The school holidays are about to begin. Normally this would be the cue for an exodus to foreign climes. But as the cost of food, fuel and mortgages soars many have left it until the last minute to decide what to do.
Last week a Times survey reported that a third of the public are switching their plans from a holiday abroad to a holiday in Britain. Gordon Brown himself announced that he will be spending this summer in Southwold, Suffolk.
As the economic gloom deepens it appears that many have scaled back their plans and are opting for what Americans are calling a "staycation" rather than a vacation. Unless the weather improves substantially it looks like its going to be one of the most miserable summers for years.
But don't despair. Before you give up on Barbados in favour of Bognor take a look at our 10 tips which, taken together, could save you hundreds of pounds on your next trip.
1 Knock off hidden extras online
If you are booking a package holiday, using the internet will usually save you money compared with going to a travel agent, and also gives you the chance to get rid of hidden extras.
For example, if you go for a one-week self-catering holiday for a family of four to Cyprus flying from Gatwick with First Choice on July 20, the price is £1,419.18 if you book it as standard through its website.
If you exclude flight meals, cut the baggage allowance from 20kg to15kg per person and get your own transport to and from the airport you save £130.
Also, if you remove your "world care fund" contribution, which is essentially the optional carbon-offset charge, you knock off another £4.50 - saving £134.50 and taking the total cost to £1,284.68. This "carbon footprint offsetting" is one to watch on many flight and holiday websites as it may be included automatically, but you can usually remove it if you wish.
2 Plan your parking
If you fail to book at all and go to the long-stay car park at Gatwick, you would pay £9 a day - or a total of £63 for a one-week holiday. If you go to the short-stay car park, you will pay a whopping £20.90 a day, according to BAA Advance, which deals with car park pre-booking for Gatwick - £146.30 for a one-week break.
Sites such as Holidayextras and Simplyparking offer a range of options. For example, through Holiday Extras, you can park at Gatwick for £59.80 in the first week of August. It’s only a saving of £3 but every little helps.
3 Don't get currency at the airport
If you leave your currency purchase until you reach the airport, you will get about 10 per cent less than if you buy it elsewhere. You should also make sure you are not taken in by "no commission" deals as they often have a worse exchange rate.
Marks & Spencer and the Post Office are consistently competitive on the high street, and a recent survey by Which?, the consumer group, found that Chequepoint, Saga and Travelex were among the cheapest places to buy foreign currency.
The most expensive place, besides airports, are travel agents. Thomson, Going Places and First Choice were among the most expensive, according to the Which? survey.
4 Chop the cost of flights
Air travellers can pay hundreds of pounds more than other passengers on the same flight, for seats booked at the same time, depending on whether they bought their ticket through the airline or a partner.
The difference arises due to a practice called codesharing, where an airline sells tickets on a flight operated by another. Most airlines are part of a wider network and can offer their partners seats on their flights, which they can then sell at their own prices.
The best way to ensure you are not paying over the odds is to use a website such as Skyscanner, Flightchecker or Kayak. These send your trip details to scores of airlines and flight-broker websites for a range of quotes, listing the cheapest first.
5 Ask to pay in local currency
Hotels, restaurants and retailers have found a way to fleece holidaymakers using cards abroad with a scam known as dynamic currency conversion. When you pay by card, you should be given the option of paying a bill in the local currency or in pounds.
The hotel, shop or restaurant should inform the cardholder verbally of the payment choice before the transaction. However, many do not, converting your bill automatically into sterling at their own uncompetitive conversion rate, plus commission of up to 4 per cent.
Always ask to be charged in the local currency to avoid the fee.
6 Use the right card
Debit and credit cards typically charge a foreign-loading fee of 2.75 per cent plus 2 per cent to 3 per cent on withdrawals.
The Abbey Zero credit card, however, does not charge a fee, will not charge you for foreign usage, and will enable you to withdraw up to £300 a day.
If you are making purchases abroad, you will also not be charged a foreign usage fee by Nationwide or the Post Office Classic Mastercard, but you would be charged for withdrawing cash from an ATM at 2.5 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.
You should always avoid using a credit card for cash withdrawals from an ATM at home or abroad. Not only are you likely to be charged a withdrawal fee, you will also start accruing interest on the amount you withdraw.
7 Get the best cover
If you travel abroad more than once a year, you would probably benefit from taking out annual rather than single-trip cover.
Data from Travelsupermarket shows that for a couple on a multi-trip policy covering Europe, the annual premium is £40 with Top Dog Insurance, which covers you for £10m medical expenses, £2m personal liability cover, £1,250 cancellation cover, and £500 for baggage cover.
Insurance sold alongside a holiday by travel agents, tour operators and airlines is best avoided. It is unregulated and often ridded with exclusions. The Financial Services Authority (FSA), the City watchdog, is stepping in to regulate these sales but not until January.
8 Bundle your calls
Charges for making and receiving calls in the European Union have been capped at 38p and 19p since last summer.
Most networks now offer "travel bundles", which are worth buying if you will make a lot of calls or send numerous texts.
Orange, for example, offers 75 texts to be used in Europe within 30 days for £15. Call customer services from your mobile phone to see if your provider can offer any deals, or refer to its website.
9 Cut car hire costs
Those who leave it to the last minute to pick up a rental at their destination generally will find that the cheaper cars are not available. So book online in advance to get the best deals.
10 Beware travel surcharges
Potential fuel surcharges imposed by airlines and operators in reaction to rising fuel prices could add significantly to the cost of a holiday, particularly where families are involved. Your travel company could ask for a surcharge even after you have booked to cover the soaring cost of oil.
No comments:
Post a Comment