Brits eager to soak up the sun in hotspots like Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy this summer are being tipped off by travel gurus to ditch the usual week or two-week breaks. Eurocamp’s travel whizz Karen Williams is encouraging UK travellers to shake up their holiday habits, saying: “There are lots of holiday providers which don’t have fixed departure or arrival days, so you can have complete flexibility over your travel dates.”
She also advises: “Have a play around with the length of your trip by a few nights either way and if you’re flying, choose a duration that allows you to get the best flight prices.”
Williams is also pointing out that different travel options could lead to big savings. “Whether it is putting the family in the car and hitting the motorways for a cross-country road trip, or opting for rail travel, looking for different modes of transport can get you some serious savings.” she says.
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Moreover, Williams suggests sharing the holiday bill with pals or family to cut costs. “A great tip is to split the cost of your accommodation with your mates or nearest and dearest as this can save you a fortune,” she recommends.
“Holiday homes are perfect for this, allowing you to book accommodation for a fixed price, not per person,” she adds.
Williams also suggested that booking less conventional lengths of stay could lead to significant savings, reports Birmingham Live. By moving away from the standard seven, ten or fourteen-day bookings, travellers could carve out a unique holiday experience while saving on both flights and hotel bills.
“Looking at earlier or later in the season can help to keep costs down,” she said. “For those travelling with children, look for the latter weeks of the school holidays running up to September which tend to be cheaper than the main part of the school holidays. When travelling during these months, think carefully about the destinations. If you’re looking for sunshine, southern Europe is slightly hotter than more northern regions so you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors even during off-peak months.”
Ms Williams said: “You don’t need to go out to enjoy a good, filling meal and instead taste some local delicacies from the comfort of your own holiday home. You can even pack and bring your own food to your holiday home to ensure that the kids have all their favourite snacks.”
She went on: “For the super organised, many travel providers will be bringing out their 2024 holidays over the coming months, so keeping an eye out for these can also help you save for next year too.”