Five Money saving Holiday Tips
By Darren Cronian on Monday, August 6th, 2007

I’m from Yorkshire, and we like to penny pinch a little, so if your like me, hopefully this blog post will help you save a some money prior and whilst you are on holiday.

Five Money saving Holiday Tips

Currency

If you’re exchanging a few hundred pounds then I wouldn’t waste your time penny pinching, just head to the local post office or travel agent and get your currency. On the other hand if you’re taking a ton of money, then I’d recommend visiting a few places to compare prices.

My dad’s bought Euros and US Dollars, and the best rate he has found has been with Marks & Spencer’s so you might want to head there, and compare this with a few travel agents and the local post office to get the best rate for your money.

Getting around

Rather than renting a car, why not use the local public transport system. It’ll be cheaper, and it’s much more environmentally friendly. The best way to get to know the holiday destination is to jump on a bus or tram and find out where all the attractions are.

Another good form of transport to find your where around is your legs! Just be careful where your walking and don’t wander around alone at night. It’s free and much healthier for you than sat in a car or a bus.

Mobile telephone

My advice to save money is, leave the damn phone at home. If you need to speak with a family member or a friend then use a local telephone box, which is much cheaper. A friend received his mobile phone bill this week, £80 for a few phone calls back home – he didn’t realise that he paid for people calling him on his mobile!

Sun tan oils etc.

It’s not called Rip off Britain for no reason. Sun cream, deodorant from my own experience has been much cheaper to buy abroad. Once you’ve checked into your holiday accommodation, head to a supermarket where the locals shop and you’ll find it’s much cheaper.

Additional costs for your holiday

When you book a holiday you have with most airlines and travel operators, the option of in-flight meal and airport transfer. Don’t assume that it’s cheaper to get to your holiday accommodation by the tour operator – compare it with local taxis, and in resort airport transfer companies.

Bear in mind that on a tour operator coach you’ll have to visit all of the hotels in the resort, so it might be quicker and less hassle to find your own way there. With regard to in-flight meals, if it’s only a few hours flight, take your own food.

Do you have any money saving tips for travel consumers? Well leave your tips in the comments form.


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10 responses to “Five Money saving Holiday Tips”

Rob | 7 August, 2007 at 6:23 pm

Not sure I agree with shopping around for currency.

It seems a waste of time for the difference you get in return.

Darren Cronian | 8 August, 2007 at 1:20 am

True I suppose Rob.

I think it depends how much much you are looking to convert.

Rob | 9 August, 2007 at 8:01 pm

Clothes are soooooooo much cheaper in the USA, so you have a point about suncream etc it will be cheaper in most countries.

Darren Cronian | 10 August, 2007 at 1:11 am

Rob, my parents go to the US every year to Florida in particular and they come back saying how much Brtain is a rip off compared to the US. When you visit countries in Europe, it makes you wonder how they get away with being so expensive here.

It’s because we buy these expensive items that they increase the price.

Going away from travel but look at the playstation 3 games console, it was $500 in the US but in the UK it came out at £500 - don’t they realise that $500 and £500 isn’t the same!

Rob | 14 August, 2007 at 12:21 am

Yep, I’ve never understood that neither.

I have to admit that I am a bit of a gaming freak, but won’t be paying £500 for the PS3.

Holiday Money Saving Ideas | 13 September, 2007 at 12:04 pm

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Dee Edwards | 19 November, 2007 at 12:51 pm

Re foreign currency, I agree (about not necessarily shopping around for relatively small amounts) when it’s countries like anywhere in the EU, USA etc. I normally just get it at my bank as my bank account includes foreign currency transactions with no fee and the rate’s not much different to anywhere else when you take the fees into account. So I find it’s not worth the hassle (to me anywhere).

However, in more developing countries, there’s sometimes a local want for foreign currency. In Thailand for example, you can get off the plane and in the arrivals hall with zero hassle, you can exchange pounds sterling into the local currency at a rate that’s often 10% better than you’d have got in a UK bank the day before. Again, it depends what sorts of amounts you want to exchange on whether this is worth it for you. For security, you might want to take money out of ATMs as you go instead, but then you have to factor in bank charges (although I understand this is not an issue with Nationwide).

On sun lotions etc, depends where you’re going. Definitely cheaper in the US, France etc but Italy can be pricy due to the pharmacy ‘cartel’ . Might seem like ‘rip off Britain’ but unbranded aspirin in Italy is more like 4 euros instead of 16 pence like it is in Tescos or Boots..!! Re the US/UK thing as well as the exchange rate, don’t forget that it’s a lot more expensive for companies to do business here.

Re mobile phones, I’d say take it. BUT divert it before you get on the plane in the UK, preferably using network settings. If you wait till you are in the other country, the UK network will try your phone in the other country so even it’s switched off, there will be a small charge. So you won’t get charged for any incoming calls. You don’t get charged for incoming texts anyway. And you have your phone in case you need to make any phone calls. Or just use it to text, but bear in mind texts sent abroad aren’t included in standard plans and also cost more thant the standard text price.

Dee Edwards
Tell Tale Travel

Diane | 10 January, 2008 at 10:22 am

I completely agree with your comments about leaving the mobile phone at home. People seem to attached to them though.
My hint to add though is be nice to the holiday reps available and ask them where is cheap to go, or ask at tourist information. They will have loads of info on cheapo places to visit to save money and even have money off deals with some attractions.
Don’t forget that the beach is probably the cheapest place to go if you limit the amount of icecream you eat - so pick a spot away from the icecream vendors!

Maya | 21 February, 2008 at 12:36 pm

If the holiday is an all inclusive package, try to eat at the hotel and not waste money going to other place that will serve teh exact same food!!! espceially in developing coutries! unless a place has been recomended, then you can splurge! after all you are on holiday!

Andy | 19 March, 2008 at 11:19 am

If you get a local pay as you go sim card in whatever country you’re in - then go to one of the websites like Rebtel via an internet cafe - you can set up your UK numbers through them and pay only 2p a minutes or something like that. This is the cheapest way. If you are exchanging a regular sum of money into dollars you can have a UK dollar account - send the sterling to one of the many foreign currency exchange companies who will then transfer at the best rate - they will even book a forwrd exchange rate - sticking at todays rate for up to one year - so long as you put down 10% within a few days.

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