday in the sun, a staycation to explore something more local, a big adventure somewhere far away, or something else, there’s always money to be saved. Let’s have a look at some of the clever ways you can make your holiday budget go further when booking your next trip.

• Try Less Popular Destinations

A great way to save a lot of money is to think about what kind of holiday you want and then find alternative destinations. The most popular destinations are in high demand, which makes them more expensive. Luckily, there are lots of excellent places to visit on our planet and there’s nearly always a cheaper alternative. I’m sure you’ve seen those videos on TikTok and Instagram that start with “This is not … *insert name of dreamy location*”, followed by a reveal of a place that offers a very similar experience.

Look for places that offer a similar experience, environment, and attractions and see how much money you can save. Often, you can save money by just avoiding the main tourist area of a destination and simply looking for places to stay and visit in a nearby town. Do your research to make sure what you find will match your requirements. This is easily done online by reading reviews and the experiences of other travellers.

• Have Flexible Travel Dates

Being flexible with your destination is a great way to save money on your trip. Likewise, being flexible with your travel dates in another way that you can find cheaper travel and accommodation. Often, airlines and train lines have a low-price calendar, or flexible search option, which highlights the cheapest options for each day, making it easy to see which dates are the cheapest at the time of booking. If you can, try to be flexible with both your departure and return dates so that you can select the most affordable options and find the best cheap family holidays.

Generally, it’s a good idea to avoid peak travel times (school holidays!) if you can. Flights and accommodation are often more expensive on certain days of the week too. Weekends are usually more expensive for both. If you’re travelling to a popular business destination, also try to avoid Monday morning flights and Friday late afternoon/evening flights (and trains!) as that’s when the people who commute for work are often travelling which hikes the prices up.

• Choose Budget-Friendly Accommodation

There are lots of different options for accommodation when you are travelling. It’s often one of the largest expenses for a trip, so being savvy here is a good way to save on your total. What will work for you will depend on several factors – what kind of holiday you are looking for, your budget, and your needs and preferences, to mention a few.

Sometimes an all-inclusive hotel is what you are looking for and that can be a money-saving option in some circumstances.

Budget-friendly options include:

• Airbnb or other holiday rentals are more like a home away from home. These are available for all kinds of budgets.
• Budget hotels offer the comfort of a hotel but without the luxury that some of the more expensive, fancier hotels offer.
• Hostels can be great if you’re travelling on a budget and just need somewhere to sleep and cook a meal.
• House-swapping is another option and it’s usually free too since you offer your own home up for someone else to use at the same time.
• Camping is another budget-friendly option available in some locations and can be ideal if you’re looking for a more adventurous and outdoorsy experience.

• Book Far in Advance

You’ve most likely heard of bargain last-minute holidays, but these are not easy to find these days as the travel agencies and airlines compete in different ways. These days, it’s generally better to plan and book things far in advance. Look out for airline sales as most airlines will offer discounted airfare when booking flights early. Airport parking and train tickets to the airport is also usually cheaper when you book far in advance.

Likewise, you can usually enjoy discounts on your accommodation too – always keep your eye out for special offers, deals and promotions. Be sure to sign up to the newsletters of your favourite travel companies and airlines to be notified as soon as an offer starts.

You can even book attraction tickets in advance in the comfort of your home and often save money here too simply by not buying your ticket on arrival or by applying discount codes.

We looked for Orlando Deals before going on our Florida trip, and we saved lots of money on the entry tickets to all the theme parks and water parks by booking everything ahead of time.

If you’re planning to rent a car whilst on holiday, book your rental car in advance too to make sure you get what you want and get a good price.

• Try Price Comparison Websites

Price comparison websites are a great tool for comparing deals and offers for lots of different purchases. The best way to use them is to use several ones to make sure that you’re getting the best possible deal. Don’t forget to look for additional discounts offered by the different sites too. Once you’ve found a good deal, check how much it is to book directly with the provider as this can sometimes be cheaper.

• What about Travel Rewards Credit Cards?

Some credit card companies offer travel rewards so that you can collect points/miles on your shopping to then spend on things like flights and hotels. Sometimes you get additional perks that can be useful for travelling. Like everything, shop around to see which option would work well for you and remember to use the credit card responsibly as otherwise it will just cost you more!  

There are lots of ways to save money once you have arrived at your destination too, but I will cover these in a separate article soon.

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