Saving Money on a Short Break Away

 

Holidays can be an expensive occasion, especially when travelling across continents or trying to visit somewhere popular with tourists or leaving the booking to the last minute. However, when you want to take a short, spur-of-the-moment break, there are plenty of options that don’t have to break the bank and won’t compromise on quality.

Booking Accommodation

Accommodation is often the most expensive part of a holiday, particularly when looking at half-board or inclusive rates that cover all meals and drinks. During the summer holidays and school breaks, there is a much higher demand for accommodation which results in much higher prices. Luckily, you can still pick up some deals without booking half a year in advance.

Take advantage of accommodation comparison sites and sites that sell last-minute cancelled hotel rooms on the night of or the night before at a reduced rate in order to entice guests to stay. Comprehensive comparison sites include Trivago.co.uk and TravelSupermarket.com and you can find some great deals for booking rooms via Laterooms.com and Lastminute.com. If you don’t find your chosen hotel available, it’s always worth giving the reservation department a ring for last minute cancelled rooms that they are eager to fill.

Don’t mind where you stay? Secret hotel bookings are a popular choice, pick your star rating, facilities you want to use, and general location of where you want to be, and you’ll be given some great deals on quality hotels. The only catch is you won’t know exactly what the hotel is until you’ve booked it. It’s a great way to give yourself a surprise!

Efficient Travel

Travelling by rail? Booking early is the best way to get a good deal on advance fares however, if you are trying to plan last minute and aren’t travelling too far a distance, consider swapping the train for a coach. Coach seat tickets are available for as a low as £1 each way for distances including London-Manchester and London-Birmingham.

Air travel can be harder to save on but plenty of airlines also try to fill seats last minute and you can often talk to the travel desk to find out about cheap air tickets that are leaving on the day or on the following day.

Travel by car is probably the second cheapest method of travel after getting a good coach fare deal and allows you the freedom to stop on your journey to stretch your legs or grab a bite to eat. Make sure to sign up to a petrol loyalty points scheme too to get the maximum value out of filling your tank with bonus points for stores including Tesco and Sainsburys.

Making the Most of Memberships and Free Attractions

Holiday activities don’t have to be expensive and in fact, if you are planning a short break in the UK, there are plenty of attractions that don’t cost a thing to enjoy! Memberships that offer excellent value for money when travelling around the UK include National Trust, with access to over 500 beautiful nature sites and the English Heritage group, who offer access to over 400 historical locations.

Visit somewhere new with the family every weekend and you’ll have years of activities and places to enjoy from striking Castles and working Farmyards to Tudor villages and even some indoor adventure playgrounds!

Need some inspiration to get you started? There’s plenty of natural and historic locations around central UK, such as these great ideas for Derby days out or taking a look at the National Trust for inspiration near your location. Alternatively, why not spend a short break trying to locate one of the UK’s mysteries and legends, from Nessie, Scotland’s resident monster to Nottingham’s famous outlaw, Robin Hood.

 

Everyone deserves a break now and then, especially after a hard start to the year, whether you’ve been pushed for finances or simply time. Spend some time choosing some locations of where you’d like to travel and see which comparison website offers you the best deal! If you aren’t fussed on where you head to, why not catch the next cheapest flight or coach somewhere you’ve never been before? When your holiday is a bargain, you will be hard pressed not to easily enjoy yourself!

 

*This is a collaborative post.