Going on holiday doesn’t have to be expensive and you can save money by going self-catering. That said, you need to know what you are doing or it can soon add up. Here I have some tips from Deal Town to help you find the best holiday without spending the earth!
Try to be flexible with your dates
Whilst many will want to go away in the middle of the school holidays, booking one at the beginning or the end can actually save you more money than you may think.
It is also important not to get too fixated on certain dates. Whilst your self-catering getaway might be to mark a friend’s birthday or an anniversary, the more flexible you are with your availability, the more likely you will be able to grab the best deal.
When looking, try to play around with a few different dates, as well as look at the flight costs at the same time – you don’t want to book a holiday and realise the flights are extortionate.
Also, consider whether packaging the flights with the accommodation is the best option. Sometimes booking separately can be less expensive.
Understand the acronyms
Many self-catering properties don’t need certifications such as ABTA and ATOL to guarantee customers.
However, there are still ways to check your property meets certain standards to ensure you’re getting the best value for money.
Trustpilot has plenty of reviews of self-catering properties and has a lot of in-depth information which the booking site may not provide.
It is also worth asking what organisations the property is affiliated to. Main accreditation bodies are the national Tourist Boards such as VisitEngland, VisitWales, VisitScotland and VisitIreland etc.
All of these bodies will physically inspect properties and give them a grading based on a fixed set of criteria, which you can easily find online.
Find accommodation within walking distance
It’s all well and good finding accommodation which is cheap as chips, but if it is too far away from supermarkets, beaches and city centres, you may find yourself spending a fortune on travel to have a day out.
Find a place in an area with public transport within proximity, or even in the middle of all the fun. The less money you spend on travel, the more you can spend on food and activities.
Go with a big group
When it comes to larger groups, it will almost always be cheaper to book one larger property than two smaller ones and split the cost.
Generally, larger accommodations will be cheaper on a “per head” basis than smaller ones.
Larger groups may also find it cheaper for eating in as opposed to eating out. With more people, you can stock up the fridge and leave less waste behind when you go.
Generally, buying in bulk is a cheaper option, along with group excursions and public transport.
Book directly with a hotel
Whilst using comparison sites to check prices and locations is a good place to start, it is recommended you directly contact the hotel or B&B for a good deal.
Often, their best deals aren’t always on comparison sites.
Also, it may be the case that the hotel is listed as sold out for your dates on a comparison site, however, by directly contacting the accommodation, they could let you know whether they get a last-minute cancellation.
Avoid events when booking accommodation
If you book a weekend somewhere without realising there is a huge concert or sporting event happening at the same time, not only will prices be higher, but also places will be a lot busier.
Generally, weekends are always more expensive than weekdays, due to higher demand, so if you can get away during the week, do so.
Ideally, the weekdays leading up to Christmas, before the 19th of December are going to be your best option.
If this has been helpful and you are starting to pack then here are some things you shouldn’t forget!