Author Archives: Samantha

17 Feb

Booking a holiday abroad

When most of us book a holiday abroad we want to ensure that we get a great holiday for the lowest cost we can. There are many costs that contribute towards the total cost of a holiday and below are a few ways in which you can try and save money on these:

Flights – flights can often be as much if not more than the accommodation. Be sure to check the prices for many companies and also flying from different locations as some airports can offer better deals than others. Also check what is included in your flight price, as if you have to add on meals, extra luggage allowance and transfers, it may be cheaper to go with a company that includes this in the price.

Accommodation – when you have found a resort you like, do a few searches to check for a better deal. You can also ring up the resort and ask them if you are able to book direct with them and what the price would be. Often you can make great savings by cutting out the middle man.

Transfers – some companies allow you to book hotel transfers at the time of booking your holiday. You will often be charged a set fee for this for either suing a taxi or a shuttle service. Try and find out how far your accommodation is from the airport and check to see how much a taxi would cos if you booked it privately as often it is substantially cheaper.

 

19 Jan

Singles holidays

If you are single and want to get away for a holiday but do not fancy spending a few weeks on your own, then you could look at going on a singles holidays. This is not necessarily a dating holiday trip it is often just a group of single people going on a holiday in the same location.

Some of these trips are organised by companies that will allow you the chance to meet up with each other prior to going away. When away there is often activities planned that you can join in with and hopefully make new friends.

IF you would rather have a day or two to yourself then this is also fine as you do not have to participate in anything that you do not want to. These types of holidays can be a great way to meet new people and also have that much needed break away from work and your day to day life. It may be that you never speak to any of these people again afterwards, but you never know you could end up meeting your soul mate or making some great friends.

16 Dec

Christmas shopping trips

Christmas is nearly up on us but there is still time for some last minute shopping trips. For some, Christmas shopping is very enjoyable and they are more than happy to make a day or weekend out of it. For those, a shopping break could be ideal.

Some popular destinations for UK residence when it comes to Christmas shopping are London, Paris, New York or Italy. Staying within the UK will reduce your travel time and allow you more time to shop but there are great savings to be had if you are will to travel to America for your presents.

Always consider how you will bring any presents back with you on your return trip. If you are flying you will have a luggage allowance and have to pay if you exceed this. Also some items such as consumables may not be allowed to be bought back in to the country, so always check prior to purchasing.

 

30 Nov

Top tips for business travellers

Regular international travel may be necessary for your business but with a few top tips you can make it much more rewarding.

Loyalty counts – Be loyal to certain airlines to maximise frequent flier rewards. Failing that, use a rewards type of credit card for all spending.

Get upgraded – Register your interest in purchasing an upgrade if one becomes available at check in. They’d rather sell one at a knock down price to you than give them away for free. Dressing smart will make you more likely to be upgraded, too. At your hotel, ask for a room upgrade when you know the hotel is quiet.

Go non-stop – Always go for non-stop flights over direct. Direct flights may mean you don’t have to switch planes but by factoring in an extra airport, you’re increasing the likelihood of delays.

Get served first – Get to the front of the queue by ordering a special meal, such as the vegetarian option, on long fights. These meals will almost always get served first.

31 Oct

Dog friendly holidays

When booking a holiday, you will need to have decided if you are going to take your pet dog with you. If you are going abroad, obviously this is a long procedure (and an expensive one) which will require your dog going in to quarantine for a period of time before you go and when you return.

If you are looking to holiday in the UK then you should first have a look at the accommodation that will accept pets. Very few bed and breakfasts or hotels will allow pets – so you are more likely to need to stay on a campsite. Again, some of the caravans will not allow them so you may have to do quite a bit of shopping around and most likely stay in a privately rented one or your own.

Once you have the accommodation sorted, you should consider the local area. If there are beaches you may find that you are not allowed to take your dog on there or that there is only a certain part of the beach they can be on.

Taking your pet on holiday is not as easy as it sounds, but is possible as long as you plan correctly in advance.