Tabitha Wilson
When it comes to planning a summer trip, figuring out the best options can be difficult even for seasoned travellers. Here are 10 tips and tricks to make choosing your ideal holiday as easy as possible.
Travel out of season
Booking a trip in July and August can be incredibly expensive due to schools breaking up for the summer. Make sure to check when these term dates are to avoid paying too much. Try and travel in June, early July, or early September instead! Often, these months can be quieter as well as cheaper, but still give you a fantastic experience with wonderful weather and plenty of activities to do.
Use Skyscanner to find flights, but always book direct!
Skyscanner is a wonderful website to find the cheapest destinations and flights. It is often my first port of call when it comes to planning a getaway. However, make sure to book directly through the airline once you have found the flights – the price will always remain the same and you’ll avoid any extra fees. Sometimes airlines will charge you more for using a third-party booking agent. You can also easily get caught out by scammers and fraudulent flights this way. Always book direct!
Think outside the box when it comes to your destination
If you’re not super picky about where you go, think outside the box and avoid more well-known holiday hotspots, such as Greece, Spain, and Portugal. Places like Croatia and Montenegro offer similar landscapes, heat, and experiences, but for a cheaper price.
Make sure you’re insured
It can be tempting to skip purchasing travel insurance, particularly if you’re only going somewhere for a weekend break. But it is vital you’re covered in case of emergencies, or you could end up paying a lot more than you bargained for! Websites, such as Compare The Market, will help you to find the cheapest deal. Plus you get the added benefit of access to Meerkat Movies and Meals for the year if you take out a policy.
Take midweek flights
Flights in the middle of the week can often work out cheaper than weekend flights. Think about taking your holiday from Tuesday to Tuesday, or Thursday to Thursday, to save some money.
Pack light
If you want to avoid queueing to check your baggage into the hold and save on expensive baggage fees, consider taking just a carry-on. Stores like Amazon sell bags which perfectly fit the Ryanair hand baggage requirement. Try to think about what you really need to bring – usually, you’ll find you don’t actually need as many clothes as you thought!
Stay in hostels
If you’re solo travelling, think about staying in a hostel. It’s a great way to cut costs and meet people. The majority of hostels will have private accommodation options if you’d rather have your own space!
Don’t eat out every night
Try not to go out to eat every night. If you’re staying at an Airbnb or a hostel, cook your own dishes – it can be fun to buy ingredients from a foreign supermarket and make a meal from scratch. If not, you can always buy ready-to-eat food and snacks in bulk at the start of your trip.
Walk instead of getting public transport
If possible, try and walk as much as you can! You’ll get your steps in, avoid spending unnecessarily on expensive taxis, and get to see a new side of your destination! Of course, only walk if it is safe and you know where you’re going. You don’t want to put yourself in a dangerous situation, particularly if you’re travelling solo.
Choose your bank card carefully
Get a Monzo or a Revolut card for making payments abroad. Both of these cards offer great value for money when it comes to exchange rates, and, with Monzo, you can spend abroad with no fees.
Follow Empoword’s travel tips and tricks
Using these tips and tricks will ensure you have a fun, safe, and cheap vacation!
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Featured image courtesy of Dominika Roseclay on Pexels. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Tabitha Wilson
Tabitha is an MA Journalism student at Sheffield University. She has previously worked as a maritime journalist, and studied politics at Durham University. She enjoys writing about music, culture, and travel.