There is no arguing that holidays are expensive; depending on where you’re travelling, you might need to spend over £1,000 on flights alone, plus your accommodation, trips and spending money; the costs can become unaffordable for some people. There are, however, ways you can save money and reduce costs. This article has a few tips to help you get a great deal on your next holiday.

Set up price alerts

Flight prices fluctuate daily and even hourly. To get the best deal, you can set up price alerts for the destination where you’re travelling. You will be alerted by text, email or a notification from an app when the price of the flight changes. This can help you save money, but it can also be a risk. Flights can go up and down in price, so you’ll need to make a judgement when to purchase them, hoping they don’t reduce further in the future.

Flexibility is key

When booking any holiday, you can often get a better deal if you’re able to fly at times that aren’t popular with other travellers. Peak flights on the weekend will be more expensive as there’s more demand for these days. If you can be flexible when booking your flights and accommodation, you can save yourself a significant amount of money. Even changing your flight by one day might save you over £100 or more. If it's possible with your work and situation, try to be flexible, even if it's just for a few days. This could mean booking more time off work initially and then cancelling a few days once you’ve confirmed your holiday booking. 

Explore different types of accommodation

When you’re booking accommodation, don’t just look at hotels or holiday complexes. There are also lots of other options that can help you save money, including Airbnb and hostels. If you’re travelling on your own and want to meet new people, a shared dorm in a hostel could be the perfect place to stay. They’re often less than half the price of staying in a hotel room. Airbnb and other accommodation listing sites can also open up opportunities to stay somewhere different. If you choose to rent the entire accommodation, you may get access to a kitchen where you can cook your own meals. This can save you money as you won't need to eat out every night, unlike in hotels which often don’t provide cooking facilities. 

Fly to and from different airports

You might be surprised how much money you can save if you fly from Birmingham and back into the East Midlands or two airports that are in close proximity. This can be great, but it can also cause some issues. If you prefer to use car parking at Glasgow airport or the airport you’re flying from, then booking flights from different airports isn’t the best option. This only works if you’re getting a taxi or public transport to and from the airport. You’ll need to look at the costs and weigh up your options to see which is cheaper and more convenient overall. 

Kids go free

If you have children, you need to keep an eye out for offers such as kids go free. These can help you save a significant amount of money on your holiday. There are often lots of different options and offers around school holidays that make it more affordable for parents to take their children on holiday. Make sure you shop around and do your research before purchasing. Keeping a spreadsheet with details of all of the holiday offers, total price and what’s included in the holiday can help you make the best decision. 

Booking a holiday can be fun, but it also takes some time if you want to get the best deal possible. Always look at reviews and research the holiday offers before paying; sometimes, they’re too good to be true. Also, remember to budget for the extras you will need, such as holiday insurance, spending money, baggage allowance, allocated seating and parking at the airport. These things can add up, so it's best to consider them at the start of your holiday booking journey.