Winter is an expensive time. Christmas gift giving, nights out, day trips for festive celebrations: it all adds up. So, if you get that travel bug in the autumn months, you will have to be frugal to get yourself a trip away and still make Grandma smile when she opens her gift. But there is a big perk to going away in the winter: the lower demand means lower prices. Take a look at our suggestions for where you can save money in your winter holiday plans.
Swap the package holiday for a DIY approach
A package holiday is great but limiting. You’re ultimately paying at least a couple of hundred more for the convenience. Your options of what destinations, what type of holiday, what hotels and what airlines you use are various degrees of limited. It’s a great option for a last-minute holiday or to take the stress out of everything, but if you’re willing to put in the work, you can save yourself a lot of money. Budget flights are a lot easier to find with different airlines, as are hotel rooms. Your transport can be handled separately for cheaper. This is definitely the best option if you’re looking to save money. If you’re worried about something potentially falling through, make sure you get some kind of insurance for your holidays so that one cancelled flight doesn’t untangle the whole trip.
Swap the months of planning for last minute deals
There is something to be said for last minute package deals, however. Airlines need to fill seats, hotels need to fill beds, and the demand has dropped as the nights get darker – so the price drops. This is better found in person, however. Head to your nearest travel agent and see what they have in the window. It’s a great option if you have a vague idea of where you want to go. If you’ve just landed on sun and sea, you’ve got lots of options up for grabs at a fraction of the price.
Look up destinations that suit winter weather
Even though the idea of a holiday abroad usually makes you think of summer, there are a lot of underrated options for a winter break. And no, we don’t mean a skiing holiday. Well, not only a skiing holiday. There are a lot of great options like the Swiss Alps or Iceland that would make for a winter getaway, but you don’t have to sacrifice sun if you don’t fancy it. A simple Google will show you a lot of places that are relatively hot all year round, like The Canary Islands, which is closer to Africa than Spain, the Caribbean, and of course, Florida. And there’s a lot to be said for heading to any major European city. If you’re looking for a sightseeing holiday, the sun being out doesn’t make too much of a difference. See your favourite cities turn into winter wonderlands and enjoy the lower number of tourists cluttering everything.
Drop Airbnb
Once upon a time Airbnb was the budget option. You don’t get a team of people looking after you, you only have a room in a kind stranger’s home. However, this has started to feel different, rules are stricter and harsher. There can be curfews, clean-ups, noise bans, etc. and before you know it, it feels like you are in your family basement. You might have to consider whether this is worth the cost considering that Airbnb prices are also rising. The recent price hikes make some hotel options seem not only cheaper, but as if you are getting more for your money, like a little more freedom.