If you fancy a holiday that doesn't cost the earth, here are some tips to help your pounds go further.
If you've been taking advantage of the fantastic weather we've had recently, your thoughts no doubt will have turned to holidays. Unfortunately, with the cost of living going up all the time it can be hard to find the money to book one. But don't let that get you down -- why not try these tips to help raise some cash and spend a little less?
1. Clear out that clutter....
First things first; it's time to raise some cash! And what better way to do that than by selling off some items you don't use any more? Fill the car on a Sunday morning and head off to a car boot sale. Or if early mornings scare you, why not take some photos of the items to be sold and sell on eBay, eBid or Amazon? Alternatively, check out sites such as Swapshop.co.uk and swap those items for things you need.
2. Books for Free
If like many of us you read a stack of books when sunning yourself on the beach, you'll probably spend a fortune stocking up before you go at the airport bookshops. What's more, you may well include a costly local guidebook in your purchases. But there are ways to get your fix of books for free.
For a start, if your friends and family have books you haven't read, why not swap between yourselves? For those with less literary friends, check out sites such as ReadItSwapIt which allows you to swap books with others online (you pay the postage). Alternatively, hitflip (formerly Swopex) lets you swap books (and DVDs, games and CDs) for 79p an item. Plus there's always the library! And remember to check out the Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, World Travel Guides, BBC and Fodor's sites for free travel advice.
3. Clothes
Most of us like to buy some new clothes for a holiday, which can soon add up. Fortunately, it's currently very trendy to shop at budget retailers such as Primark and Matalan, which sell their own versions of the latest trends for a few pounds.
Another cheap alternative is the supermarkets -- for example Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco all stock their own clothing lines. You can currently pick up bikinis from £8 from George (Asda) and men's shorts for just £8.
Alternatively, TKMaxx sells designer names with big discounts. And Topshop has launched its Kate Moss clothing range -- but be prepared to queue!
4. Pay less for your trip
Of course, the biggie is booking the holiday itself. The trick here is to shop around and find the cheapest deal you can.
Check out sites such as Ryanair (which is currently offering thousands of seats from just £10 including taxes and charges) and easyJet (which is currently offering 20% off flights in the UK). Disneyland Paris is currently offering children under 7 free trips when accompanied by an adult.
And of course, don't forget to check out these low cost Internet travel sites for cheap deals: ebookers, Expedia, Travelocity, Lastminute, Teletext Holidays, Opodo and Cheapflights.
5. Cheaper Travel Insurance
Of course, there's no point saving money on your trip if you blow it all on over-priced travel insurance. That said, this is one area you shouldn't skimp on. So to find the right balance between level of cover and price, you'll need to shop around.
I did some checking with the Fool's very own Travel Insurance comparison tool and found that I could book an annual European policy for my family (2 adults and one child under two) from just £46 with Direct Travel, or £59 with Swinton Insurance. Both policies include £10m worth of medical expense cover, £1,500 baggage cover, £5k cancellation cover and have a £50 excess.
A family of four (2 adults and two children aged between two and seventeen) could pay £71 with Travelplan online (which includes the same level of cover as above). And if you prefer a company you know, Norwich Union and the AA offer the same level of cover for £91 and £98 respectively.
6. Airport Parking
Airport parking can be cripplingly expensive if you turn up on the day and pay. But pre-book and you can save a fortune. Check out the BAA site to pre-book, or sites such as Parking 4 Less, Airparks and Airport Parking Discounts.
If your trip involves a flight at an anti-social hour, it may be cheaper and more convenient to book an airport hotel that offers free parking. And if you don't live far from the airport, check with local taxi companies for return trips -- you may just find it's cheaper than parking.
7. Mobile Phones
Of course, the best way to save money on your mobile phone bill when abroad is by simply not bringing it! Who will you really want to talk to when sunning yourself in foreign climes anyway?
But if you really will have calls to make, one great way to cut the cost is by buying a cheap SIM card in the country you're in. Alternatively, give your mobile network provider a ring before you go and ask if it offers any overseas call packages.
Hopefully these tips will help you save a few quid -- have a great trip!
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