Travel tips: How to save when booking a holiday

You can make significant savings by choosing the cheapest time to book a holiday. For example, if you're looking to go on a package holiday, booking late often wins. Waiting till the last minute – generally within eight weeks of travel – often pays off as prices usually plummet, though you've MUCH less choice. See more on pouncing on package holidays.

However, when it comes to booking flights, being early often means discounts. Many airlines release seats 11 to 12 months ahead, with cheaper seats often released early. You can't be sure these will be the very cheapest, as prices could drop later, so weigh up whether you want to take the risk.

But once all airlines that fly your route have released seats, it's worth checking prices. If you do, you're likely to find a decent deal. See airline-by-airline seat release dates and our Cheap flights guide.

Ensure your passport's valid

Know your passport's expiry date before you book. Some countries demand that it's valid for at least six months from your arrival. Plus, if your passport's worse for wear, ripped or water damaged for example, some countries may refuse you entry. Check the Government's foreign travel advice before you go.

A standard adult passport is £102 if you apply online. Currently the Passport Office says you should get your passport back within three weeks. Leave it until the last minute and you risk having to pay £239.50 for its one-day premium service.

Renew your passport at the Gov.uk website. Don't just google it – we've had reports of some travellers being caught out by unofficial websites which charge extra, so always use the official Gov.uk link above to ensure you aren't caught out by a copycat site. See full help in Passport renewal tips.

The EU has now said that from the last quarter of 2026, you'll have to buy a €7 visa-waiver if you want to travel to the EU. It's called an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System).

You won't have to pay this for every trip though. The fee covers an electronic pass that will allow British citizens to go on short holidays over a period of three years before they have to renew. The pass is similar to the ESTA currently required to visit the United States.

Check official advice on travelling to your destination

Besides keeping yourself out of harm's way, it's also important to check whether your destination is considered 'safe' to visit, to make sure that your travel insurance is valid. The Foreign Office issues country advice, and can advise against travel to certain destinations.

If there is an advisory against travel, it can invalidate your travel insurance if you do go, with many providers refusing to pay out for issues – including cancellations – at destinations deemed to be 'unsafe'.

To check entry requirements, destination safety and other information, see the Government's foreign travel advice.

Consider the protection that comes with package holidays

The internet's great for flights or DIY city breaks. But if you're going away specifically for seven, 10 or 14 days to a traditional holiday destination, then good old-fashioned package holidays can often come up trumps. They can also offer valuable protection.

Package holidays have long been protected under the ATOL scheme, so if something goes wrong you get your money back or help getting home.

But since July 2018, most DIY package holidays bought in the same transaction get the same cover as 'traditional' package holidays.

This means you get:

• Financial protection. You're entitled to a refund or to be brought home if necessary if the firm organising your package goes bust, AND

• Legal protection. You're covered if you don't get the holiday you paid for, for example, if your airline goes bust, or bad weather stops you travelling.

For more info, including what protection other types of holidays offer, see Holiday rights.

Once you've booked your trip you'll be emailed an ATOL certificate – keep it safe as you'll need it if anything goes wrong.

Swap Clubcard vouchers for hotels, transport & more, including Eurocamp, LeShuttle and P&O Cruises

If you collect Tesco Clubcard vouchers, 500 points are usually worth £5 to spend in store. But those 500 points could be worth £10. This is about exchanging your vouchers for codes to spend with Clubcard Reward Partners* on travel, food, days out and more.

For example, £5 in Clubcard vouchers gets you £10 to spend at the following:

• APH Airport Parking*

• Eurocamp*

• Hotels.com*

• LeShuttle* (formerly Eurotunnel LeShuttle)

• P&O Cruises*

• EasyJet holidays*

You can also exchange £1.50 in vouchers for 300 Virgin points to use at the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club*.

For many of us, a holiday's an invaluable way to relax and unwind – or gear up and party. Yet before you splash out, remember, the holiday industry is a beacon of commerciality. Travel marketing is honed to make you spend more and more, using emotive language such as "precious moments" and "magical memories". Don't be sucked in.

