20 ways you can score a bargain holiday

SICK of battling your post-trip “debt-lag”? Learn how to travel on the cheap with these tricks and tips from the experts.

Great deals are on hand when booking during the early bird sales. Picture: iStock

KEEP travel costs down with these 20 tricks and tips.

1. FLY ON THE CHEAPEST DAY

Peak travel times, whether they be seasonal, weekly or daily, are the most expensive times to travel. Searching for non-peak travel periods is often the best bet when it comes to snagging a low fare. Holiday destinations are cheapest during the slower tourism months. Airfares to popular big city destinations, those places which are frequented by business travellers, may be cheapest on off-peak days such as Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday night. Be flexible with times and travel in the middle of the day or late at night. The trick here is to think “off-peak”.

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2. BE AN EARLYBIRD

Tom Walley, head of leisure travel at Flight Centre Travel Group, says: “Earlybird season is the best time to book your travel. Essentially, (this is) when airlines release their tickets for travel for the year ahead.” Walley advises that great deals are on hand when booking during the early bird sales as opposed to booking outside these dates and offer attractive pricing that’s much cheaper than booking at other times of the year. For travel to Europe, the early bird season kicks off in September and lasts through October.

Travelling to the right destination in the off season can save you money. Picture: iStock

3. BE FLEXIBLE

Generally speaking, travel products and airfares are inventory managed. Only a select number of seats on any given flight will be offered at a discount rate, and the further you book ahead, the more likely you are to find these great travel deals. Sometimes, airfares don’t sell as quickly as anticipated, so airlines, hotels and tour operators offer last-minute deals to generate revenue. These deals do require some flexibility, but if you’re willing to pack up and go at a moment’s notice, the reward could be a great discount on that long dreamt of holiday.

4. DO IT YOURSELF

The DIY approach often means less out-of-pocket expense. When it comes to travel, that means doing the research, planning your itinerary and making your own hotel, car hire, cruise or airline bookings through your favourite travel websites. Today’s savvy travellers have the advantage of planning their whole holiday from the comfort of their lounge room. If you’re the take-charge type and are confident in your own ability to organise, then this just might be the route for you.

5. USE AN AGENT

Sometimes, the best way to find a deal is to go straight to a travel expert. From planning and booking, to help when the unexpected happens, a travel agent can take the stress out of travel planning and provide personal service. From airfares and cruises to hotels, ground tours and everything in between, travel agencies, such as TravelManagers, are adept at sourcing deals. With a travel agent’s industry connections and know-how, they know where to look for affordable prices and top notch experiences.

6. AIRLINE WEBSITES

These days, airline websites have become a one-stop-shop for all-things travel. Go to any major airline website, and you’ll find more than just airfares. Airlines have become experts at bundling flights with hotels, car hire, travel insurance; even cruises and land tours. Many airlines also provide package holiday links on their websites, making it possible to plan a whole itinerary in one simple transaction, both online or through their call centre.

All-inclusive packages can provide extra holiday value. Picture: iStock

7. CHOOSE AN ONLINE AGENT

Travel agents often have shop fronts, or access to a call centre for that person-to-person experience. With an online booking site, the customer experience is geared towards booking your own travel on a single online platform. One of Australia’s most popular sites is Webjet.com.au, where multiple travel products are available from the single source. If you are confident in booking your own travel online, a site such as Webjet can save you time and money.

8. CHECK THE FEES

Be sure to check for hidden costs, such as taxes, fees and service charges when booking travel. Credit card fees have become widespread throughout the travel industry. Avoid these costs by looking for an alternative payment option such as Paypal, Poli or EFT. Some companies may also charge a “service fee” when using certain products or services. Hotels in the United States and Europe for instance may charge a “resort fee”, for the use of their pool or gym. These charges are applied even if you don’t use these facilities. The charges can be avoided with a little research, or some negotiating at the time of booking.

9. PICK A PACKAGE

Package holiday specialists, such as Hoot Holidays, rely on close supplier relationships to provide added value in the travel market. By specialising in select destinations and products, all-inclusive packages can provide extra holiday value by offering many inclusions such as flights, hotels, transfers and more. A package can give a value-for-money experience, so you know the full cost upfront, before departure.

