One of the most popular categories on our Discounts platform, Care Professional Rewards, is travel, and for good reason! Travelling improves our overall wellbeing and reduces stress, but unfortunately it can come with a hefty price tag. That’s why we offer Discounts and Cashback deals at more than a hundred travel retailers. So when you’re ready to book accommodation, flights, trains, car rentals or even activities, make sure you check out our Discounts platform to see where you can save!
When you’re excited about going on holiday it’s very tempting to go over budget (we’ve all been there!). We want you to get the most out of your holidays without breaking the bank, so we’ve collected our 10 favourite tips to save on travel:
1.Choose a budget-friendly destination
The first question when you start planning any holiday: Where are you going? Of course your choice will depend on whether you want to relax at the beach for a week, explore a new city or have an adventure-packed itinerary, but also take budget into consideration. One destination can be significantly more affordable than another, even though it also ticks all of your boxes. That’s not just flights, but also hotels, tourist attractions and local food prices. Doing some initial research is the first step in saving money.
2. Travel off-season
During the school holidays travel prices are at their peak, so if you can avoid that period, you’re in luck! If you’re able to be flexible, look up the best time to visit your destination and travel right before or after these dates. Hotel, flight and car rental prices will be lower. Additional benefits are that warm destinations will still be pleasant but not unbearably hot, and there will be less crowds.
3. Travel on cheaper days
Did you know that it’s almost always cheaper to fly during the week rather than the weekend? Specifically Tuesdays are usually the most affordable, but definitely check out other days as well. If you don’t have to travel on specific dates you can easily compare dates and pick the most affordable ones.
If you’re only going on holiday for a couple of days, try to only use hand luggage so you avoid paying extra fees for checking bags, and opt for low-cost airlines. Of course you can also decide to not fly at all and get to your destination by train or car!
Look for budget-friendly flights on Lastminute.com or Expedia and get up to 8% Cashback. If you’re travelling by car, we have Cashback deals at Budget Rent-a-car, Holiday Autos, Sixt and Europcar. If you’re travelling by train, you can get Discounts on Eurostar tickets.
4. Use public transport
The best and cheapest way to discover a new area is by walking. If you don’t want to walk the whole time you can rent bikes or take public transport, but if you’re on a budget you want to avoid taxis. With a bit of planning there’s almost definitely a much more affordable alternative. Oh, and you know those hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses? You can easily see the same route with a local bus for a lot less money!
5. Be aware of tourist traps
Of course sometimes things are popular for a reason, and then there’s nothing wrong with wanting to explore those! However, as you travel you will find that many destinations, activities and restaurants are extremely overhyped and thus also overpriced. Beware of popular tourist attractions and the restaurants, shops and bars next to it. Do some research beforehand to find out if they’re really worth paying for or if just by walking a couple of streets away you can find amazing and authentic options favoured by locals.
If you want to save on things to do locally, make sure to use our Viator and Tripadvisor discounts!
6. Save on accommodation
When it comes to booking accommodation, the options are endless. There is something for every type of traveller and every budget. If you’re travelling by yourself or with a couple of friends, hostels are a very affordable option.
One of our budget-friendly alternatives is Airbnb, where you will find anything from a spare room in a local’s house to -in case you’re with a bigger group- your own house. Not only will this save you a considerable amount of money, you also get to live like the locals.
With Care Professional Rewards you can save on your Airbnb stay, or you can book with Eurocamp for a holiday home, lodge or tent. If you and your family are into camping, Canvas Holidays also offers Discounts!
7. Be smart about packing
First of all, make sure you pack everything you need so that you don’t have to buy anything you already have at home. Even if you’re going to warm destinations, prepare for unexpected weather changes. Also think about clothing combinations before you leave so that you don’t find yourself with a suitcase full of clothing items that are great on their own but that can’t be paired with anything.
No matter what kind of holiday you’re planning, a good suitcase or backpack is essential. Get the best luggage from IT Luggage, TK Maxx, or Primark and pay less with our Discounts!
8. Compare food prices
If you’re on holiday and you want to go out for dinner, don’t just pick the first restaurant you see. To make sure you’re not overspending, do some research online or wander around and compare prices. If you’re staying in a hostel or you’re renting an apartment, you might have access to a kitchen, so you can save some serious money by buying some local delicacies and preparing your own meal.
9. Book in advance
Of course you can wait and hope for a great last-minute deal, but it quite literally pays off to book accommodation, transport and activities as much in advance as possible. If you’re going away for a while, work out how you will get from A to B. Planning your trip beforehand will save you a lot of stress and unexpected costs.
If you want to book your flight and accommodation in one go, package holidays are the way to go. You definitely want to check out our Tui, Expedia and Jet2holidays deals!
10. Get recommendations from the locals
This tip applies to things to do, restaurants to dine at, bars to spend the evening, shops to get your souvenirs and places to visit. Locals are the best possible tour guides and they will tell you all about the most affordable alternatives to overhyped attractions. So ask the receptionist, waiters or landlords for their recommendations.
Whether you’re dreaming of a tropical getaway, a staycation, a cultural city escape or an adventurous road trip, we’ve got you covered. There are discounts for every kind of explorer, from flights, hotels, rental cars, travel packages and more. Start saving on your travels now!