How to book a holiday without spending big bucks

FANCY a tropical getaway for less than the price of a cup of coffee a day? Here’s how to get score a holiday on the cheap.

It is possible to get this on layby. Picture: iStock

If you’re the type who always find you’re strapped for cash when it comes to taking a break, then maybe you’re just going about it the wrong way.

A new company, LayAway Travel, is offering package deals to some of the most popular destinations, such as Fiji, Thailand and Bali for less than a cup of coffee a day.

Rather than booking and paying for a holiday on-the-spot, LayAway lets customers put the whole trip on lay-by.

This means a trip to Fiji could cost as little as $2 a day. Holidays can be booked up to two years in advance and payments can be scheduled weekly, fortnightly or monthly to match your pay days.

Sheraton Fiji Resort is one of the stays on LayAway. Picture: Supplied

“LayAway Travel launched to make sure every Australian has the opportunity to travel the world, whatever their budget,” says Andrew Paykel, managing director of LayAway Travel.

The idea is you pay for a house and car in instalments, so why not a holiday? The difference, however, is that you’re paying it forward, so there’s no deposit, interest or fees.

There are currently about 250 package deals to choose from across 25 destinations, including Phuket from $1.85 per day, Hawaii from $2.37 per day and Disneyland from $3.93 per day.

You can also tailor your own trips, though LayAway says that the majority of customers go for the package holidays, which also include cruises.

Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Picture: iStock

Packages include flights, transfers and accommodation, with the option to also bundle in spending money and excursions, such as tickets to theme parks.

For the savings-challenged, this might be just the ticket to a big overseas adventure without the big debt.

While some travel agents might offer a payment plan, Paykel says the difference with LayAway is that you can book and start paying for a holiday up to 24 months in advance.

“We are the only lay-by specialists which offer this flexibility,” he says.