The top tips and tricks of travel professionals have been revealed by TRAVEL specialists. They can save you quite a bit when travelling overseas.
Many Brits want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, but instead they would rather spend some time in the sun for a few weeks.
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The cost of living crisis is continuing to impact travellers. They will likely want to cut back on expenses.
Katie McIntosh, travel blogger and founder of Katie ShowThese top tips were shared by experts as well as others. We hope that they will help travellers save hundreds of pounds.
SEE WHICH AIRPORT IS THE CHEAPEST
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Most people simply choose to fly to their closest airport. However, Blake Walsh, a travel expert and author at Travel LensAccording to, it’s worth first comparing prices.
He shared his story Huffington Post: “Vacation costs can differ when traveling from different airports, so carry out some research to see if you can save money by flying from an airport which isn’t as close to where you live.”
Someone who regularly flies Heathrow might want to check if City Airport or Gatwick offers a better deal.
“While you may have to drive a little extra, flight prices could be hundreds of dollars cheaper at the next-closest airport,” Phil Dengler is co-founder.The Vacationer.
Use a local car service
“Pre-planning things as much as possible is a great way to save costs,” Laura Ratliff is senior editor atTripSavvy.
“For instance, while I used to rely mainly on big global rideshare services in most cities, now I take a few extra minutes to find a local car service wherever I go.”
Using an option like Uber to get around while you’re on holiday may see costs rapidly rise.
It is a good idea to look into other options for riding in your area that may be less expensive.
Ratliff suggested that there may be other advantages to local car services.
“Many of them are cheaper, have nicer vehicles, and offer services like pre-scheduled, in-person airport pickups, which can be handy when you’re struggling with lots of luggage or arriving late and want the reassurance that you can safely get to your hotel,” Ratliff added.
PARKING IN PRIORITISE-FREE AREAS
Make sure you don’t overlook any related costs if you are driving your own car or renting one.
Extra costs can be occurred if you have to fork out for parking everytime you’re out and about.
“If I have a rental car, I look for a hotel that offers free parking for guests,” travel bloggerTV hostLa Carmina.
“Otherwise, the hotel parking rate can cost you $40-50 a day.”
It is also a good idea to choose a hotel within walking distance to the major sites and restaurants. This not only reduces travel time but can also help you save petrol.
STICK TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT
“Taking public transportation is often much cheaper than getting a taxi or renting a car,” According to a travel bloggerSean Lau.
“It is also a great way to get to know the area and get a better sense of the local culture.”
It is best to check up on the public transport routes beforehand to make sure it is safe and convenient – you may end up having a long walk from the nearest stop to where you actually want to get to.
“Many popular cities offer easy-to-navigate metro systems, as well as widespread bus lines or trams,” According to a travel bloggerRocky Trifari.
“If your route is accessible via public transportation, you can probably get there for a fraction of what it would cost to go directly via taxi.”
Stay in a Different Apartment
“Consider breaking up your trip by staying in different hotels rather than the same one,” Sosie Matos is a wealth coach.OneEleven Financial Wellness.
“You can sometimes get a better deal and also get to explore more of the area.”
You’ll need to be flexible to benefit from this hack but you could end up making significant savings.
See the hotel selections and find out how rates vary depending on your length of stay.
“Search different lengths and dates to make sure you’re taking advantage of promotions like third, fourth or fifth night free,” Chris Hutchins recommended, “A “financial optimizer” Host of the podcast“All the Hacks.”
PICK ACCOMMODATION INCLUDING A KITCHEN
He shared his story Huffington Post: “One of the biggest expenses when traveling is food,” Lau said. “Eating out can get expensive, especially if you’re dining in a touristy neighbourhood.”
You can cook where you’re staying for much less than dining out each night.
Shopping at local supermarkets and stores for groceries can be fun.
“I always look for hotels with at least a kitchenette,” Dengler said.
“Staying at a hotel with a kitchenette or full kitchen allows you to prepare your meals and avoid high restaurant prices. I save hundreds of dollars on trips by cooking breakfast and lunch in my hotel room or Airbnb and only eating out for dinner.”
LOOKOUT RESTAURANT DEALS
“I always save my fine dining experiences for lunch,” Jessica van Dop DeJesus founder, editor atThe Dining Traveler.
“Most restaurants offer a prix-fixe lunch menu that is much more affordable than the evening menus. I splurge for lunch and then eat at fast-casual places or street food at night.”
If you don’t want the hassle of having to cook, it’s a good idea to hunt around for the best deals and offers.
“A usually pricey restaurant may have a delicious special menu one night of the week or a discounted happy hour menu at a particular time of day that you can uncover with some research and planning,” Ratliff added.
THE BEST TIME FOR A HOLIDAY
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“I recommend traveling during the destination’s shoulder season,” Dengler said. “That is the time between the peak and the offseason.”
Even though not everyone can take a rest when it’s convenient for them, some people can. Avoid peak seasons which are late May-early June or late August-mid September. The weather will remain warm and the crowds will stay away.
However, different destinations will experience seasonal demands that are quite different so it’s best to research your options first.
“Not only will it be cheaper for you to fly to the destination, but once you arrive, prices might be cheaper overall,” A travel blogger saidEsther Susag.
“A lot of popular destinations will hike up the prices of their excursions, hotels, and even restaurants during popular months to travel.”
HAVE A CURRENCY CONVERTION CHEAT SHEET
Get to know the currency of your destination before you leave.