Too many plan a dream holiday, then only consider later how they'll pay for it. That's a sure-fire way to end up disappointed or broke.

Instead, ask "what can I afford to spend?" then work out how to have the best trip within that budget. A holiday lasts a week or so – don't ruin the rest of the year for it.

Use our free Budget Planner tool to help you plan. If you're saving for the trip, our Boost your income guide is crammed with tips to make extra cash.

• Max Avios points. Use points scheme Avios to save on flights, upgrades and more (you still need to pay taxes and charges). Using Avios may not be as lucrative as before, so do check prices elsewhere, but it's still an option. See Ways to boost and max Avios.

• Take buggies and car seats for free. Renting a child's car seat can add about £10 to £15 a day to the cost of car hire, and can hike taxi fares sharply too. However, some airports have stalls, such as Malaga's Tots Store, where you can rent seats more cheaply. Many airlines also let you check in a car seat and fully collapsible pushchair for free, such as Easyjet. You can also use some car seats on board planes (if you've paid for your child to have their own seat). Rules vary though, so check in advance, and look at the rules of your destination, too.

• Wear your luggage... Wearing some or all of your luggage can help cut down the amount you need to check in. You could wear your heaviest clothes and shoes, or put heavy gear in your pockets, then stow your jacket under the plane seat. Deep-pocketed combat trousers, such as these from Amazon that are £20*, are a good option, as is a specialist big-pocket jacket, or one with a 'poacher's pocket' – a deep lower pocket at the back. MSE Hope even discovered a stuff-able travel pillow for £4 on Flying Tiger, which you can fill with clothes.

Rates fluctuate, but if you find a good deal on a room with free cancellation then grab it, monitor prices, and cancel and rebook if it drops. Some booking sites will also match prices if they fall later. Both strategies can pay off, but have their risks – see hotel rebook tricks.

Uncover secret bargains on five-star hotels

The secret hotel section at Lastminute.com* has bargains on four and five-star hotels worldwide (including London), because you only know the description and star rating before you pay. This can mean rock-bottom prices for classy establishments.

Yet often you can cut and paste key phrases into Google to discover which hotel it is. Once you know the hotel's identity, check visitor reviews on TripAdvisor*, Booking.com, Google reviews, or whatever other platform you use, to see whether it's really a bargain. See secret hotels for how. Some inspiration from MoneySavers:

The star rating system isn't standardised worldwide, and it's usually just an indicator of facilities, rather than quality.

Stars may be given by governments, review organisations or even the hotel itself. Package tour operators tend to be overly generous, often a star higher than independent reviews.

To uncover a real gem, use TripAdvisor feedback. It isn't perfect, but ignore the very best and very worst feedback and it's a handy gauge.

If you don't fancy battling for a sun-lounger each morning, villas offer space for large groups of friends, or families with kids who need to let off steam.

As a rule of thumb, the larger the group, the bigger the per-person saving, so they're great if there's a party of you going. When we checked a while back, we found a three-bedroom villa in Malaga priced at £352 for a week's stay in mid-August, compared with a nearby hotel costing £1,420.

Our top picks for holiday lettings and homestays are Airbnb for flexible booking options, Vrbo* for global reach, Clickstay* for easy payments and TripAdvisor* for search. For safety, always use the platform's payment system rather than arranging payment privately or off-platform. Plus check it's not a fake villa – see cheap holiday rentals for safety tips.

Try hostels for cheap accommodation

Don't think hostels automatically mean dorm bunks. Many offer singles, twins and doubles, and they can offer massive savings over hotel prices.

While a few may be mucky, many are clean, have friendly staff, and some even offer free internet access and breakfast. In the UK, Youth Hostels Association* and Hostelling Scotland properties include fabulous castles and mansions.

To check out prices and availability, use Hostelworld*, which gives hostels a percentage rating based on visitors' experiences. To read more reviews from hostel guests and compare prices, try Hostelz.com.

