This is a paid article on behalf of Travelzoo
The days are turning gloomy and darkness is falling earlier and earlier. Autumn is officially here, and winter is just around the corner. You may be dreaming of sunnier climes, long days on a beautiful beach, or even a fast-paced city break. It’s time to look for good holiday deals.
We spoke to travel experts from Travelzoo, a global media company that offers amazing deals on hotels, flights, spa breaks, cruises, entertainment and dining experiences. We asked them their top tips for getting the best holiday deals out there.
So, gone are the days of waiting to plan your next trip away. Get into gear, and book your next break using these top tips for the best holiday deals.
Use deals websites
Consider signing up for a travel deal website, such as Travelzoo. These websites often have amazing last-minute deals for holidays. This can result in huge savings for you, which means you get more bang for your buck.
Subsequently, you will have more spending money for when you actually travel. Plus, the value-added extras websites such as these provide mean you can enjoy your trip even more. These extras may include 3 nights for the price of two, a complimentary breakfast, a free experience such as a city tour, or even a nice glass of wine cost-free.
Book in advance
It may seem simple, but planning in advance really can save you precious money when it comes to booking your break. Whether you fancy a holiday in the sun or a trip to the cobbled streets of Italy, sorting it out in advance is worth thinking about.
Similarly, pre-booking tickets for attractions can save you money. If you fancy taking the kids to a theme park or another attraction, plan ahead. Discounts and offers may often be offered to those who get tickets well in advance.
Tesco Clubcard points can be exchanged for free entry to attraction across the UK, which is worth keeping in mind next time you go food shopping. Travelling by train is also beneficial. National Rail offer 2 for 1 entry to hundreds of days out around the UK when you buy a train ticket, including Thorpe Park and Alton Towers resorts.
Check local deals
If you don’t want to book a trip away per se, but fancy doing something different, why not check the deals within your local area? You can often find heavily discounted tickets and entry to special events such as concerts, musicals and sport.
Distress inventory often comes into play at these events. This means that inventory, in this case tickets, are sold at much lower prices in order to clear them. This is where companies such as Travelzoo can help, by finding last minute, excellent value tickets.
Great fun for a date night, fun with the family, or even a solo outing.
Try off-peak
If you have a little more flexibility as to when you can go away, why not consider going on days out and holidays during shoulder seasons? Shoulder seasons are the seasons between peak and off-peak seasons. Being a little more flexible means that you can keep the costs down and avoid the crowds.
Flights are often cheaper on Tuesday and Wednesday, too. Airports are less busy on these days, and costs come down. So, why not fly away on your trip on a Tuesday and save yourself the big bucks?
On the same note, cities such as Washington DC or Milan, that see hordes of weekly business traffic may have better deals at the weekend. Sunday nights can be a very quiet time in terms of people coming to stay in cities, so consider a Sunday to Monday stay to bring the price of your stay right down.
Be open to new ideas
There are many destinations popular with tourists. The more popular a location is, the more you may have to pay due to high demand, with the price of flights and accommodation being pushed up.
If you are not dead set on a particular destination, shop around for offers and deals in similar places. For example, if you want to soak up the sun on the beach, but find Greece too pricey, why not look at alternative destinations such as Bulgaria or Turkey?
There are so many beautiful places to visit on our wonderful planet, you may surprise yourself.
All-inclusive deals
There are often arguments about whether all-inclusive deals are worth it financially. Do you really save money? Well, you save on food and drinks which alternatively you would have to go out and buy. It can also be far more convenient, especially when travelling with kids.
Plus, spending less on these things when you are away means you may have a little more money in your pocket to spend on experiences or buying that special someone a memento from your trip. Being able to predict what you may spend whilst on holiday allows you to establish a clearer budget and avoid unnecessary over-spending.
Save yourself time and money with the best holiday deals by signing up for free to Travelzoo.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence