Saving ideas from Martin Lewis (From Worcester News)

Saving ideas from Martin Lewis

11:20am Thursday 19th May 2011 in Features

AS we move into the late season for summer holidays, where prices and supply drop, your aim should be to find the right one, find it cheapest, then see if you can haggle down the price and save a further 10 per cent.

PACKAGE OR DIY?

As a very rough rule of thumb for seven, 10 or 14 days away in a traditional holiday destination, packages beat DIY for price.

If you’re going away for a different trip length to a less visited spot on a city break or multi-stop holiday you tend to be better off with a DIY break.

Remember, package holidays usually have added ATOL and ABTA consumer protection.

LATE IS GREAT

With flights, early bookings are usually cheaper, but package holiday prices plummet the later you book. The other way to get discounts, though not as big, is to book early, as much as nine months in advance.

KEEP IT CHEAP WHEN YOU ARRIVE

If you prefer to spend your time in the resort, consider an allinclusive deal or self-cater and buy your food in supermarkets.

Yet if you like to get out, eat out and explore it’s just as important to consider the price and exchange rate when you get there.

Portugal, Spain, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria are the best value short-haul destinations this year.

CUT THE COST OF YOUR PACKAGE

Try websites such as teletextholidays.co.uk or travelsupermarket.co.uk or the classifieds for late deal specialist agents. Never believe the advertised price, though – call and check it’s available and genuine.

HAGGLE DOWN YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE

Once you’ve picked your holiday, find your destination’s specialist holiday companies and tell them you’ve been quoted a holiday price, give the details and ask if they can beat the price.

Try to negotiate in price per person, not total cost, as discounts seem less to them.

There’s a step-by-step guide on moneysavingexpert.com/ packageholidays.

---

TV money guru Martin Lewis runs the consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com Ensure you get his weekly e-mail so you’re constantly saving money.