• Work out what you need. There's often a mass of costly add-ons on offer, including air-con, sat-navs and charges for extra drivers. Before you book, work out what you need and ditch the rest.
  

• Quickly compare quotes. Use comparison sites to grab the most quotes in the least time. Our top picks are Skyscanner*, Kayak*, Enjoy Travel*, TravelSupermarket* and Carrentals*.
  

• Check for extra discounts. See whether you can squash the price further via fly-drive package deals, cashback, specialist travel brokers and online vouchers.

It's important to note that if you are planning on booking a car, you'll need to get a code from the DVLA before you go, but bear in mind it expires after 21 days. Read more in our Car hire guide, under ways to supercharge the savings.

Beware pricey excess insurance

If you're hiring a car, hopefully the closest you'll come to crashing is post-holiday ice-cream withdrawal. But if the worst happens, bear in mind that while there's some cover for hire car damage, there's usually a big problem:

Check the 'excess' – the amount you'll pay towards any claim. If it's high (about £500), any scratches or minor damage will be expensive.

To get round this, hire firms try to flog costly excess insurance at pick-up. This is usually a costly extra at about £25 a day, especially with cheap hire companies, as often their profits come from the insurance.

Yet it's possible to grab cheap excess insurance for less than £2 a day via comparison site Moneymaxim*. See full cheapest excess insurance info.

Before you book car hire for your hols, think about the alternatives.

Car swaps, public transport and even taking your own car may work out cheaper for some destinations. Go through this checklist first:

• Look into public transport. In Florida or Los Angeles, many will need a car for the huge city distances. But in New York you can't park anywhere, so the subway wins. Many European cities have great public transport, so always check. The free Citymapper app covers cities worldwide, including most of the US and Europe.

• Check taxi prices. If you plan to spend most of your time topping up your tan rather than travelling, a few taxi rides may be cheaper. International taxi fare calculator TaxiFareFinder gives an estimate of what journeys might cost.

• Find the local Uber equivalent. Ride apps such as Uber are convenient because they have a fixed and often cheaper price arranged in advance. Uber is available in over 70 countries, and if you already have the app you don't need to do anything for it to work abroad. Many countries also have their own Uber alternatives (such as Go in Japan or Grab in Thailand).

• Take your own car. If venturing on to Europe's roads, it may be possible to take your own car. All UK car insurance policies automatically provide the correct minimum cover required by law in all EU countries, but check whether the full cover extends to Europe. Also see whether you need a 'green card' from your insurer (which is required in certain non-EU countries to prove that you're insured).

If your flights or package holidays cost over £100, pay by credit card to nab extra protection. This is because when the item's over £100, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act means the card company's equally liable if anything goes wrong.

This means, were the airline to go bust and you'd booked directly with it, you can at least get your money back from the card company. Always pay your card off in full at the end of the month so you're not charged interest. See our full Section 75 refunds guide.

There's also valuable hidden protection for debit card payments, which means you may be able to get your money back if something goes wrong. It's called chargeback, and applies to most debit and charge cards, as well as Visa, Mastercard and Amex credit cards – though it isn't a legal requirement. See our Chargeback guide for info.

Watch out for travel exceptions

Bizarrely, if you're booking flights, Section 75 only covers you if each individual ticket comes to over £100. So if a couple bought two flights at £75 each, even though the transaction would be over £100, they wouldn't be covered. Plus if you aren't the primary cardholder and book your flight on an additional card, you won't be covered.

Another exception's if you buy a flight via a travel agent. Even if the cost is over £100, Section 75 doesn't cover you here. Because you pay the travel agent, not the airline, the card company doesn't have a direct relationship with the supplier, so isn't considered liable.

Securing travel insurance as soon as you've booked gives you valuable protection should something happen before you go, such as illness or a family emergency, which prevents you from being able to travel. So get it ASAB.

Going away two or more times a year? Annual travel insurance policies are usually cheaper. Otherwise, get a single-trip travel insurance policy.

See our Cheap travel insurance guide for full best buys and help.

