For most families, the summer holiday is the big event that they look forward to for most of the year. It is a chance to get away from it all, go somewhere different and spend time together as a family. But the already high cost of holidays added to the poor exchange rates have made this summer even more challenging in terms of costs for parents. Here we offer some tips to help manage those costs a little and still enjoy your summer break.
DIY your package
If you are a fan of the internet, then doing a DIY holiday package can be a big money saver. To start, go around and sign up for alerts from travel websites, airlines and comparison sites. Also, sign up for websites such as My Voucher Codes where you can find the latest vouchers and discount codes to help bring down the cost.
Consider when you travel as you are looking for your package – mid-week flights are cheaper while flights during the early or late part of the day also tend to be lower in price. If you are booking flights yourself, then make a choice as early as possible as the costs increase as the planes fill up.
When considering hotels, look for ones just outside the main tourist areas as these tend to offer better deals than in the centre of cities or resorts. Even consider renting apartments or villas if you are travelling as a larger group as this can be cheaper.
Managing the smaller costs
Booking the holiday is just the first step – then there are all the other smaller costs that you need to take into account when preparing your finances. There are lots of little ways you can save some money while on holiday to help manage the overall cost.
Consider how you get from the airport to the hotel, for example. Public transport is usually cheapest but can be slow and hard work with all those bags. Consider using a ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft rather than a taxi. Also look for airport parking deals before you travel so that you can leave your car at your home airport and not need a taxi.
Check with your airline and see what food and drink you are allowed to take with you. By taking snacks with you, you can avoid the costs involved with buying food at the airport and ensure you have the right snacks on hand for your kids. You can’t take bottles of water with you but most airlines will let you take empty bottles then fill them up after you have passed security.