January is the prime time for everyone to start thinking about booking a vacation. If you’re in the northern hemisphere then the grey skies and wintery temperatures will be sending you running in the direction of a little warmth and sunlight, whereas if you’re in the southern hemisphere then the summertime weather is probably making you want to book a last minute trip. However, holidays can often cost a lot of money – luckily there are ways that you can cut down…
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Accommodation
Make sure that you bargain. If you go to a traditional travel agent to book your trip then don’t take the first deal you’re given – make sure you’ve done your research so that you can compare prices and pay the best possible price. A lot of hotels make you pay a lot of money for adding breakfast onto your bill, so why not decline that and go for nearby cafes instead for a more authentic experience? If you want to be a little more independent then you could always go for a self catering trip in an apartment or villa. Use Airbnb to get a good deal – you could even try out a house swap to save yourself even more money. If you go towards the end of the summer vacation then you’ll find that prices have gone down.
Transport
If you really want to cut back on costs, you could consider an indirect flight – although this might be too inconvenient even for people who are trying to save their pennies! Make sure that you don’t have to pay any extra charges on your flights by ensuring that your baggage is the correct price, and consider taking your own food on the plane so you don’t have to pay extortionate prices for some not particularly nice plane food. If you’re renting transport when you’re abroad then make sure you research the cheapest hire car option so you get a good deal. You should also do your best to familiarize yourself with the public transport system of wherever you’re visiting so that you don’t have to pay for taxis to take you to and from the airport.
Activities
A lot of hotels organize tours to nearby cities and tourist attractions but a lot of the time this can be extremely overpriced – instead, organize your own family days and trips out. Do your best to walk around wherever you can – even if you’re trying to save some money, a map purchase will never be a bad idea or a waste! There are a lot of city sightseeing passes that can help you save money on individual tourist attractions. If you go for that option, just make sure that you make the most of it so you get value for your money! If you want to go out for the night, then don’t start off at the hotel bar – it’ll be expensive and overpriced, so make sure that you go to local bars and restaurants instead to get your party started right!
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