If you're off to an EU country (or some others, including Switzerland), ensure you have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or valid in-date European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

A GHIC or EHIC gives you treatment at state-run EU hospitals and GPs at the same cost as a local. So if locals pay, you pay – if it's free for them, it's free for you. If you already have an EHIC, it will continue to cover you until it expires, so you MUST check it's still in-date as they expire after five years.

If you need to renew, or apply for the first time, you'll now receive a GHIC instead – but it does the same thing. For full help, including how to get one for FREE (never pay), see our Free GHIC or EHIC guide.

The last year for EHIC renewal was 2021, which means the last remaining standard EHICs will be expiring in 2026. By extension, the first batch of GHICs are expiring in 2026 too (1.3 million to be precise), so check those expiry dates!

An EHIC/GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance – while very useful, they're only for medical cover.

Read our Cheap travel insurance guide for more info.

Off to the US? Beware unofficial ESTA sites

Everyone going to the States by air or sea needs to fill in an 'electronic system for travel authorisation' (ESTA) form.

Applications cost $40.27 each, yet beware googling it. Do this and you may be directed to sites that pretend to be the official webpage, and charge an additional fee to process your application. More details in Copycat websites.

Always apply via the official ESTA webpage. And see our ESTA guide for full info, including renewal help and safety tips.

Many automatically buy sun lotion every time they jet off, but there's often no need to shell out – open bottles can still be effective for up to two years. The number you should find on the back of the bottle is a period after opening (PAO) number, which tells you how long you can keep using it for.

It'll normally look like a tub with an open lid and a number next to it (for example, 12 or 24) – that's the number of months after opening during which it should be OK to use.

The British Skin Foundation says: "Sun tan lotions may, given time, start to separate and become less effective, so it's always worth noting down on the bottle when it was first opened."

It also recommends storing your sun lotion in a cool, dark place, and avoiding leaving it in direct sunlight. (Just ask MSE Oli, left, who always practises safe sun.)

It's worth noting the PAO number isn't the same thing as the best before date, so check that too. The British Skin Foundation says you should always throw away sun cream that has passed its best before date.

The British Skin Foundation told us: "When choosing a sunscreen, rather than price or retailer, the two most important factors to look out for are its SPF and UVA rating.

"Firstly SPF, or sun protection factor, is the level of protection sunscreen gives against UVB radiation, the type that causes sunburn. This is usually on the front of the product. We recommend choosing one at SPF 30 or higher.

The UVA rating tells you how much protection the product is giving you from harmful long-wave ultra-violet rays. Some bottles have a star rating and those that don't should at least have a circle with the letters UVA inside, as this indicates the minimum level of UVA protection. These are the logos you should be looking for.

Whether it's Disney, Universal Studios, a balloon trip or an aqua park, search early doors to see whether there are vouchers or cheap tickets. Specialist ticket agents can undercut buying direct, so use the theme park's own prices as a benchmark to beat.

For full details see our Cheap Disney tickets guide.

Use a free app to keep track of your travel plans

Travel-size lotions and potions can be pricey. Retailers know they're convenience goods and charge accordingly – but you don't have to pay through the nose to smell like a rose.

Our investigation in 2019 showed travel toiletries were up to seven times more expensive. Prices may have changed, but the mark-up hasn't. When we checked, a 90ml travel size Aussie shampoo was £2.50 in Boots (£2.78 per 100ml). Yet the full-size 500ml version worked out at £1.20 per 100ml, around 60% cheaper if you'd buy a full bottle anyway.

So instead of buying pricey travel size versions, grab some small clean empty bottles, and fill 'em up from your everyday toiletries (this is where complimentary mini-toiletry bottles from previous hotel stays come in handy).

If you're jetting abroad, ensure you're vaccinated against any nasties before you go. Your GP will offer some vaccinations for free, but others can cost about £50. Some even require more than one dose, meaning costs shoot up quickly. The NHS website lists which vaccinations are free and which cost.

