Renting a villa can be a luxury option that makes your main summer holiday a break to remember. However, those on a tight budget this year, or perhaps looking for a quick pre-summer break before the main annual holiday, could do well to remain open to the simplicity and affordability of many package holidays.
Economic woes in the Euro zone have cast a shadowy cloud over much of the continental economy in the last few years, but the proverbial silver lining of these troubles is the proliferation of cheap package holidays this year. That being said, you still need to know where to look…
Firstly, for overall affordability you need to make sure that you check the cost of living – and specifically eating out – at your intended destination. Stick to the Iberian Peninsula this year and your spending money will go a long way. France and Italy on the other hand are still relatively expensive. If you favour the latter, this means that it can often make sense to consider all inclusive or half board package holidays if you want to keep the overall cost of the vacation down. Alternatively, look for those package holidays offering self catering facilities.
In fact, wherever you travel, significant cash can be saved by taking a DIY approach to lunch. Locating the local supermarket on your first day, and making up packed lunches when you venture out can save a significant wedge over the course of your holiday, especially if you are away for ten or fourteen days. This is often especially true if you have a lot of day trips and activities planned, such as coach trips and boat cruises. Serving quite a basic lunch to captive market can be a real money spinner for the excursion operators, and furthermore the choice of food may be quite restricted. Save your money for eating out of an evening and you’ll either reduce your overall budget or free up additional funds to enjoy some of the more expensive dining options.
Still on the topic of excursions, you may well be offered the chance to book day trips through the tour operator at the point when you book your holiday. While this is not always a bad idea, you can often find that you can pick up cheaper tickets for exactly the same activity once you arrive. If you cut out the middle man and go directly to the local company running the activity, it makes sense that you’ll often achieve significant savings.
Going back to the point about where to look for an affordable holiday, it is increasingly important to keep your wits about you when browsing online.
All of the big, reputable tour operators should be able to clearly explain the implications of any cancellations before you commit any cash, and so be sure to ask about the provisions in place should there be a problem with flights or accommodation. In general, a little extra research before you book can save you loads of time, money and hassle later on. Do the leg work first and you can make sure that all you need to do is relax when it comes time to board the plane.
