50 Ways to SAVE MONEY on your Holiday

This article is inspired by those of you who are teachers or who have families and are constantly in a Catch 22 situation of whether to take the kids out of school or may be take sick leave at the end or start of term in order to save hundreds of pounds on your holidays.
In this day and age when schools are clamping down on parents who take their children on holiday during term time (and quite right to). Where you need the Heads permission and a number of forms filled out to allow you to do this or risk getting fined and held up to be a bad parent. What are the alternatives to messing with your kids education or your career prospects?
Well here are 50 ways to save money on your holiday (well the first few anyway.....)....the rest will be added to the website detailed below.
1. Book early
It may seem obvious but the holiday industry is like any other business affected by the basic economics of supply and demand. The best time to book, according to travel agents, is 11 months before you're due to travel. This is because the flights have just been released and there's plenty of cheaper seats available.
2. Book late
The rules of supply and demand also apply in last few days before the departure date. If there are unsold seats and hotel rooms, you can bag a bargain with a few clicks of the mouse, or a phone call or two. However, more and more now you risk paying over the odds if you book too late. For example just the other week me and my wife waited for a bargain to appear for a holiday but all that happened as the date got nearer was the price increased until it was double what it was when we originally booked. So beware bargains are only there if you are ultra flexible!
3. Buy a package
The internet has been a godsend for people who wish to bypass the travel agent and arrange their own trips. But here's a little-known tip: if you are booking a flight and a car, or flight and accommodation, by packaging the two deals together, an agent can often offer a much better deal than if you were to book separately, even online. Call it creative accounting if you will, but it can save hundreds of pounds on a long-haul trip.
4. Travel on the ferry at unsociable times
After years of outrageously high fares, the cross-Channel ferry operators have woken up to the fact that people aren't prepared to pay up to £600 to cross a stretch of water so short you can see the other side from our shores - especially as you can fly to Spain for a few quid. As a result, fares have plunged and if you can travel at night, it's even cheaper. This rule usually applies whatever transport you are taking so be flexible and save some money.
5. Stay at home
A change is good as a rest so why not stay at home relax and just change your routine a little. Take time to do those little jobs that you have been meaning to do. However, spend a little money treating yourself, whether it is a meal out or day trip somewhere this will feel just as good as any city break.
The rest of the list is in development. But just think there are loads of common sense ways that you could save money on your holiday whether it is surfing the internet instead of trusting your travel agent, going back to basics and camping or youth hostelling (there are some great ones these days), choosing somewhere where your money goes further by checking the exchange rates, booking your airport parking in advance or simply take a pack lunch (my favourite you save money and get more!).
Good luck saving!
Check out http://dealcentral.co.uk/holiday-and-travel-saving/ for the best UK travel tips and links. You can also find some great ideas to save or earn extra cash on DealCentral.co.uk a site that aims to provide the UK readers with some much needed extra cash.
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