If you need to pay for travel meds, NHS prescription prices are fixed, but pharmacies can set their own for private prescriptions. These are given when you want a drug not covered by the NHS in your region, such as Malarone, which prevents malaria.

See our Cheap and free prescriptions guide for more ways to save.

The Google Translate app (on iPhone and Android) is free, and doesn't require costly data or even Wi-Fi abroad. It lets you translate words and phrases into over 200 languages with internet access, and 90 without.

You do this by typing or speaking into the app and, for some languages, you can use your camera to automatically translate text in real time or via a photo (though it's not always accurate). It's also begun supporting AI-powered conversations to help you practise the language.

Download the language before you go

Google Translate lets you download free language packs in advance, which means the app will then work offline overseas. Each language pack is about 150MB, so ensure you download it in the UK via Wi-Fi if your data allowance is limited.

To get these, open the Google Translate app, tap the profile icon at the top right, then 'Downloaded languages', then tap the download icon next to each language.

• On Android: The offline translation feature's only available if you're running a later Android system – which version you'll need depends on your phone. To check which version yours is on, go to 'Settings', then 'About device' or 'About phone'. You should be able to update the phone's software from here too.

• On iPhone: It's also possible to save translations to your phone while you're online. To do this, press the star icon next to each phrase you want to store offline. It isn't perfect, but this can be a handy workaround if you're keen.

The app's available for iPhone and Android phones. It's free to download but there are optional in-app purchases. You can also learn via Duolingo's website.

You can set yourself goals of practising for five to 20 minutes each day, and it tries to make learning fun by turning each lesson into a game (for example, you lose lives when you get questions wrong).

Forumite Hermia has been learning French via the app:

Navigating public transport in an unfamiliar city can be daunting. But don't be tempted to automatically fork out for cabs – the free Citymapper app will have you hopping on and off the metro or subway like a true Parisian or New Yorker.

You can use it in over 100 cities around the world, including London, New York, Barcelona and Hong Kong. It's available for iPhone and Android, or you can use the web app.

How does it work?

The 'Get me somewhere' function lets you enter your destination and starting point to find the best route from A to B. It finds various public transport options, including bus-only, rain safe – for routes that minimise travel outdoors – and wheelchair accessible. Not only that, it will show you how long it would take to walk, cycle or take a cab.

The app covers a number of available public transport options, including bus, metro/subway, rail, tram and cycle docks. You can also use it to view transport maps, such as bus routes.

How to use the app offline

While it's a handy app to use abroad, make sure you don't rack up big data charges. Unless you're able to use your data for free, it's best to switch off mobile data and use Wi-Fi to plan your route. You can then save your journey offline using the star in the top right of the screen.

Use one of the following free apps (many of you will already have Google Maps) to help you navigate when you're abroad.

While the apps won't have the bells and whistles of a traditional sat-nav, crucially, you won't have to use any data when overseas.

Download the apps and maps before you go and then they're stored offline on your phone – the apps use your phone's built-in GPS to locate you and don't need data or Wi-Fi.

NOTE: If you're not using data, you won't get traffic alerts – you'll get the shortest route based on the assumption there's no traffic, which isn't always going to be the quickest route.

• Google Maps: Works offline too – so download before you go. The Google Maps app (for iPhone and Android) is easy to use, and offers real-time traffic and train info (if you're using data or Wi-Fi).
  
  To download for offline use, search for the area you want and tap the three horizontal lines in the top left of the screen. Then select 'Offline areas'. It'll give you the option to select 'local' or 'home', or a 'custom area'. 'Local' or 'home' selects an area surrounding where your search is – 'custom' lets you specify an area. The maps you've downloaded are stored in the 'offline areas' section.

• Maps.Me: Top for detail, including hiking trails and ATMs. Maps.Me allows users to add data to maps – such as places of interest or trails. It works in a similar way to Wikipedia with users making contributions, which is why its maps are so detailed. It also includes islands in addition to whole countries – great if you're going off the beaten track. It's available for iPhone and Android.

