How To Cut The Cost Of A UK Break

Find out how to keep the costs of your UK summer holiday down.

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The best summer break I ever had was a week-long camping holiday to the Scottish countryside, when I was eight years old.

I spent the whole time with my best childhood chum -- climbing trees, collecting rocks (you can imagine my parents' delight at each new specimen) and generally thinking that sleeping under soggy canvas was the best thing on Earth.

Now, it seems, holidaying in the UK is where it's at. Recent research from Halifax has shown that amidst rising fuel costs and concern about carbon emissions, a third (29%) of families are staying in Britain for their break this year.

`Wonders of the British Isles'

So which attractions are drawing the biggest crowds? In Halifax's survey, the following `wonders of the British Isles' came top of UK holiday makers' lists. (I've added an `entry fees' column, too).

*The tower is not open to the general public

Even after concessions and discounts have been taken into account, a family of four can expect to pay almost £50 at some of these attractions. (And that's not including parking, audio tours and so on).

Of course, slightly lower prices don't always mean value for money. On a recent visit to Stonehenge, I was disappointed to discover that my £6.50 got me a place in roped-off field, jostling with hundreds of fellow visitors to squint at some rocks in the far, far distance.

Keeping your costs down

So, you've set aside the cash for the attractions themselves. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can save money on other aspects of your UK break.

Drive down fuel costs: If you're traveling by car, you can find the cheapest petrol near you by using petrolprices.com, which pulls together data for over 10,000 stations.

And reducing the weight carried can also make a difference. According to insurance provider Swiftcover, a 100kg load reduces mileage by up to five miles per gallon -- so ditch the roof rack and pack your suitcase economically!

Play your cards right: Use cashback credit cards on your break, and the savings could really mount up.

The American Express Platinum credit card, for example, currently offers 5% cashback on all purchases (up to £4,000 spend) for the first three months, and up to 1.5% cashback thereafter.

Just make sure you pay the balance off before you get charged any interest!

Ditch your wheels: Good old coach travel could be the cheapest way to go. Megabus offer £1 tickets -- and National Express £5 tickets -- to a range of UK destinations if you book in advance.

Or if you prefer to travel by train, check out Megatrain's offerings (Megabus' sister site), or browse the National Rail website for the best deals. Just remember that often, two singles works out much cheaper than a return ticket.

Think outside the accommodation box: If camping's not up your street -- but a hotel is beyond your budget -- the following options might appeal.

Many youth hostels now offer double and family rooms which, despite the name, are suitable for any age group. The YHA is currently running its summer room sale, with some great deals to be had.

If you're holidaying in a university town, it's worth asking if any rooms are available to rent in halls of residence. This is especially true during the long summer break, when most students will have gone back home.

I did this (in Belfast) and found a clean, bright room for just a few pounds a night.

And finally, if you're renting a holiday home, try to avoid agencies (who'll take a hefty `middle-man' fee). Instead, investigate the privately posted ads in magazines and newspapers.

For a little extra reassurance, I look in the back of the school and university alumni magazines that I still get sent. That way, I tell myself, I've got a slightly better chance of tracing the owner if I do end up with a dud!

Do I still need travel insurance?

If you're holidaying in the UK, you may think travel insurance is the one thing you can do without. At least you'll still get free medical treatment if anything goes wrong.

In fact, proper cover could still pay for itself several times over.

 - Your existing home insurance may cover certain valuables outside of your property -- but certainly not money. Travel insurance means you should also be able to claim more easily for lost luggage, travel documents and items that are pick-pocketed.

 - If you have an accident at the other end of the country, insurance will cover your transfer to a hospital local to your home.

 - You're also more likely to be compensated for domestic flight and ferry delays and cancellations.

 - And finally, what if you need to cancel your holiday at the last moment? For example, if you or someone close to you is ill, travel insurance should mean you don't lose all the money you've already paid out.

Suitcase all packed? Happy holidaying!

Visit The Fool's Travel Insurance Service to help find the right deal for you.