Ways to save money for your staycation or holiday abroad.

Saving up for a holiday can be time consuming and sometimes demotivating, especially when you take a browse online and see a holiday abroad costing thousands. However, whether you are planning a staycation or holiday abroad, there are several ways to save money for your trip.

Accommodation and Attractions

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Check out a voucher or online deal checker site like Groupon for activity or hotel deals. Groupon is free to sign up and works on the basis of collective bargaining power which releases the deal – sometimes 50%. Offers include goods, restaurants, days out and hotels. See some of the latest travel offers here.

Search which budget hotel chains have branches abroad or that countries equivalent. e.g Travel Lodge has 500 hotels in the UK, Ireland and Spain. Savvy savers have sometimes found it cheaper to book a stay on a European holiday site, rather than its UK counterpart.

With attractions, visit the local tourist board site first. This will often list free attractions.

Timings

Be flexible with dates. Search the month and see which days are the cheapest on or around your chosen dates. The last week in August and the first in September are normally significantly cheaper than the rest of the holiday period.

Be aware of when other schools break up and return to school. For example, Scottish children return in August as do French schools. French schools also break up the first week of July, quite a bit earlier than their English counterparts.

For a spending money boost, use a tin and put your spare change in it, but with a spin: Put 1p on day one, 2p on day two, 3p on day three etc. It soon adds up to a lovely lump sum.

Buy petrol at supermarkets – where it is up to 10 per cent cheaper than in filling stations on motorways.

Food

If you want to eat out, eat your main meal at lunch time, as meals are generally cheaper.

If you are self-catering, take enough basic provisions to cover everyday needs and to save you having to buy brand new bottles, packets etc.

Transport

Choose a destination which is walkable and save money on hiring a car or public transport.

Booking in advance is usually the best way to save money. Check out train timetables as well as coach fares. Sometimes the journey time is similar. Flights are often at their cheapest around 60 days before day of travel.

If you fly, bear in mind which airport you fly into and how far it is from the city centre. Some cheap flights are into different, regional airports, often further from the city centre. The cheaper flight may not so cheap after additional transport costs once there are factored in.

Potential savings

If heading to Europe, don’t forget to apply for your EHIC health card. It entitles you to whatever free medical care that is on offer to local people. The EHIC card is very helpful if you’re travelling in Europe. It entitles you to free medical care that is on offer to local people. Still make sure you have medical insurance though – as some fees may not be covered.

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Groupon.