An international driving permit (IDP) is required or recommended in about 140 countries around the world, including the USA, Thailand and India. Drive without one where it's needed and you risk trouble with the authorities, and may be refused a hire car.

It's in booklet format and there are three types, called 1926, 1949 and 1968 (they're the same price). Which you'll need depends on where you're off to. See our How do I renew my driving licence? guide for full details.

Plus... driving in Europe? Check insurance, breakdown, equipment and road rules

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning an overseas road trip, yet forget these tips and your dream drive may look more like a Mad Max outtake.

Here are some top tips from our Driving in Europe guide:

If you're taking your pet from the UK to an EU country, you now need an animal health certificate (AHC) each time you travel. This covers dogs, cats and ferrets, and can cost over £150.

You will need to visit your vet to apply for a new AHC for each trip. Once your AHC is issued, you have 10 days to enter the EU with your pet. Once you're in the EU, the AHC is valid for six months for travel within the EU and for re-entry into the UK.

See the Gov.uk website for full details.

You'll also need to take the following steps:

• Have your pet microchipped. UK law requires dogs (from eight weeks old) and cats (from 20 weeks old) to be microchipped anyway. See more on Gov.uk.

• Vaccinate your pet against rabies. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated and you must wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.

• Some countries require tapeworm treatment for dogs. If travelling to Finland, Malta, Northern Ireland, Norway or the Republic of Ireland with your dog, you need to ensure that it's received treatment for tapeworm one to five days before arrival in these countries. This needs to be detailed on the pet's AHC.

As long as you keep your pet's rabies vaccinations up to date, you won't need to get repeat vaccinations for subsequent trips to the EU (other than for tapeworm treatments for dogs visiting the countries listed above).

To travel to Northern Ireland with a pet, you need to apply for a pet travel document, which is free and will last for the pet's lifetime. See Gov.uk for more details.

Annnnnnd relax. You've finally made it. You've reached your destination, and you're free to power down and slide into holiday mode. But still stay sharp: just because your normal routine has stopped, doesn't mean the MoneySaving has to – so look alive and protect your pocket with these top tips and tricks.

Asked to pay in pounds or euros? Say euros

You'll often be asked this in banks or shops overseas, especially in Spanish tourist resorts. If you choose pounds then the retailer does the currency conversion – rates are often poor compared with letting your card do it (by choosing the local currency), although things are closer than they used to be.

If you've a top overseas card, always opt for the local currency as your card does the exchange and it's unbeatable.

If you don't have a top travel card, any saving on the rate won't be as big, but it's still safer to go with the local currency, as the vendor can set its own rate if it wishes, which will usually be worse than the credit card rate. See Martin's blog: Using plastic overseas? Always pay in euros.

Turn off mobile data and roaming to avoid shock charges

Under the 'Roam Like At Home' rules introduced by the European Union, you were once able to use your UK allowance of minutes, texts and data in the 'European Economic Area' (the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) without paying ANY extra charges, subject to 'fair usage' rules.

However, since Brexit, many firms have now brought back roaming fees in Europe, including major providers EE, Vodafone and Three. A bunch of providers still do let you roam like at home, however, and we've a full breakdown of what fees you may (or may not) face in our Cheap mobile and data roaming guide.

Some firms have told us they've no plans to bring back roaming fees – although this isn't an indefinite guarantee, so check your network provider's roaming policies below:

If you're delayed by more than three hours or your flight's cancelled, you're often entitled to £100s in compensation where the delay was the airline's fault.

A landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice clarified that passengers were entitled to compensation for long delays (as long as they met the set criteria) following a challenge by some airlines. Following Brexit the rules haven't changed, as EU law has been written into UK law.

See our Flight delay compensation and Flight cancellation compensation guides for full details.

Once you're back, there's a quick trick to grab massive savings on getting holiday snaps turned into glossy photos.

Many photo-printing sites offer a set number of free prints to entice new customers. By playing the field, you can use different deals to get loads of holiday snaps printed free, though you'll need to pay for delivery. Check out our Free and cheap photo print deals.