Follow our no nonsense tips to save serious money when booking and travelling. Despite the current econonic climate using our tips you can continue to feed your travel habit.
1. If You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get
In the current climate there are some great deals to be found and hotels and airlines are keen for your business. The golden rule is always If you don’t ask, you don’t get’ and this applies to each element of your travel plan. Arrive early at the airport and ask politely for an upgrade. Contact hotels direct to ask for discounts or upgrades especially if you are a large party, are staying awhile or are a repeat customer. Smile politely when you ask and remember those companies that give you great customer service when planning your next trip.
2. Compare, Compare, Compare
Use price comparison websites to compare prices for each element of your holiday including flights, hotels and car hire and it’s worth going to the airline/hotel websites direct to compare prices.
3. Immunizations
Get your travel immunizations from your regular doctor which should be cheaper, if not free, rather than using a specialist travel clinic which will almost certainly cost more (depending on which country you are in).
4. Flights
When you book your next flight watch out for the hidden charges and costs, especially on the no-frills airlines. All these extra charges can soon add up and you might be better off financially by booking a full-service airline.
5. Driving
If your holiday of choice is driving then check out potential routes prior to travel. With a little of planning you could avoid costly toll roads and get better views than from motorways into the bargain!
6. Sleep
Many locations offer short-let apartments as an alternative to hotels and the bonus is that they often have more space than a hotel. You’ll probably also get a kitchen, which can save you money on buying breakfasts and snacks out. Many are also serviced so you’ll still get someone to change your towels regularly.
7. Shop
Consider the purchase price of items whilst shopping. EU travel no longer offers its members savings on tax and duty. Some countries do offer tourist tax refunds and its well worth checking in your local destination on their particular policy.
8. Go Direct and Save Money
Here at PureTravel our mantra is ‘Go Direct and Save Money’. Don’t compromise on your next holiday, book a worldwide travel tour direct with the tour operator in that country. You can also afford a nice smug grin as you’ll give something back to your chosen local community!
If you have any top tips to save money on travel expenses let us know in the comments below – we might even feature you in a future blog post!
