The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
20 cost-cutting tips for your trip
BOOK SAVVY
PICK TIMES AS WELL AS DATES
When booking flights, be sure to think about timings as well as dates. Those departing at less sociable times can be far cheaper and may suit you perfectly well. Take easyJet fares from Gatwick to Malaga on Saturday July 23. Depart at 11.20am and you will pay £214 for the outbound leg. Leave at 7.05pm and the fare is £129. For a family of four, that is a saving of £340 on one flight alone.
SAVE: £100s
FORGO THE POOL
Private pools add hundreds of pounds to the cost of a villa. Book one within walking distance of the beach – the Greek islands and northern Spain are great locations for finding these – and while you may miss out on the privacy, you will have the sea on your doorstep.
SAVE: £100s
THINK LATERALLY
Costs can be deceptive. For example, rental cottages in northern France are generally much cheaper than in Cornwall or Devon. And they are also cheaper than a mobile home on a French campsite. In high season, one of these big enough for a family of four is likely to cost at least £1,200 for a week on a big site in the Vendée. A two-bedroom gîte in Normandy could be as little as £500 – both prices include the cost of the ferry fare.
SAVE: £100s
TRAVEL LIGHT
In recent years airlines have unfortunately become ever more scrooge-like on baggage allowances and the charges for hold – and some cabin – bags are now very significant. A return from London to Corfu with Ryanair (July 24-31) costs £237.98 with a small under-seat bag (40 x 20 x 25cm). Including 20kg of checked-in luggage, the fare per person is £337.96.
SAVE: £100s
LEAVE FERRY EARLY
If you are booking your car on a short Channel crossing, taking an early morning service can make a significant difference in the fare. I checked P&O’s rates (poferries. com) between Dover and Calais for a two-week return departing July 23 and could save 20 per cent (£40) on a £195 return by opting for ferries that left before 7am. As prices rise nearer the departure date, potential savings are likely to increase.
SAVE: £10s
STRIKE A DEAL
The travel industry has had an incredibly hard time over the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, but you may face financial pressures of your own. So if you are booking by phone or in person with an operator or agent, don’t be shy about trying to negotiate for a better deal – especially if you are including several elements such as flights, car hire and accommodation in your arrangements.
SAVE: Potentially £100s
TRIM THE
EXTRAS
PARK SMART
It will always be cheaper to pay in advance than when you turn up at the airport car park. For example, the summer rate at Stansted Long Stay is £23.50 a day – so eight days would cost £188. Booked in advance through the airport (stanstedairport.com/parking) it will cost you about £53. Websites such as holidayextras.co.uk or parkbcp.co.uk offer deals that also include overnight stays at airport hotels.
SAVE: £10s
BE SANDWICH SAVVY Preparing food before you leave for the airport will save you a small fortune. Sandwiches and soft drinks for a family of four will set you back £25 on a plane or at the terminal. You can’t take liquids through security, so fill empty bottles in departures.
SAVE: £10s