It's that time of year when lots of us are taking a break. You might not be on a student budget, but nobody wants to spend money needlessly or indeed get ripped off. There are so many ways to part with your cash when it comes to holidays so our team have put together their top tips
Documentation
Websites where you can get holiday documents but pay a premium, are not necessarily scams but are unnecessary when you can get them from official channels yourself without using a third party. A good place to start is our own gov.co.uk website so you can find the official channels for visas etc.
Multiple Attraction Cards
These can work well and be cost effective, however there are downsides. Queues for the card holders can be longer than for those who booked directly. It may look like a good deal, but can you really cram in all the places available in the number of valid days? Also make sure you do research, going with the cheapest can be a mistake as companies go bust, and these types of cards are not cheap.
Spending
Using your normal debit or credit card can be costly. Consider a specific credit or pre-paid card when purchasing anything that is not in sterling even when you are at home booking things before you go on holiday. You can find the latest best ones on Martin Lewis's website. You have to consider both transaction charges and exchange rates. Adam, our Relationship Manager uses his credit card to collect Avios points for spending at home so he can enjoy extra trips away! It's worth checking out the best credit cards with points if you like to travel, there are plenty that attract hotel or airline points.
Cash
Paddy our Relationship Manager recommends you take time to get some currency in cash before your trip. We have all been stung using card machines and airport bureau de changes. By shopping around for the best rate and lowest commission you can make a big difference on £100. If you are going to Sweden for example, you won't need it. It's pretty much cashless. However, that's not true of everywhere, even in relatively developed countries. Think about tips, taxis and minimum spend items.
Flights
Ali in Customer Services recently went to Marseille and got a last minute flight for £40. If you are flexible about timing and destination there are still bargains to be had. You do not necessarily need to book a return flight with the same airline. Some of the big travel search engines such as Expedia, Skyscanner and Trivago could turn up a gem!
Liquids
Paddy also recommends a click and collect to Boots airside if you are travelling carry on only. This means you can pick up any liquids like suncream and shower gel airside rather than pay a premium in holiday resorts. Don't do what one of our colleagues did though and order it for the wrong week!
Mobile Data
It's becoming increasingly hard to manage without this when you are out and about. Relying on public and hotel Wi-Fi is not secure and using your usual provider can incur costly daily charges. Even £5 a day can add up over a fortnight's holiday and imagine if there are 4 of you! Ruth, one of our Directors, has recently discovered eSIMs which you can use as long as your phone isn't too old. You can buy a plan which allows you to jump on local networks for a set period with multiple plans for data usage. This means you can use Google Maps while you are out and about without worry. There are different providers which are effective in different regions, there is plenty of information on Google.
Social Media
If you are planning a trip somewhere new there a lots of groups and pages on social media you can join to get inspiration, information and education. Ruth has been planning a big family trip to the USA. "It was really useful, as I could search all the questions people had already asked and found honest reviews about hotels, restaurants and attractions. It's incredibly helpful as I also heard about areas where we should be more careful about crimes such as pickpocketing or common tourist scams."
Wherever you are going we hope you make the most of your money!