Five ways to cut the cost of your holiday - Video script

Rachel Robson reveals five ways you can save on your holiday...

If you’re heading off on holiday any time soon, make sure you follow these top tips to cut the cost.

Cheaper accommodation

If you want to slash the cost of your accommodation, consider going camping or taking a caravan. Alternatively, you could stay in a youth hostel. Many hostels provide rooms suitable for families and couples, and this will work out far cheaper than a hotel.

You could also consider going self-catering and renting out a villa or cottage. Or if that doesn’t appeal, you might fancy house swapping! To do this, you will need to be prepared to let someone stay in your home for free, while you stay in theirs.

Get the timing right

Generally, the earlier you book your holiday, the less money you’ll have to pay. That said, if you’re fairly flexible about when and where you want to go, you can also pick up some great deals at the last minute by using websites such as Lastminute.com and Teletext Holidays.

Cheaper flights

When you book your flights, make sure you shop around fully to ensure you’re getting the best deal. If you can be flexible about when you fly, you’re likely to get a better deal. Choosing an early morning flight might work out cheapest, for example.

You should also keep an eye out for extra fees charged by some budget airlines as these can boost the cost of the flight.

Travel money

Make sure you don’t get your travel money at the last minute. Airports, hotels and high street banks generally offer less competitive exchange rates than those from currency specialists. So make sure you shop around in advance to get the best deal.

It can also be a good idea to get a prepaid currency card as you won’t be charged for using it abroad.

Pay by credit card

When paying for your holiday, it’s a good idea to use a credit card as your rights will be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This mean you’ll be protected if something goes wrong – such as the airline goes bust.

What’s more, if you can afford to pay off the balance in full, use a cashback credit card and you’ll earn cash back as you spend.

If you can’t pay your balance off in full, make sure you use a nought percent new purchases credit card as you won’t be charged interest for up to a year.

So there you have it – five top tips for a cheaper holiday.