How to save on a UK holiday

With the cost of living forever soaring, the idea of a holiday could feel like a distant fantasy. However, jetting off abroad is not the only available option for a holiday. Why not consider a UK holiday? In fact, you can save hundreds on transport and accommodation by holidaying at home.    

There are stunning spots to visit across the UK, many of which we take for granted. Britain can offer just as much beauty as exotic locations overseas, for a fraction of the price. Staying within the UK also means you can pop for shorter breaks here and there, and you don’t have to set aside large chunks of time to get in some much-needed rest and relaxation.  

Here’s how to get the best UK holiday deals. 

When scanning the internet for a holiday in the UK, certain locations or types of accommodation may be out of budget. Luckily, you can set up price alerts for certain deals and websites.   

Travel comparison website Kayak has a great tool which allows you to set up price alerts for hotel stays. You’ll be automatically notified when the accommodation you are interested in drops in price, or when a new deal appears. Skyscanner helps you to compare flight prices and set up price alerts.  

RatePunk is another wonderful site which alerts you to a price drop after you’ve booked, meaning you can cancel your booking and get it cheaper. 

It’s worth signing up for websites that offer travel deals to find a good bargain. They have excellent deals on all types of holidays, from short city breaks to last-minute trips to the tranquil countryside. We recommend Travelzoo, which can bring you huge savings.   

Getting more bang for your buck means you have more free cash to spend when you go away. These websites may offer extras you can't get when booking elsewhere. These could include an extra night for free or complimentary breakfast. 

You might find deals on locations or accommodation you’d not considered previously. Perhaps you had your eye on a fast-paced trip to a city such as Manchester, but stumbled across a deal too good to miss to a quiet village out in the sticks! 

It’s no secret planning ahead saves you big bucks. When it comes to booking a holiday, thinking in advance can keep the cost at bay. Yes, last-minute deals can be great too, but sometimes you want to plan well ahead to ensure you have more control over the aspects of your holiday, such as dates, location and accommodation type. 

Similarly, planning means you can reduce the costs of activities whilst you are away. Pre-booking tickets for attractions can conserve your funds for when you get there. If you’re thinking of going to a theme park, a zoo or an aquarium when you are away, see what advanced deals you can find.  

There’s a myth suggesting booking accommodation directly can make it more expensive than booking websites. This can sometimes be the case, but sometimes hotels or BnB’s offer fab value for those who book through them directly. Many may even price match booking sites, if you can prove you have found your stay cheaper elsewhere.  

If you’re able to be flexible with dates, it’s worth booking for off-peak times. This could save you a good deal of money. As demand goes up for holidays, for example during school breaks, prices soar.  

It’s also worth considering shoulder seasons. Shoulder seasons are between peak and off-peak seasons, when there is little demand for holidays. This keeps the costs down and saves precious money, as well as avoiding crowds.  

Flights are often cheaper on Tuesday and Wednesday. Airports are less busy on these days, so costs come down to shift seats on planes.  

A ‘cookie’ is a packet of data that a computer receives, then sends back without changing or altering it. It consists of information, so when you visit a website, the website will send the cookie to your computer. Your computer then stores this inside your web browser.  

This data is used to identify your computer. This allows websites to identify specific users. This can often improve your browsing experience, as cookies can tailor your browsing experience to you. However, it can also be used by websites to push up prices.  

In simple terms, if you are looking at a trip to Nottingham online, the ‘cookies’ will show you are interested in accommodation in Nottingham. If you click off the website and go back later, the prices may have increased, as the information from the cookies pushes prices up due to your previous searches. So, to avoid this, make sure to clear your browser of cookies regularly.  

The old-school way to grab yourself a bargain; haggling! If you’ve picked the holiday you want, from the location to the accommodation type, why not see if you can get the price down? Some see it as cheeky; some see it as savvy, but you don’t know until you try.  

Call up your holiday provider and tell them the price you have been quoted. Politely ask if they can beat this price and try to negotiate. Negotiating the price per person, rather than the overall cost is a good idea. This is because each discount seems less and is more likely to be accepted.  

If they cannot beat the price, see if they can match your quote. This way, you may get preferred accommodation, for example, without having to pay more. 

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