The ongoing cost of living crisis means that many of us may feel like holidays aren't an option for 2023, but budget travel is possible (when you know what you're doing).
Actually, there are plenty of lesser-known tricks of the trade that can secure a much more affordable holiday than you ever dreamed of. Luckily, self-confessed budget holiday hunter Chelsea Dickenson – aka the Cheap Holiday Expert – has shared some of her secrets with GLAMOUR, so you can still look forward to a holiday no matter your budget.
Whether it's securing cheap flights, affordable hotels or bargain activities so you can explore new destinations without majorly forking out, Chelsea has all the know-how. Her best-ever travel steal? “I got a 4 hour 50 min train between Prague and Bratislava in 2022 that only cost me £21,” she says. “And that was in business class! I got a huge leather arm chair, sparkling wine on arrival and got to sit in a cabin like I was on the Hogwarts Express. What’s more, the food on board was so cheap too – 30p for a slice of cake and 65p for a bottle of beer!”
Now that's budget travel we can get on board with. Want in on that action? Here's the tips and tricks to follow to secure a bargain holiday in 2023…
How to find cheap hotels and accommodation
When it comes to securing a cheap holiday, consider how much it will actually cost to be at your destination, before you worry about how you're getting there. “My favourite thing is to do my travel search backwards and start with accommodation first,” says Chelsea. “This is because we often obsess over cheap flights when they are a one-off cost and actually your daily costs – such as food, activities and accommodation – can really add up.”
“To do this, I put really general areas into the search fields such as ‘United Kingdom’ or ‘Europe’. Then I use the website’s filters for whittling down the results. This technique works on Airbnb and Booking.com and is great for working out where’s offering great value.”
She adds: “Some websites like Airbnb also allow you to search using a map and I love using this tool when I’m looking for a beach holiday. I do this by zooming in on the map and then searching down the coastline. It’s fantastic at showing lesser-known beach stays where you can get amazing value for money.”
As for hotels: it's all about shopping around. “If you’re looking to stay in a hotel, always check the cost across several platforms - I tend to begin with a comparison site like Google Hotels or Trivago - and then click through to the results it offers. Also, always make sure you’re signed into booking websites as they can often reward members with cheaper prices. Finally, if you do find the price cheaper than booking direct you could always contact the hotel directly and ask them to price match, or even ask if they can offer any more incentive for you to book direct.”
We've found a collection of data-backed tips to save travellers time and money on flights.
How to find cheap flights
“The best way to get a cheap flight is to be flexible – be that on the date or the destination or, better yet, both,” says Chelsea. “When you’re in this situation, use websites that allow you to search options all over the world – for Skyscanner type ‘everywhere’ and for Kayak type ‘anywhere’ in the destination field. They also allow you to search across a range of dates.”
If that's not an option, you can find cheaper flights by opting to travel on particular days. “Flights tend to be cheaper on a Tuesday and Wednesday and really early in the morning or late at night,” she adds. “However, if there’s an event – such as a sporting fixture suddenly being announced – all these general rules go out the window! So the main thing to focus on is asking yourself ‘what are the dates and times that everyone else is less likely to fly?’”
“If you’re travelling at peak times - the school holidays or Christmas for example - it may be worth buying your flights well in advance to lock in the price. Most airlines tend to release around 11 months ahead of time but if you have a specific airline in mind, reach out to them on social media to confirm and set a date in your diary to book.”
As for worrying about whether your online cookies affect flight prices, that's an urban myth, according to Chelsea. “The truth is that most travel websites don’t use your browsing data in this way and the reason for the ever-changing prices is that booking systems are reacting very quickly to the demand for your journey. That’s why you’ll often see the price go up – but also why it can sometimes come down too.”
Whatever your honeymoon style, our comprehensive guide has got you covered.
How to find budget-friendly holiday activities
Free walking tours are a popular choice on city breaks, but it's worth remembering that you are expected to tip, says Chelsea. “If you’re on a really strict budget, I recommend Googling your destination followed by ‘self-guided walking tour’. This will bring up loads of travel blogs where people have created tours for you to do at your own pace, and totally for free. I also use Google Maps to save all the points of interest onto my map so that I can walk between each site, allowing for other things to capture my attention en route.”
“I also love to check Facebook Events and Eventbrite for my dates when I’m in a place as you can come across some great local activities this way. I found an amazing vintage Christmas market in Warsaw this way and we were some of the only tourists there.”
How to find a bargain weekend break
“Look at Saturday to Monday instead of Friday to Sunday,” says Chelsea. “This is because the flights are likely to be less popular – and therefore cheaper – and accommodation on a Sunday night is often at its cheapest due to less tourists and the business travellers having not arrived for the week yet.”
Jet lag in your gut is a real thing.
How to find free accommodation on holiday
A great way to stay in another country for free is to try housesitting.
“I have done housesitting a couple of times where you look after someone’s home whilst they’re away – for free,” says Chelsea. “You often have to look after pets – my first housesit was looking after a cat called Biscotte in Paris! However the best one I’ve done was a beautiful modern home in Germany where they just wanted me to take in the post. That was it!”
