by Nicky W. Small

Created on: February 14, 2010

Everyone deserves a holiday at least once a year. With a little planning it is possible to have a great time, discover new places for less money.

 You can save a lot of money if you are travelling off season or outside of school holidays. If you have to travel when everybody else then one of the best ways for saving money is to plan well ahead. Sometimes you can book a summer holiday months before it is due, therefore you can pay for the flights and hotels separately. When the departure day arrives you only have to worry about pocket money. Occasionally booking last minute can save you money, but this is very risky and you might end up staying home.

When you finally decided where you want to go with your family or partner the first step to save money on travelling, are book flights on the Internet. Many sites are offering tickets for a friendly price. It is advisable to use one of the comparison websites (travelsupermarket.com, skyscanner.com) where you can see what different airlines can offer.

When you booked your flights you can move on to book an accommodation. If you want to save money, you might want to book a self catering apartment which has a little kitchen where you can prepare some breakfast.

Sometimes booking the flights and hotel in a package saves you a lot, other times it is better to book them separately. There are many sites where you can book a hotel room and read some review on them (tripadvisor.com, hotelscombined.com). Make sure that you check the same hotel on more then one site as you might find it for less money if you are patient enough to look.

 Once you are there you can cut the costs by having breakfast in the hotel room, and buy some food in the local shop. You don't have to spend much more on food than you would spend back at home. Don't eat out every day. If you have a little kitchen where you are staying you can cook some easy and quick meals on a couple of evenings. When you go out go and have your main meal in a local restaurant or cafe where the locals go. These places are usually cheaper and the food is better.

Check the local museums, tourist attractions before you travel, some of them are might be free to visit, and others may be free on certain days. Look out for free attractions in the town you are staying.

Use the public transport as much as possible rather then hire a car or call a taxi. You will be surprised how much you can save on that.

Don't forget the most memorable moments are free on holidays. You can wander around by the sea at sunset, or get lost on narrow streets without any costs.

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