The recession has been a tough time for many people in the UK, who have found themselves having to cut corners and make sacrifices in order to get by financially. However, spending less doesn’t have to mean giving up the things you love – and even summer holidays don’t have to cost the Earth when you seek out the cheapest options.
A cheap holiday doesn’t have to mean second-best, not by any means. Whether you’re staying in basic accommodation or a luxury hotel suite, you can find yourself just as close to the best beaches and attractions in your favourite destinations worldwide, often enjoying the same spectacular balcony views as your neighbours for a fraction of what they paid.
Sometimes booking holidays with bigger-name travel companies can result in a cheaper holiday for you, simply because of the economies of scale that these companies can benefit from. For instance, they can distribute costs across a greater number of passengers, and even negotiate better rates for hotel rooms because of the number of holidaymakers they provide hotels with every year. That being said, smaller companies can sometimes provide travellers with savings as well, particularly budget airlines that provide cheap services by cutting out some of the luxuries you might expect when travelling with a bigger name.
However, it’s important to remember that most holidays with bigger-name companies cover you in the event of an unfortunate natural event – for instance volcanic ash cloud – far more extensively than a budget travel company might, as their holidays should be protected by an Air Travels Organisers Licensing (ATOL) scheme. Under this scheme, if an ATOL protected tour operator fails to be able to deliver on a holiday or flight, a holidaymaker will not lose any money paid over, or find themselves stranded abroad. This might not necessarily be the case if you go with a smaller-name travel agent or decide to work out your travel arrangements yourself. Recent events have certainly shown that Mother Nature is as impossible to predict as ever, as such, perhaps covering yourself in the event of an emergency should be considered one of the most important aspects of any potential holiday.
Whichever type of holiday you decide to opt for, you can save money by booking well in advance of your trip – or conversely, by booking at the last minute. This doesn’t have to mean keeping your bags packed and waiting for prices to drop however, with most late deals appearing eight to ten weeks before the departure date, so you’ll still have plenty of time to get ready for any cheap holidays.
Bob Taggart writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
Image by bradleygee
