We all love bargains. This is especially true when it comes to our holidays. There’s no better feeling than arriving at your ‘vacation destination’ and feeling that you have got an absolute ‘steal’ when checking into your room and strolling around the hotels facilities. If only this happened every-time…
Whilst this can’t be guaranteed, there are some simple rules to take into account when booking your cheap holiday which may swing the odds in your favor when it comes to being more than pleased with the amount of ‘bang you get for your buck’.
Let’s firstly look at the different ways we can book a cheap holiday:
Online
Is online better for you? As the world’s net capabilities constantly expand, more and more people are using the web for booking their holidays. Deals seem to be flourish in daily and the amount of global destinations now available are extensive to say the least. However due to the amount of pop ups and traffic coming your way once you type that golden search term, it’s worth having a rough idea on a budget and what you want from the holiday before logging on. The strongest point booking holidays online has over every other method is the detailed summaries it can give you. Note: choose a company with an easy to use website.
Teletext
The old favourite. Despite being introduced to Jesus at the last supper, teletext has stood the test against time. Some say that this is still the best place to find a cheap holiday. Whilst this may be true in some instances, it is worth noting that many travel services that use this way to promote their offers have switched to premium rate telephone numbers. This is especially annoying if there is a queue.
Another point to brush up on when using teletext is your sharpness with a remote control. You will have to be lightning fast when it comes to spotting the deals as there are pages and pages of them. Don’t get caught out; make sure you know which one is the pause button on your controller as if you miss the deal, you have to wait a whole stone age for it to come round again.
Travel agent
Some people prefer the more personal approach and what better way to achieve this than face to face with a cheap holidays company representative. The main advantage you get with a travel agent is that they will be able to answer your questions pretty quickly and tailor something to your needs quite easily. It is also a comfort to know you have a ‘go to’ person if anything pops up, however many online companies are just as effective, if not more when it comes to this issue.
So we’ve looked at the different ways we can book a cheap holiday; now let’s explore a few pointers to keep in mind when making your big decision:
Book from a company you trust. Picking any old tom, dick or harry could cause problems. If you find a cheap holiday you like then don’t be afraid to research the company online. Some helpful tips in doing this are finding out how long they have been up and running, where they are based, contact details (be wary if a bit thin) and last but not least read their reviews extensively.
Be sensible. If you think you are going to find a cheap holiday to a place such as Dubai, then think again. Selecting a destination with a fair currency rate from your local monies is advisable. Look at the price of food, price of import taxes on alcohols etc and if the country you are visiting is in current financial decline or boom.
Read the small print. This is an old favourite that should never be missed. Companies all around the world save their backsides time and time over again by writing their get-out clauses here. It is however illegal to withhold information from a customer regarding the product or service they have bought so as long as you read it thoroughly you should be fine
Finally three ways to save money while you are there:
Buy your water and alcohols from the supermarket rather than the local shop or bar. Tourist areas are renowned for hiking up prices however big chain supermarkets normally keep their prices reasonable for the locals.
Try and find cafes that offer free wireless. Hotel internets are ridiculously expensive. Many coffee shops will offer free web access if you buy a latte or similar. Don’t have a laptop? No worries; many will also have public desktops you can use.
Don’t be afraid to walk into small local restaurants. Many holiday-goers are afraid of going into such establishments due to language barriers. Whilst this is understandable you may be missing out on some great prices but even more importantly some excellent local food. My advice is to bite the bullet and step inside.
As you can now see, being pleased with a cheap holiday is easily achievable if a bit of pre-planning is put in. As mentioned before, two of the most important points you can remember are to research who you are booking with and where you plan to go. Take care of these and you’ll be fine.
Image by gbok via morguefile.com
This article was written by Ted Hunter on behalf of Travel Republic, the online travel agents who guarantee ease and overall satisfaction when it comes to booking cheap holidays like holidays to Spain.
