Hot tips for a stress-free holiday in the sunshine
IF THE winter weather is making you pine for warmer climes, now is the perfect time to book your next holiday in the sun. Millions of Britons book their summer holiday in January to give them something to look forward to after Christmas, and to get incentives such as early bird discounts and free child places.
With carrier Flybe almost collapsing in recent days, and Thomas Cook and WOW Air going bust last year, you need to make sure your booking has maximum protection in case something goes wrong.
BE FLEXIBLE
If you need to travel during the school holidays, or other peak season periods such as bank holidays, booking now gives you the widest choice at the best price.
Travelsupermarket holiday commentator Emma Coulthurst recommends only leaving it to the last minute if you are prepared to go anywhere and make compromises: “The best way to guarantee getting what you want is to book early.”
Coulthurst said Tuesday is typically the cheapest day to depart, while
May offers the best early season deals: “If you have to go away during school holidays, May and October half-terms tend to be cheaper than in summer.”
If tied to the summer, setting off in the very first or last week of the school holidays may help your money travel further.
For the cheapest possible city break, jet out in January or February. What you lose in sunshine, you gain in bargain prices.
Coulthurst said to consider somewhere less well-visited by Britons, such as Vilnius in Lithuania, Tallinn in Estonia, Riga in Latvia or Sofia in Bulgaria, where you get more for your money: “Or visit old favourites such as Rome or Barcelona when they are cheaper and less crowded.”
At the time of writing, two adults could get a couple of nights in Barcelona, including flights and room, from £99 per person, departing Luton on February 9, or Riga for a similar price, departing Stansted on February 16.
GO ALL IN
Going all-inclusive is increasingly popular, Coulthurst said, accounting for more than half of all seven-night 2020 summer holiday price searches for families, far ahead of self-catering or room only.
Many like to lock in their price to escape volatile exchange rates. “All-inclusive also removes the bother over where to eat and how much it will cost,” Coulthurst said.
Currently you can get seven nights with three-star accommodation this summer from £250 per person in the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada in Spain, as well as Mallorca, central Dalmatia in Croatia, Sunny Beach in Bulgaria, and resorts in Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey and Madeira.
Be warned, all-inclusive package holidays can be pricier, costing on average £967 per person per week – £197 more than those booking everything separately at £770.
The research, which comes from Moneysavingheroes.co.uk, said people are willing to pay more because they like dealing with a single travel agent or tour operator, and want to avoid spending extra on food and drink.
However, you must still budget for additional spending, say, on souvenirs, specialist drinks, day trips and meals out.
Spokesman George Charles said many feel it can take the stress out of booking: “You save time and are 100 per cent covered if anything goes wrong.”
Those who shun all-inclusive do so to get a wider choice of destinations, and avoid hotels with families and unruly children, Charles added.
SAFE SECTION
Credit expert Totallymoney is urging holidaymakers to use a credit card when booking, not a debit card.
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act protects credit card transactions between £100 and £30,000, but does not apply to debit cards.
Chief Executive Alastair Douglas said many Britons do not realise they have this protection, which will cover you if your travel company goes bust. The collapse of Thomas Cook and WOW Air left hundreds of thousands massively out of pocket. Douglas added: “Alarmingly, booking a holiday through a travel agent does not cover you if the operator folds, so confirm your holiday is Atol-protected.”
‘Last-minute travel insurance means not being covered if anything goes wrong’
TAKE COVER
Get your travel insurance lined up as soon as you have booked, to give you immediate protection.
People cancelling holidays before departure was the most common reason for travel insurance claims in 2019, mostly due to illness or injury, according to AA Travel Insurance.
Spokesman Jack Cousens said it is best to buy your policy as soon as you have put down your deposit: “Major holiday companies can go bust or people can unexpectedly fall ill and are unable to travel, but this way you are protected.”
Travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk brand manager Rebecca Kingsley said too many buy travel insurance on the day they depart: “Last-minute travel insurance means not being covered if anything goes wrong before departure, leaving you exposed in the event of airline failures, accommodation issues or illness.”