Save money taking a holiday in the UK
This is a version of the article UK holidays: the best ways to save, from discount codes to house-sitting that first appeared on The Guardian’s website 14 June 2022.
From enjoying free holidays to camping with a difference, some fresh ways to save money taking a break in the UK.
@thecomplainingcow How to save money on days out and holidays in the UK #Camping #Housesitting #DaysOut #staycationuk #moneytipsandtricks
Do your research when booking a holiday
Check out the local council website for the area in which you’ll be staying. They will usually list free events and activities that you can attend with the children, rather than paying out for theme parks and attractions.
Ask around on social media and search the Internet for forums, reviews and recommendations for lesser known and cheaper alternatives to popular destinations, such as Center Parcs.
Go sitting for a holiday!
You can housesit for friends and relatives and possibly reciprocate too, saving the full cost of accommodation. This gives you the security of having your house lived in, if you return the favour. But house sitting is also a growing business, so you can find numerous travel opportunities for free.
Help Save Money blogger, Gemma Clough, recommends pet sitting and suggests using a site like Trusted House Sitters which is a platform bringing together pet parents with sitters, who manage their own sit arrangements. She says “Owner members include their personal details when registering, including home address. Sitter members go through a mandatory ID check and all listings go through an approval process before they go live on the site.” She has travelled the world looking after cats and small animals but frequently stays in London for more than two weeks, saving hundreds of pounds! She recently stayed in Pimlico for two weeks at no cost. Renting a similar house in the same road might normally cost £14,350 per week!
Involve friends and family to save money on your holiday
Visiting and staying with friends and relatives – and reciprocating – will not just give you a meal and a room for the night but you are able to catch up too. Children get to meet up and the host(s) will know the best places to visit. You might also have a free babysitting service and/or be able to take any pets to save on kennel fees.
If you normally buy each other Christmas presents, then use the visits to include meals out, tickets etc. which can be part of the holiday but can also be your Christmas present giving sorted!
Relatives or friends of relatives may have elderly friends who are going to be on their own for short periods of time and would like company. Or they might want to join in the reciprocation of visits. So, ask around to see if anyone fits the bill.
Take a tent and make more savings than you think
Choose camp sites that have access to lakes and rivers, so you can swim, boat and cycle, with beautiful scenery. Sites where you are allowed to make fires, have barbecues and cook all your own help to keep children entertained and reduce costs. Ask friends and family if they have equipment, to save even more money.
When looking to book a site, do your research. Look at platforms for advertising places where you can stay but also consider booking direct where you might be able to get a better deal. (Same with holiday lets, car hire, etc.)
Book a lodge/holiday cottage/mobile home. With more room for playing, it saves on eating out. You can also buy boxes of ice-creams to pop in the freezer, meaning treats at a fraction of the cost. You’ll be able to use the base and as much or as little of the site’s facilities as you choose.
You can save even more money by using Tent Share, a business that started less than two years ago which is proving hugely popular. It is the only UK platform that enables owners to rent out their own tents and make money. Campers can rent a tent instead of buying new, to save money and be better for the planet! For example, a family tent usually costs upwards of around £400 but Tent Share campers can rent a tent from a local camper for about £60 for a weekend. You would have to be quite the camping family for it to be cheaper to buy than rent!
Get cashback and discounts on your holiday
Jam Doughnut offers pre-payment gift cards to use online, instore or on the phone and earn reward points. These points build up and once you have received £10.00 worth of points you can take out the cash. Money saving app Mad About Money works in a similar way but you get the discount at the point of purchase. There is also a #payitforward element in the app where items have been donated for free.
Check comparison and cashback sites which great for getting money back on all sorts of retailers, including holidays. The biggest are Topcashback* and Quidco* as well as Kidstart*, which will give you money back into your child’s account.
Check your credit cards and loyalty cards
Check your credit cards, too. Many will have offers for travel and holiday-related purchases, as well as cashback. You can use cards on top of normal comparison/cashback discounts if you just use the card and meet the requirements. Reward points for supermarket shopping and credit cards can also be used to make huge savings on travel, accommodation and meals out.
Haggle
See How to haggle for the best deal, from broadband to travel for the best ways to haggle, as it is even worth trying when booking direct with holiday bookings.
Consider working for your holiday
William Pointing from Great Deals Made Easy suggests volunteering to get free accommodation for short holiday periods. He says “You could perfect your gardening, writing or even cooking skills whilst often getting free food on top of the accommodation. Most places need you for at least 2 weeks.” World Packers shares opportunities for volunteering across the world.
Conservation Working Holidays provides masses of information on courses, events and volunteering roles in the conservation, countryside, wildlife and ecology sectors. WWOOF is an international organisation that does also operates in the UK. It connects volunteers who want to learn about organic farming and self-sufficient lifestyles. In return for helping out on the farm and family home you receive free accommodation and food.
Work out the best way to travel
Don’t forget to fill up the car with fuel near your home because service stations on motorways or in the countryside can be hugely more expensive! You can use the site Petrol Prices to plan where to fill up on long journeys.
Use apps like JustPark for cheaper pre-booking or finding shops and offices who rent their parking much cheaper than the likes of NCP!
More information about How to book, save money and complain about holidays/flights/travel.
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Various posts on saving money.
