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Here are a few tips we’ve come up with to help you to cut the cost of your holiday - apologies to the seasoned travellers who know these things already.
Check if you can make any savings by booking online.
Quite a number of airlines and tour operators offer a discount if you book online. It’s worth having a look if you haven’t tried already. (A tip from Angus: Try printing off your online quote and take it along to the travel agents office and try a bit of haggling).
Book off-peak and mid-week whenever possible.
You’ll find that hotels and flights are much cheaper off-peak - ideally away from bank holidays and school holidays. You can often save quite a bit by travelling mid-week - and it tends to be a lot quieter at the airports.
Contact the tourist office of where heading off to and ask for any special offers for tourists. Quite often they’ll send you a useful brochure and a few maps.
Take your own sandwiches rather than buy stuff at the overpriced shops in the or on the plane. Regulations may stop you taking water and other drinks through control.
Booking earlier will always save you money and not always the last minute.
Always use an ABTA agent - without this approval your holiday could end up with tears.
Compare the cost of travel insurance and foreign currency before you buy from a travel agency. Have a look online or even in places like Boots and Tesco for their travel insurance offers. If you’re new to buying foreign currency most travel agents will simply change your money on the spot. Remember that it’s tricky to exchange foreign coins back into British money.
Tesco ClubCard and XL.com - have a close look at this option for really saving money. If you shop at Tesco regularly or buy you petrol from them join the Tesco ClubCard scheme. You get a point for every £ you spend plus there are often incentives which quickly increase your points total. Every few months the points are added up and you are given the chance to use them as part payment for a shopping trip. Or, you can save all your points - let them roll over for a few months and then redeem for 4 times their value with XL.com. So, if you can accumulate 100 points from Tesco this will give you £400 worth off your flight tickets with XL.com. It works without any hassle, and XL are pretty decent to fly with.
Special Tips from Angus
Mark inside your suitcase - just now and again suitcases go astray - write inside your case with a permanent marker pen your house number and postcode
eg ... house number 44 postcode S65 AXC so put ... 44/ S65 AXC on the inside of your cases and bags
Try to only take needed items on board aircraft ..like boarding passes, passports, money and needed tablets etc. All other things like sun creams, body sprays are better of in your case which will speed up security.
Try not to wear too much metal jewelry as you will only trigger the body scanners which again will only delay you and others going through passport control areas.
Dehydration can be a problem due to air recycled during a flight .. beer and alcohol also has the same effect and causes big queues for the aircraft’s toilets. A better Idea is to have your drink once you arrive - most places are cheaper than the UK anyway. Under no account must you go without a drink. Try bottled water or have your tipple with your in flight meal. Avoid two hours in the pub they may refuse you to board if you go overboard with the booze.
Check in by the stated times. Most operators ask you to check in 2, or sometimes 3, hours before departure. So if your flight time is 11am you must be checked in for 9am. The pilot has the right to take off any time within these times. This happened to Angus - the plane left an hour early. So remember to keep an eye on the departure boards and if they say ...boarding now ... go and board. Do not make the mistake of thinking for example .. we have 45 minutes left .. they will off load your bags and the only thing to be left, could very well be you be you .
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