“One common behaviour people fall into while traveling is overspending simply because they don’t understand the conversion,” McIntosh said.
“When there is a large difference in the conversion rate it can be overwhelming to keep track of and constantly be doing the mental maths of calculations, so many times people just purchase things without thinking of what they are actually spending.”
McIntosh advises that you have a “cheat sheet” Keep track of the currency conversions and use them to quickly check out what each item actually costs.
“It’s saved me from overspending many times over the years,” McIntosh said.
“It’s also very helpful when getting cash out of ATMs, because sometimes the denominations offered are far more than you would need.”
Compare Currency Exchanges
To get the best rate, compare exchange rates from different companies.
“If you are traveling to a destination where you have to use a foreign currency, you might be tempted to use a currency exchange,” Lau said.
“However, this can often be a costly mistake. Instead, consider using a bank card that offers no ATM withdrawal fees and no international transaction fees while you are abroad.”
Best Day to Fly
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“If possible, pick your trip dates based on the cheapest days to fly to your destination,” Dengler said. “Doing so can save you hundreds, if not thousands.”
A good tip is to check Google Flight’s calendar which can help you pick the cheapest dates from a number of airlines.
You can also have a significant impact on the day that you book and search for your flights.
Weekends are a very popular time to fly, and prices can go up.
“Buy air tickets on Monday or Tuesday between 11pm-12am” Recommendation for a finance coachTatiana Tsoir.
“Prices are highest at weekday lunchtime, and sometimes even if you keep checking the same site several times, the prices will go up because your IP address is being recognised. Clear the cookies.”
SET FLIGHT ALERTS
“Flight alerts can be a useful way to help monitor airfare if you have some parameters in mind for your trip,” Trifari added.
“For example, if you know you aim to go to a specific destination during certain dates, I would recommend enabling alerts to monitor for price increases and decreases. Not unlike stocks, timing the market can be difficult.”
You could be charged more for a flight if you delay. This is often true in popular locations.
You can save money if your goal is to travel somewhere less well-known. Wait for the prices to drop and then buy tickets.
If you just fancy a trip away but don’t have anywhere particular in mind, you can also set up notifications of trending deals to get yourself a bargain.
“I love using flight services like Scott’s Cheap Flights orTravel Piratesto get notifications for cheap flights, and that can also take out a lot of the work to research and find the best deals,” Susag spoke.
La Carmina is located in Vancouver and noted her use ofYVR DealsThis site sends you email alerts about low-cost flights in the region.
“Thanks to this head’s up, I got my dad a flight to Hong Kong for around $500 roundtrip, and helped my friends book flights to Australia for under $1,000,” She noted.
“Just be sure to book the flights immediately upon receiving the deal alert, as they usually sell out quickly or the price jumps back up within hours to a day.”
LOOKOUT – FREE TOURS
“A little time spent researching can save you a lot,” Hutchins said. “The trick is that the travel industry is great at monetising our desire for convenience and simplicity, so you might need to put in a little extra effort, but the returns can be huge.”
It does not apply only to accommodations and flights; it can also be applied to activities, such as guided tour.
Hutchins said: Tthere are a ton of amazing free tours you can take ― though I do encourage you to tip the tour guide for their services.”
EXPLORE AWAY ELSEWHERE THE MAIN TOURIST AREAS GO
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“It doesn’t matter where you travel to, if you are in the main tourist area then you will be paying more than you need to,” McIntosh said.
“Often times you can easily save money by simply walking a couple of streets outside the centre of town — provided the area is safe to do so, of course.”
It is especially useful when searching for somewhere to eat. Restaurants further away may be more affordable.
“Check out forums and groups for the local community where you’re going,” Tsoir advised.
“Ask for their advice on local gems, places to eat and visit beyond the touristy areas. Sometimes those are nice to explore and are cheaper too, while also being spots that reflect the true culture.”
COMPARISON SITES –
When planning your trip, check out sites like Kayak, Expedia and Orbitz to get a sense of which dates and travel providers are offering the rates you seek.
You might also consider using the destination search tool to find great deals.
“One of my suggestions is to look at smaller neighbouring towns, cities, or even countries to fly into instead of some of the major hubs,” Ben Julius was the founder and CEO ofTours.
“Sometimes, you’ll find that this saves quite a bit of money, and often provides less of a tourist view of the destination. For example, instead of flying into Milan or Venice, try Verona or Bergamo instead.”
Erika De Santi is a co-founder and solo travel specialist.WeRoadAs a guide, these sites can be used as a starting point.
“Comparison sites can be useful in the research stage of planning your trip,” She elaborated.
“But while they claim to scan every site to bring you the best deals, they often don’t flag those that are specific to an airline or hotel.”
“When I’m ready to book I always prefer to book direct with the airline, so I’ll check on their website, and then I’ll download their app and check the price there too,” Claire Summers, the blogger behind “Travel Bloggers”, saidClaire’s Itchy Feet.
“This doesn’t work for all airlines but some often do special app-only prices, so it’s worth a try.”
Join the Travel Rewards Programs
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There may be a variety of credit cards that offer travel rewards, as well as store cards. This might make it worth considering.
Tsoir said: “Points on airline travel and hotels make it significantly cheaper than traveling using money.”
Tsoir suggested that you sign up to email lists with promotional rates, and take advantage of any discount programs.
“There are plenty of apps that will help you find live discounts on food and drinks, cheap fuel, and occasional freebies,” said David Woody, a country development and travel expert at Sixt.
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