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December 20, 2017
The annual push by the travel industry for 2018 holidays is here. You won't be able to escape the sheer volume of advertising that is hitting our TVs, newspapers, billboards and even our online browsing.
But how do you wade through the sea of bargains to actually find a great deal for you? Simply follow our tips below.
1. Start with some fun
Don’t even attempt to engage with a holiday company or look at deals until you have some idea of what you want from your next adventure.
Get your ideas together by browsing through holiday brochures, guidebooks, travel sections of newspapers and magazines, chat with friends and surf social media to build up your maybe list. It can be great fun reading up on new and exciting places or discovering more about a destination you already know and love to find something different for your next visit.
As part of this process, set a budget, think about the dates you’d like to go and, of course, the must-haves for your holiday.
Top tip
Get together with the group you are planning to travel with and agree what your holiday should look like over a meal or drink. It’s a sociable way to get your holiday planning started.
2. Take some baby steps
Now that you have a plan, it’s time to take some baby steps towards achieving your holiday dream.
Get online and run some searches to get a realistic idea of the cost of what you want to do. Using a comparison site will help you look at alternative dates, different departure points and even alternative destinations side-by-side to see what you can get for your money.
It goes without saying that taking trips outside of school holidays is usually cheaper, but travelling mid-week can also keep your costs down as can considering flights in the afternoon or evening.
Also, look at the price of both package holidays and booking flights and hotels separately to see where you can grab the best deal.
3. Make sure you’ve found the best price
Now you know which holiday you want, how do you ensure you find the best deal for you?
Consider visiting a high street travel agent for a face-to-face chat, especially when the holiday you're after is not a straightforward week-long fly-and-flop deal. They have the expertise to piece together holiday options that can be cheaper than booking separate flights and hotels.
It’s also worth checking out the prices when you book direct with the likes of a tour operator, airline or hotel. Do this alongside comparing the price on a site such as TravelSupermarket so that you can verify whether your deal is genuinely a good one.
4. How to spot a good deal – and what’s around at the moment?
There are currently tons of deals from the big companies out there for the taking from free child places and discounts to low deposit offers.
Take a look at our top deals page for inspiration.
However, bear in mind that deals change all of the time and you can’t always get the best deals on popular travel dates, making it sometimes feel like a bit of a con. So be aware that these are marketing messages designed to lure you in to buy - and make sure they actually work for you.
Top tip
Don’t be blinded by deals. Focus on the total price of your break and compare that before booking so you know that the deal is actually resulting in a saving. And before you rush to buy, make sure you can afford the deposit.
5. Other ways to bag a bargain
Are you an avid points collector? If you collect Nectar points or have a Tesco Clubcard, check out what discounts or deals you can get by exchanging points for items such as flights or holidays. You need to log on to your account to see what deals you can get, but they are a great way of getting more for your money.
Also look out for offers in newspapers.
Top tip
As with deals, focus on what it will cost you to secure these kinds of discounts. Just because you are getting money off with your points, it doesn’t make the end holiday a good deal in itself. So make sure you can’t get a better deal elsewhere before you commit.
6. Make sure your booking is secure
If you’re basking in the glow of nabbing a deal, you don’t want your holiday to go sour. So, for any trip worth more than £100, pay at least some of the amount by credit card to give you financial protection or pay by a debit card. Never pay by cash, cheque or a bank transfer.
And book with reputable companies. If you haven’t heard of the company you have found your amazing deal with, pop its name into a search engine to check reviews before you part with any cash.
Top tip
For added protection, take out travel insurance with cancellation cover on the day you book. This will give you peace of mind should anything go wrong in the run up to your holiday.
Please note: All deals and prices were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.
