Cheap Holidays: Top Tips for Sticking to Budget

Travelling to tourist "hot spots" during the peak of the travel season can leave you awash in crowded beaches, packed attractions and over-priced food. The holiday might also leave your bank account sadly depleted. With a little planning and research, you can enjoy fun-filled holidays without breaking the bank. By creating a budget for your trip-and sticking to it-you can avoid over-spending. Planning can also help you steer clear of the crowds and enjoy more authentic entertainment and dining options. 





Plan Ahead


Planning ahead is the best way to ensure your cheap holidays include the best values in hotels, flights and meals available. Airline tickets usually get more expensive the closer you get to the time of your holiday so buy them as early in the process as possible. Staying somewhat flexible about the exact dates for your holiday can also help you get the best deals on flights. 





Stay Outside of the City


Once you obtain cheap flights, you can focus on finding great deals on lodging in the area. When booking your accommodation, decide whether you want to be in the heart of the city or in a more remote location. If you want to be in the centre of the action where you can walk to shops, bars, restaurants and other attractions, you might want to pay a slightly higher price for a room in the city. If your family plans on mostly lounging at the beach by your hotel, you can often get a less expensive hotel located farther from the city centre.





Travel During Off-Peak Times 

Not only are many holiday spots less expensive during off-peak times; they also offer fewer crowds and sometimes even better weather. Autumn and spring can be great times to visit a variety of different destinations, from sunny islands like Tenerife to exotic destinations like Sharm El Sheikh, part of the "Red Sea Riviera" in Egypt. Greece also makes a great fall get-away destination in late September and early October when the crowds thin out, but the water is still warm enough to enjoy swimming or water sports. 





Eat Off the Beaten Path


Skip restaurants aimed at tourists and eat where the locals eat. Ask your hotel's proprietor for local restaurant recommendations where you can try authentic local cuisines. Visit the nearest grocery store to pick up picnic supplies, which you can then take to a park or another outdoor venue. If you do want to splurge on a pricey restaurant meal, go there for lunch instead of dinner. Many restaurants offer lunch menus that include items similar to those on their dinner menu, but at a significantly reduced price.





Check Out Local Entertainment


Instead of flocking to shopping malls or tourist attractions, visit local fairs, festivals or markets. Local festivities let you truly explore the host country. They usually offer inexpensive-or even free--music, dancing and foods. Community markets allow you to purchase local handicrafts and foods without the steep price tags that might accompany similar goods at the shopping mall.