Cheap Holidays - Tips and Tricks

photo credits: Erlina O

If you're on the hunt for cheap holidays, don't leave home without trying some of these tried-and-tested tips and tricks for finding your perfect bargain break.

First off, take some time to compare your travel options. If you're planning to go somewhere that has a high frequency rate of scheduled flights, and you're planning to stay in a town or resort that's close and well connected to the airport, a package holiday might not be the cheapest option. Instead, look for scheduled flights, local hotels, and research transport options - but remember that return taxi transfers can be extortionate, so look into local train connections and hire car options first.

If you do fancy a package holiday, it's never too early to start looking. By booking ahead most tour operators will be able to offer early bird deals on holidays departing next year, and in some cases, even the year after. You'll often find special discounts on holidays booked well in advance, plus you'll have that bit longer to pay off the cost of your holiday which helps to lighten the load.

Another favourite method of finding a bargain is to book a late deal. This generally only works with package holidays and, in some cases, hotel-only bookings. It rarely works with scheduled flights so remember, if you are considering a DIY holiday, make sure you plan your flights well in advance.

photo credits: Erlina O

Where package breaks are concerned, you can often find bargain last minute holidays by searching within the last few weeks before the departure date. This is when travel agents reduce the prices on many of their package holidays to try and sell off the last few places - after all where tour operators are concerned it's better to sell rooms at a discount rather than let them go empty.

What are your best bargain holiday tips and tricks?