How You can Get a Bargain Holiday

Planning a dream getaway without breaking the bank might seem daunting, but with the right strategies, you can easily secure a bargain holiday.

As the weather in the UK gets warmer, the desire to escape to sun-soaked beaches, vibrant cities or serene countryside retreats intensifies.

Fortunately, there are numerous ways to make your holiday budget stretch further.

This will allow you to enjoy a memorable holiday without the hefty price tag.

We guide you through practical tips and tricks to save money when booking a holiday.

Pick a Day to Book

Tuesdays are usually a good day to bag a great holiday deal, especially if you have the flexibility to travel on short notice.

This trend is largely due to the routine schedules of pricing teams at hotels and tour operators.

These teams usually meet on Mondays to assess the sales performance over the weekend. They analyse which destinations and accommodations have sold well and identify those with lower booking rates.

By Tuesday morning, they update their systems and websites with new deals aimed at boosting bookings for the less popular options.

This means that lots of discounted rates and special promotions are available to travellers who book early on Tuesdays.

Booking on a Tuesday can result in savings of approximately 5-8% on international travel compared to the higher prices that are more common later in the week.

This price reduction is a strategic move by hotels and tour operators to fill the remaining vacancies and ensure a more balanced occupancy rate.

Therefore, knowing about this pattern and being more strategic in your bookings can help you bag a bargain holiday.

Avoid Internet Traps

One of the biggest mistakes consumers make when searching for holiday deals is repeatedly revisiting the same website and searching for the same holiday dates to monitor the price.

This seemingly harmless behaviour can actually lead to higher prices.

Each website has algorithms which track user behaviour, including the frequency of searches for specific dates and visits to particular holiday pages.

When a particular set of dates or a specific holiday package is searched for multiple times, the algorithms interpret this as a high demand for those dates or that destination.

In response, the system may increase the price, anticipating that users are more likely to book soon due to the perceived demand.

To avoid triggering these price hikes, use the “favourites” or “wishlist” feature that many booking platforms offer.

By adding the holiday you are interested into this tab, you can conveniently check back later without repeatedly searching for the same details.

This way, you can monitor the price without influencing the algorithm, giving you a better chance of securing a lower rate when you decide to book.

Flexibility

Travelling between Tuesday and Thursday is generally much cheaper compared to weekend travel.

This is because weekdays typically see lower demand for flights, as most people prefer to fly on weekends to maximise their holiday time.

Subsequently, airlines often offer reduced fares to fill seats during these off-peak days.

To take full advantage of these lower prices, it’s a good idea to sign up for airline discount alerts for the cities you wish to visit.

Websites like SkyScanner and CheapFlights.com offer this feature, allowing you to receive notifications when fares drop or when special promotions are available.

When a discount rate that fits within your budget appears, it’s crucial to act fast.

Flight deals, especially the most attractive ones, tend to sell out quickly due to high demand.

Therefore, having your travel details and payment information ready will enable you to book immediately, ensuring you don’t miss out on the savings.

Book by Phone

All hotels are subject to the industry’s ‘rate parity’ protocol for published rates.

This means that hotels are required to offer the same rates across all booking channels, including their own websites and various Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).

But some OTAs, such as HotelPlanner can sometimes offer an unpublished discount rate, but they are only available through direct communication with a reservation agent by phone.

This phone interaction creates a private, closed-sales environment where these unpublished rates can be disclosed without violating rate parity agreements.

Taking the time to plan your trip well in advance allows you to take advantage of this strategy.

By calling a reservation agent, you can inquire about any special rates or deals that are not advertised online.

This approach can often result in a bargain holiday, as agents have access to exclusive offers and can provide personalised assistance to secure the best possible rate for your stay.

Sign up to Loyalty Schemes

If there is a particular hotel chain you enjoy staying in, signing up for their loyalty scheme can be very beneficial.

Hotel loyalty schemes often reward repeat customers with a variety of perks, including room upgrades, complimentary services and exclusive offers.

Over time, these benefits can significantly enhance your travel experience and provide added value.

Moreover, many credit card companies and supermarkets offer reward points for every pound you spend, which can be redeemed for hotel stays.

For instance, certain credit cards provide points or miles that can be used to book rooms at participating hotels.

Supermarkets may also have partnerships with hotel chains, allowing you to convert your shopping points into hotel rewards.

Alternatively, your supermarket could be key to bagging a bargain holiday.

If your supermarket offers a loyalty programme, check if their points can be converted into hotel rewards.

This can be a great way to offset travel costs just by doing your regular shopping.

Securing a bargain holiday is all about being savvy, strategic and flexible.

By planning ahead, taking advantage of loyalty schemes and knowing the best times to book and travel, you can significantly reduce your travel costs.

With these tips in mind, you can enjoy a fabulous holiday without overspending, making the most of your well-deserved break.

So, start planning today and embark on your dream holiday with the confidence that you’ve secured the best possible deal.