Getting the best deal when booking your holiday

Whether you’re thinking about booking a beach trip or a city break, the chances are that you want a holiday at a bargain price. After all, who doesn’t want to save money on flights or accommodation? As a responsible lender here at Dot Dot we want to help you find the best pocket friendly deals so you’re not tempted to reach for the credit cards or take out a loan to fund your trip. There are a few factors that can have a huge impact on the price you pay, so with this in mind, let’s take a look at how to get a break away on a budget.

The School Holiday Blues

If you’re trying to book a family trip, you’ll know how much prices increase during the school holidays, but how big a difference in price are we talking? The Guardian found that the average getaway in August was £905 more expensive than in June or July, while a study by This Is Money 9 out of 10 flights cost more during the school holidays. Local authorities are very strict on penalising families who take children out of school in term time, and the summer months will always be most popular for a European beach break from the UK. So what are the options to get away in the popular holiday months? Choosing a week that most families avoid, such as the week before the kids go back to school can work in your favour, as the last two weeks of the school holidays are often a cheaper time to book. There are also sites such as SkyScanner or Google Flights which show flight price by day, so simply adjusting your departure dates by just a day or two could really affect the price you pay.

Be Flexible with Dates

It stands to reason then that being smart with your dates is a sure-fire way to make big savings regardless of your destination. The key to getting a break at a bargain price is often to pick the dates that most people can’t commit to, so if you don’t need to holiday during the school holidays, avoid them as much as possible. If you don’t mind the weather being cooler, it’s worth looking at travelling out of season, as hotels and airlines almost always drop their prices.

Book in Advance

We’ve all heard about last minute deals, but the biggest savings can often be found when you book early. According to Trip Advisor booking up to 3-9 months in advance could allow you to make significant savings, with the potential to save a whopping 20% off the price. Not bad, right? Even booking a holiday 4-8 weeks in advance can be cheaper than a last minute deal.

Use Specialists Site and Save

Finding the best deal on a holiday to your chosen destination is rewarding but also can take up a lot of your valuable time. We’ve found some of the best sites that do all of the hard work for you. Rather than trawling the internet for the best deal, visit a site such as Jack’s Flight Club or Scott’s Cheap Flights. These websites claim to save their subscribers around £400 on their ideal holiday by spotting mistake fares and flash sales. Their subscriptions start from £35 per year. Or if you are happy to some of the legwork, sites such as Skyscanner or Google Flights can help you compare prices on all major airlines.

So, now you know the best tips and tricks to getting the best deals, you can save money on your holiday giving you a little extra to spend while you’re there!

Jack’s Flight Club subscription £35 per year
Scott’s Cheap Flights $49 per year
https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/05-04-2017-TripAdvisor-Data-Reveals-The-Cheapest-Time-To-Book-Hotels-For-Summer
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/datablog/2017/apr/07/holiday-prices-in-and-out-of-school-term-time-how-big-is-the-difference
https://www.fairfx.com/

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