10. CHECK THE SEASONS

Leonie Spencer, director of Lifestyle Travel Ballarat, recommends that travellers first understand the climate with which they will be confronted at the destination. “Understanding seasonality is my best ‘insider tip’,” Spencer says. “It may be the wet season, winter, jellyfish season, windy season or storm season, but this could be a great time to visit some destinations. Try Darwin and Kakadu during the wet season; Botswana during their green season; East Africa to see baby animals and migratory birds; Venice in winter for mist over the canals and Honolulu for bargain shopping. Travelling to the right destination in the off season can save you money without compromising a great experience.”

Consider an early morning, off-peak or overnight flight option. Picture: iStock

11. CHOOSE A “REPO” CRUISE

A great way to enjoy a one-off sailing experience is to book a repositioning cruise. Cruise lines regularly position ships to, or between ports, countries, or even hemispheres, when starting a new cruise itinerary or season. By repositioning their ships, they often take more direct routes with stops in ports not usually visited. Passengers could even enjoy a lengthy ocean cruise with days spent at sea on hemispheric or continental repositioning journeys.

12. HOTEL WEBSITES

While hotel websites may not be as all-encompassing as an airline website when it comes to booking a full-travel package, guests can still find great deals on accommodation and land-based segments of an itinerary or holiday package. From five-star luxury to boutique, or the value-oriented basics, the websites for larger hotel chains can provide accommodation options across their range of partner hotels. Local hotel operators, on the other hand, often provide great deals and inclusions on tours and local activities.

13. JOIN A REWARD PROGRAM

Airline, hotel and other loyalty programs reward your travel. Major airlines such as Virgin Australia and Qantas have frequent flyer programs that earn you points towards travel and travel-related products, including partner airline flights. Big hotel brands such as Marriott, Hyatt and Starwood have loyalty programs where you can earn discounts, free Wi-Fi and room nights.

14. HOME INSTEAD OF HOTEL

It used to be that hotels and resorts had the market on holiday accommodation, but these days, home and apartment rentals are providing many exciting new options in the travel market.

Not only are the costs of renting a home or apartment beneficial, but the comfort and convenience that come with these rentals may do away with the need for public transport, dining and entertainment costs.

Almost everyone has heard of home rentals with Airbnb, but other options include Stayz, an Aussie company with properties available across the country. From urban apartments to country houses with swimming pools and family entertainment space, Airbnb and Stayz offer affordable accommodation options.

Being flexible is key to securing money-saving travel deals. Picture: iStock

15. SENIOR DISCOUNTS

An often-overlooked benefit when it comes to mature-aged travellers is the senior citizen discount. Not every travel provider advertises these additional discounts, so it never hurts to ask if a senior’s deal can be arranged. Some states include annual senior citizen benefits such as free train travel and other perks on tours, attractions, travel insurance and much more.

For more information visit australia.gov.au/content/seniors-card

16. GO ALL-INCLUSIVE

Consider an all-inclusive holiday option for ease and convenience where there is no need to hand over a credit card for every little transaction. With an all-inclusive holiday package, almost everything is included in the initial package price. Everything from your accommodation, meals, drinks, activities, tours and more are typical package inclusions. Certain hotels and resorts such as Club Med offer all-inclusive options, providing great value-for-money.

17. BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Currencies fluctuate daily, even hourly. Understanding currency exchange rates for the countries you plan on visiting will help determine just how far your dollar will stretch. A great online tool when comparing popular currencies is xe.com. The free travel app “Units Plus” is another convenient on-the-go option when converting currencies.

18. SIGN UP TO ALERTS

Many travel companies offer fare and news updates in the form of an email alert. Airlines, hotels and tour operators commonly use this method to communicate upcoming deals to their “subscribers”. Simply visit the website of your favourite travel providers and sign up for their travel deals. You’ll soon find great deals in your inbox — the easiest way to find specials or hear about upcoming sales. Airlines such as Tigerair and Jetstar often have exclusive subscriber deals and discounts, not offered to the public.

19. BE FLEXIBLE

Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to cheap travel deals. Airline websites allow you to search up to three days either side of your preferred travel dates. Consider an early morning, off-peak or overnight flight option to save on cost, or try a connecting flight

through another city. Look out for last-minute deals and consider an alternative airport. For example, New York City has three airports; LaGuardia, JFK and Newark, all with direct access to the heart of the Big Apple.

20. READ ESCAPE

Pick up your copy of Escape each Sunday or get your information online at escape.com.au. Packed full of travel deals and stories and the latest travel news and trends each week, Escape will keep you up-to-date.