As we all know, domestic getaways have surged in popularity over recent years.
While this has been fantastic for the local economy, we’ll turn to that famous supply and demand curve for consumers. Put simply, travelling in the UK can get expensive – unless you play your cards right.
This is where today’s guide is going to come into play. The UK has a wealth of fantastic destinations to consume your annual leave with, but if you’re serious about finding one for the right price, read on and find out precisely the best approach to take.
The school holiday rules still apply
Like it or not, the rules are pretty global regarding school holidays. If you’re looking to travel in the peak of August or another one of the school holiday periods, you’ll more than likely be paying through the nose.
The easy answer is to travel outside these periods – but that’s not available to many. Instead, try thinking a little more creatively. Over the last few years, some schools around the country have started to alter their holiday periods. For example, some will offer children two weeks in October, despite the general norm being one. If your child’s school falls into such a category, take advantage immediately.
Build attraction costs into your sums
When considering the overall cost of a holiday, it’s essential to factor in all the little extras. Things like entrance fees to attractions can soon add up, and if you’re not careful, they can completely blow your budget.
Fortunately, there are a wealth of tricks in the UK, with the main one being 2-4-1 vouchers. Most of the main attractions in the country have these, with most available on the back of cereal packets and other accessible places. Failing that, try and pre-book your attractions of choice. Quite often, the price on the door is significantly higher than if you were to book on the internet beforehand.
Consider your transport costs
Just because you’re not flying doesn’t mean that your transport costs are nil. In fact, in the current economy and with fuel prices soaring, they’re anything but.
Of course, you could argue that you could take the train or even the coach. However, depending on where in the country you are travelling, these can be notoriously expensive options as well. If you are going “off the beaten track”, there are sometimes few alternatives to getting behind the wheel yourself.
Nevertheless, research the options, and tally up the cheapest for your needs.
Bring your own food
Granted, this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a viable solution for many.
It can cost a small fortune for restaurant meals, particularly if you are travelling as a family. The alternative is to cook yourself. Granted, this will largely depend on your accommodation, but as long as you have access to a mini-bar fridge, we’re sure you can get creative! It can be one of the best ways to drive costs down and allows you to sample local produce!
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