It’s still not too late to book a summer holiday. And if you try these three tips, it needn’t break the bank either.
Swerve the school holidays
Everybody knows prices plummet if you can travel outside peak school holiday times.
But here’s a clever idea: Compare the school holiday dates both in the place you’re travelling to as well as the place you’re travelling from to see when prices are likely to drop.
In France, schools resume on September 1. However, if you’re travelling to Spain or Italy, you should wait until September 8 for the peak season to end. (There can be some local and regional variations, so do check.)
Try an unusual destination
The general rule for summer holidays is that the more popular the location, the more expensive it will be. It’s simple supply and demand.
Off-the-beaten-track places are cheaper (and quieter), but the weather and things to see and do are just as good, if not better.
A certain airline (whose name we won’t mention) has a reputation for flying to places you’ve never heard of, but which offer great holiday value.
Places to consider for good value include north-west Spain, south-west Spain, southern Italy, the Baltic region, and much of central Europe, including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
Travel by bus or train
In these days of the budget airline, it’s easy to think that flying is always the cheapest option for travelling to Europe. But that’s not always the case. Travelling by coach or train can be much more affordable.
Coach and train providers often offer significant discounts for children, students and those over 60. You won’t need to pay rip-off bag charges or fork out for extortionate airport parking either.
Once you set foot in mainland Europe, train fares are mostly much cheaper than in the UK.
Flixbus and similar bus networks have some rock-bottom fares, especially if you’re flexible on route and travel time.
You get to see much more of your destination when you travel by bus or train, too.
We hope you’ve found these last-minute holiday tips useful. If you use them to book a break, we hope you have a great time.
If you know someone who could do with a last-minute holiday, please share these tips with them.
