
Planning your holiday for 2025? Whether you are watching the pennies or want to get a good deal, Lisa de Silva suggests ways to make your holiday budget work hard
Christmas is over. The tree has been recycled. The glitter and glitz all packed away. We’ve vowed to eat less. We’ve committed to daily gym workouts. And we’ve started to plan our holidays. Whether you’re planning a bucket trip adventure, two weeks in the Mediterranean, a luxury cruise or a weekend in Suffolk, knowing you’ve got a great deal makes the prospect all the sweeter. So, here are my top tips for saving money on your next holiday.
USE A PRICE COMPARISON WEBSITE
Use one of the many holiday comparison websites to research the price of flights, hotels and package holidays. Do also check the airline, hotel and tour operator’s own websites to ensure you are getting the best deal. Sometimes booking direct may offer added benefits, such as a free breakfast. You may also find last-minute deals not available on comparison sites.
PLAN WHEN TO BOOK
The rule of thumb is to book early if you are tied to dates and destinations. This can often unlock special offers and discounts including free child places. Alternatively, if you can be flexible, booking late can be the cheapest way to secure a package holiday, if you don’t mind exactly when or where you go.
WHEN AND WHERE TO GO
For those tied to school holidays, the last two weeks in August are always cheaper than the early weeks, as most people do not want to be away the week before the children go back to school. For those without those demands, travelling in the low season will ensure you make considerable savings. Also bear in mind the cost once you’re there. Travelling to destinations such as Portugal, Poland, Bulgaria, Albania and the Baltic States, you’ll find the cost of living is cheaper than in countries like France, Spain, Italy and Scandinavia.
CONSIDER A PACKAGE OR AN ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAY
Traditional package holidays which include flights, luggage, transfers and accommodation can offer outstanding value for money. What’s more, they offer greater consumer protection in the event of anything going wrong and with climate change and airline volatility now a reality, that can be reassuring.
Package holidays are usually cheapest for holidays of 7 and 14 nights to the most popular Mediterranean resorts. Moreover, all-inclusive deals which usually include all meals, snacks and drinks can save families and groups of friends a fortune, even if you don’t always eat at the resort. To ensure you’re getting a good deal, work out the DIY cost if you were to book everything separately.
It can also be cheaper to book a package holiday than pay for flights to certain destinations, even if you don’t plan on using the accommodation. This is often the case with airline holidays to places like Florida and Goa. Once you’ve found the holiday you want, get a price from a travel agent and then call round other agents to see if they will better it.
HOLIDAY LUGGAGE
Good advice would always be to travel light, so you don’t have to pay additional charges to bring your bag into the cabin or to check it into the hold. The other big advantage is that you know your bag will not go astray. Any toiletries such as sun lotion over 100ml can be bought once through airport security and left at the destination before you fly home. If you cannot travel light, prepay for hold or larger cabin luggage as the charges at the airport can be more than double the cost.
HOLIDAY SPENDING
Avoid hefty exchange fees by using a credit or debit card that offers almost perfect exchange rates. Always pay in the local currency and if you plan on taking cash with you, always shop around for the best rates in advance. Changing money at the airport is a needlessly costly exercise.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POINTS, VOUCHERS AND LOYALTY SCHEMES
Loyalty points and rewards are another excellent way to save money on the cost of a holiday. They can often be redeemed towards the cost of flights, hotels and upgrades, and offer benefits such as a free extra night and breakfast.
AIRPORT PARKING
Again, shop around and compare all your parking options, along with any public transport links. Check the airport website, independent parking providers and consider an airport hotel package which offers free parking.
TYPE OF HOLIDAY
For those happy to think outside the box, other types of holidays, including home swaps, house sitting, volunteering and working holidays, all offer the chance to explore more of the world for a fraction of the cost.