Everyone’s looking to save money on their holidays at the moment. So here’s some handy holiday advice and travel tips from our travel experts... Their mission: to save you money!
Chris Leadbeater
Chris is a freelance travel journalist. He writes regularly for the Daily Mail.
Saving money on holiday is a case of thinking laterally. How about staying mid-range when the scenery around you is top-of-the-range? Fancy a week in the Maldives? The pure beauty of its beaches, the clarity of its water, that desert-island feel – are the same whether you choose ultra-luxury or go mid-range. I’ve stayed in the Maldives on both a three- and five-star basis, and while there are obvious differences between the two grades, the tropical fish are still beautiful, the diving spectacular and the sunsets glorious however much you pay.
Similarly, if a relaxing beach break is your main requirement, you aren’t missing out if you book a less chic destination. It will typically cost more to go to Antigua than it would to Varadero in Cuba, but both have lovely Caribbean seafront, and if you aren’t planning to leave the sand during the week, other distinguishing factors are irrelevant.
Lastly, it’s worth considering Africa at the moment. Particularly South Africa – one of the few countries where sterling is still holding its own against the local currency. You can currently get over 13 Rand to the pound, and the cost of living – particularly eating out – works out at roughly a third of what it is in the UK.
Abigail Cattell
Abigail is a freelance travel journalist. She writes for Wanderlust, the Guardian, ASOS Magazine and TTG Luxury.
Get your holiday money before you get to the airport or you’ll lose out on the exchange rate. Treat this purchase as you would any other; it always pays to shop around.
Some debit and credit cards will charge you to buy foreign currency, so it’s best to pay for your currency with cash (withdraw the money from a cash point with your debit card first). It’s also worth bearing in mind that some credit cards charge you every time you use your card abroad – check with your provider before you go to avoid any nasty surprises.
An all-inclusive holiday can be a great way to budget. It does cost more than a room-only price initially, but you can pay for your holiday in instalments before you go, and then you’ve got few or no extra costs once you’re there.
Nicky Holford
Nicky is a freelance travel writer. She writes regularly for the Sunday Telegraph.
Travel outside school holidays and peak holiday times if you don't have kids and can be flexible. You will find that flights, holidays, car rental and even restaurants are better value. Don’t feel afraid to negotiate if it’s low season.
Food and drink is one of the major costs on a holiday. In expensive resorts such as ski or luxury resorts half board or all inclusive can be the best value or go for self-catering. Have your main meal at lunch, and look for “Happy Hours” to save on expensive drinks such as cocktails then downsize to beer or local wine. Eat where the locals go, not at expensive tourist restaurants and choose good value specials of the day.
Pick a resort that’s easy to get around on local transport to save on car rental. Try riding a bike. Take local ferries rather than expensive day trips that go to the same places. Check times and frequency on the web before you travel.
Turn off your mobile voicemail and stick to texting. Some mobile companies now include certain foreign countries in your inclusive minutes. Check with your operator before you go away.
David Atkinson
David is a freelance travel writer and dad to three-year-old Maya. He writes for the Observer and Sunday Telegraph amongst others.
Costs can rack up quickly on a family holiday, so play smart and look for deals to make your holiday cash go further. I've played the deals to my advantage on holidays with my three-year-old little girl - and saved pounds. Seek out offers such as a kids-eat-free promotion, free accommodation for kids sharing a room with their parents, and free child seats for hire cars. Many resorts offer free childcare, others include free daytime kids' clubs with activities to help little ones burn off that energy. The key is to be informed. Check the brochure for details when you book and ask, too, when you arrive at the destination.
Try to shop like a local too. Instead of packing everything and the kitchen sink for a family trip, leave the suitcases half empty, save the holiday money for the actual holiday and save your shopping for once you reach your destination. I've found it often works out far cheaper to pick up kids' clothes and shoes locally in the States or Asia than to buy them from my local high street. Florida, for example, is awash with shopping malls with great deals on branded kids’ clobber, while currency differentials ensure that holiday garb from South Africa is a fraction of the cost of the UK.