TRAVEL TIPS
20 last minute money saving holiday tips from dodging airport drop-off fees to free lounge access
Tips include ways to save before you travel, while you are abroad, and slashing the cost of activities
THE suitcases may be packed and your holiday looming, but there is still time to save money on your summer trip.
This week, Rosie Murray-West reveals 20 last-minute tricks to cut the cost of your time in the sun.
3
BEFORE YOU FLY
1) Book airport parking: Even if you book your parking the day before you head to the airport, you’ll still save on the price you would get on the day.
Comparison sites such as Looking4Parking or Travel- Supermarket allow you to see different parking options.
Choose a park and ride service for a cheaper deal, and try sites such as JustPark, where local people list their own driveways for you to rent.
2) Get dropped off for free: Family and friends take a hit of £5 or more if they drop you at the door of the airport, but you can avoid “kiss and fly” charges if you check where the free drop-off points are located.
READ MORE ON HOLIDAYS
Long-stay car parks usually have a free shuttle bus service and give you time for a free and leisurely goodbye.
There are details of free drop-off points on airline websites.
3) Find airport discounts: Vouchers and online offers can cut the price of your time at the airport.
Stansted Airport offers a downloadable book of discount vouchers, including Kids Eat Free deals and ten per cent off duty free.
Most read in Money
Gatwick currently has a ten per cent off coupon for duty free on its website.
4) Get a free lounge visit: Airport lounge access can save on the cost of an airport meal, as well as provide free drinks and a place to work.
Discover UK's Best Beaches: Hidden Gems Revealed
A gold credit card from American Express offers four free passes valid for lounges, including the No1 Lounges, which provide a meal per guest.
The credit card is available for free for your first year (£195 a year afterwards).
Spend £3,000 on it in the first three months and you can also get enough points to bag a £115 Amazon voucher.
Just make sure you cancel when your first year is up.
5) Check in online to avoid fees: Some budget airlines will charge you if you check in at the airport, so make sure you do this in advance.
If you do this early enough — and some airline check-ins open 30 days in advance — you also have a better chance of sitting with friends and family, without paying to be together.
6) Weigh your bag before leaving the house: Been optimistic with your luggage allowance? It’s always cheaper to add baggage on to your booking online before you go.
So if you really can’t get the weight down, log in and add more allowance before you get to the airport to avoid a hefty excess charge.
7) Pack an empty water bottle: You can not get large liquids through security, but there is no need to pay for water on the other side. Instead, pack an empty water bottle. Many airports have water fountains you can use once you are through the checks.
3
GETTING AROUND
8) Cancel and rebook car hire: Car hire prices have fallen in recent months, so you could save cash by cancelling and rebooking at a lower price.
To do this, check whether your provider offers free cancellation — many do up to 48 hours before pick-up — and check if there is cheaper availability of the model you want.
Figures from consumer group Which? suggest you could save £56 a week, as that’s how far prices have fallen in the last few months.
9) Get standalone excess cover: Don’t take the pricey damage waiver offered by your car hire firm. Buy cheaper standalone excess insurance instead.
This will reimburse you if the hire firm charges you for bumps and scrapes. Try comparison site MoneyMaxim to find the cheapest policy for your needs.
WHILE ON HOLIDAY
10) Roam for free in Europe: Charges for using your mobile on the Continent can add up, so if your provider charges for roaming, switch to one that does not.
Cheap sim only providers such as Lebara, Lycamobile and Talkmobile all offer free European roaming, while Lebara offers a similar deal in India as well.
Switching to a new mobile provider while keeping your number is simple and now takes only a day.
11) Try an eSIM if you are travelling further afield: New eSIMS allow you to roam more cheaply outside Europe while keeping your number — but not all phones are compatible.
To check if yours is, call *#06# from your handset.
If yours is compatible, you will see a 32-digit EID number displayed.
With an eSIM, US roaming is available from Uswitch for £6 for 5GB over 30 days, with more generous packages available, too.
3
12) Use an app for cheap meals: Cut the cost of food shopping while abroad by downloading the Too Good To Go app, which allows you to buy cheap surplus food from stores near to your holiday location.
Also consider rival Phenix, which fulfils a similar role in France. You’ll spend less and perhaps discover new stores at the same time.
13) Learn how to ask for “free tap water, please”: If the tap water at your destination is drinkable, you’ll save a fortune ordering this at restaurants rather than opting for pricey mineral water.
“Une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait,” should get you tap water in France, while in Italy the phrase is “acqua di rubinetto”.
14) Don’t spend a penny with a toilet app: Apps showing the location of toilets at your destination can save you paying for every loo trip.
Two of the best are Flush and Toilet Finder, while there are also specific sites for some destinations, such as WC Rome.
Some public loos also make a small charge, but will certainly be cheaper than having to go to a cafe and buy a drink just to use the toilet.
15) Get a last-minute travel money card: It’s a lottery as to whether the bank card or credit card you have will give you a good deal when you spend abroad.
Some, such as Chase Bank’s debit card and Halifax’s Clarity credit card, offer good rates for spending and withdrawing cash, while others do not.
If yours is not a top pick for spending abroad, you can apply for a Revolut card at the very last minute and benefit from a free prepaid virtual card with no charges Monday to Friday for currency exchange.
If you have time to get a card delivered, try Currensea, which also offers great rates but links to your current account so you don’t have to top it up.
16) Pay in the local currency: Paying with your card abroad? The machine may give you the choice of pounds or the local currency.
Always choose the local currency to avoid an unfavourable exchange rate charge.
17) Pack a “make it cheaper” kit: It’s harder to search for a bargain when you’re on holiday, so to save money for the things you’ll really enjoy, pack any basic items that you know are cheaper at home.
These might include high factor suntan lotion from Lidl or Aldi, and small bottles of Robinsons concentrated squash if the children won’t drink water.
And grab English favourites such as Heinz ketchup if you think you’re going to need them, as these can be very expensive abroad.
SAVE ON ACTIVITIES
18) Visit the tourist office for discounts: Booking in advance can save you cash on attractions but, if you’ve left it too late, then ask the experts on the ground for help.
Local tourist offices often have leaflets with physical discount codes for days out, while the staff there, and possibly at your hotel, may also be able to wangle a discount.
19) Consider the coach: Replace pricey prebooked excursions with cheap coach travel.
Companies such as FlixBus, which has the biggest coach network in Europe, allow you to travel more cheaply than trains or Uber. You can book your seat in advance and there is wifi and power supplies.
20) Visit museums for free: Many countries open museums and attractions free of charge on selected dates.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
In August, museums in Bern, Switzerland, are free on Saturdays, while Paris attractions such as the Louvre are free on the first Sunday of the month.
Some Spanish museums are free every Sunday afternoon, so planning your trips could save you cash.