Simple travel hack could help you bag a ‘bargain’ summer getaway

A travel expert on the hunt for bargain summer holidays has shared some of her ultimate hacks to saving money on seasonal getaways. And it’s as simple as shortening or extending the length of your holiday.

Chelsea Dickenson, the brains behind Cheap Holiday Expert, regularly shares tips, tricks and advice for anyone on the lookout for a bargain holiday in the UK or abroad.

With the summer season upon us, many Brits will be looking to flock further afield for some sun, sea and sand. With the onslaught of school summer holidays, the demand for sun-drenched adventures is pretty high, but luckily, Chelsea has shared her top tips for getting a bargain deal.

While you may already do some of these yourself, there’s also some lesser-known tips to try out and if money is a pressing issue on your mind, try and go against the tide when looking for your next holiday destination.

Holiday for an ‘irregular’ length of time

The first may go against the grain, but Chelsea suggests going on holiday for an ‘irregular amount of time’. Most people book a holiday for seven, ten or 14 days, but you may actually save money if you opt for eight days instead of a week.

You could be saving some valuable pennies by extending your trip by just one or two days. This could impact the price of your flights, and you could potentially get a better rate for accommodation.

Stay away from popular destinations

There are a number of holiday destinations popular with British holidaymakers, especially those heading to the likes of Spain, Italy, France and Greece. This isn’t to say that you should avoid the countries altogether, but you could instead opt for a ‘hidden gem’ location.

Writing on her site, Chelsea says: “So for Spain, swap out the islands and head inland up into the gorgeous Andalusian hills for stunning scenery and much cheaper prices.”

There are also a number of other European countries which have just as much to offer. So if you’re looking to stay away from the influx of British travellers, consider the likes of Albania, Bulgaria, and Montenegro.

City escapes

It can be tempting to head straight for a beach getaway during the summer season, but this isn’t always the cheapest option. Chelsea explains that from her own experience, she’s managed to bag a bargain holiday by instead heading to a city destination.

She says that city breaks are usually more popular during shoulder season (the transitional period between peak and off-peak travel seasons), but when the school holiday season begins, these destinations can be overlooked. Europe has plenty of cities (capitals or otherwise) for you to choose from, so there’ll always be something to fit your requirements.

Last-minute getaways

Sometimes booking holidays so far in advance can save you some pennies, but in other instances, you can bag a cheap deal at the very last minute. A number of travel operators offer last-minute packages, hotels and flights for specific dates at a discounted price.

Go in with an open mind about where you want to go and what you want out of your holiday. Have a scout around on different sites to see how prices compare between vendors.

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