Hot deals on holidays
TRAVELLERS CAN FIND SOME GREAT BARGAINS IF THEY KNOW WHERE TO LOOK
Simply being able to holiday again is precious enough after a year of interrupted travel. But what if your next trip was also a super-saver? Despite a tourism industry in recovery mode, there are savings like never before – you just have to know where to find them.
Rod Carrington, head of product for the Ignite Travel Group which includes My
Holiday Centre, says they are offering deals unlike any they’ve ever had: “We have week-long packages for under $600 to places like Cairns and Port Douglas. I have never seen that before.”
HOW TO GET A GOOD DEAL
Knowing when to book is all important. For flights, booking on a Sunday can save you up to 25 per cent over booking on a Friday, according to Expedia’s 2021
Travel Trends Report. And which day you start your trip also counts, with it being up to 20 per cent cheaper to fly out on Thursday than Sunday.
Go for a package over a roomonly rate, says Rebecca Maitland of Tripadeal.com.au, as you can get value-added inclusions like room upgrades, breakfast and parking for less.
Consider what it is you value, there’s no point getting a free inclusion you don’t want or need. “For some it will be a room upgrade to a bigger room or with a better view that will create a nicer experience,” Maitland says.
It’s important to do your research, looking at live prices on hotel websites for instance, so you don’t get tricked into a “deal” that is based on an inflated rate.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that flexibility is key. Carrington says these days finding a package with a free change and cancellation policy can be as good as money in your pocket.
Travelling outside of peak times will often deliver a better price than peak season. But that doesn’t mean peak-time deals aren’t available.
“They will take a little more digging to find, but cities with high stock like Sydney or the Gold Coast will more likely deliver a deal during peak than a smaller regional centre,” Carrington says.
If you are having a staycation on in your city, try to be flexible with th your booking and try to travel el midweek. Staying in a hotel or resort during the week will save you up to 15 per cent versus a Saturday night, according to Expedia.
Book early, says Maitland. “If you see it, grab it. Deals will ill often have limited stock allocation.”
Cruise lines are putting forward their best prices ever to try to stimulate their industry, Carrington says.
“There are great domestic cruise deals for travel within the next three to four months and great deals for international travel well into 2022,” he says.