Looking to get out of the UK before our summer dwindles away? It’s been an expensive year, especially with the constant rise of living costs, but that doesn’t mean your holiday flights have to be expensive too.
Even coming up to September there are still many great destinations to choose from if you decide to get away, with the added benefits of great weather and no crowds, as discussed here by the Guardian.
Europe has many great cities that you can visit. If you are less rigid on where and when you want to go might, you end up having a more spontaneous and enjoyable trip.
Whether you’re a group of friends out to party or a family needing that well-deserved holiday without breaking the bank, below you’ll find five top tips on how to save money while still enjoying that quality holiday you’re after.
Keep your options open
This is something to consider when looking for cheap flights to Europe, especially from London. Try not to have your heart set on one destination and have a few options in mind. Also, be flexible on when you fly, the route taken, the airlines and the airports you use.
For instance, flights to Portugal will be cheaper at certain out-of-season periods of the year.
You might need to fly to a particular city on a particular date, but the more you can compromise on locations and dates, the cheaper your flights will be.
Fly early in the week
Flying on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday will be cheaper than Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Keep checking and searching for flights on the right day with your budget in mind.
Flying early or late in the day can also have an effect on flight prices. If you fly at 5am or 11pm, it may be cheaper than your usual or preferred flight times.
Shop around
There’s no single shop to go to or website to use for finding the cheapest flights. If you want the best price you really do have to spend some time looking for it. However, some websites specialise in smaller UK airports such as Southampton airport, which is great if you’re local. It will save you money on actually getting to the airport, freeing up your cash to be spent in the sun.
Save money on hotels instead of flights
If compromising on flight location and time isn’t your thing, then try and look for some better deals on hotels. If you’re on a budget, cutting down on hotel expenditure may be a safe option. There are a lot more hotels than airlines out there!
Travel light
Over-packing is also something to consider when booking a trip. Most lower-priced airlines charge extra for more weighty suitcases. It would be advisable to check the airline’s weight requirements and pack accordingly. Whether you’re going out for a few days or a month, you should try packing only things that you really need.
Save yourself the hassle of lugging heavy suitcases around and then having to pay extra for them!
