What is a Cheap Holiday?
Published August 15, 2012 | 
With several price comparison and aggregate flight and holiday sites available, many holidaymakers now spend more time than ever before scouring the internet for cheap holidays. But what constitutes a cheap holiday? The cost of the holiday at the outset may be considered as the defining factor but really there is more than this outlay to consider. Additionally, what you get for your money, for example duration of the holiday or meals, may also be taken in to account.
If you are looking for a holiday with a low initial spend. There are various destinations within Europe that you can access with cheap flights, often for a lower cost than domestic train fares. Portugal, Holland and Spain are such examples. By opting for self-catering apartments you can also save money once you’re there, by cooking for yourself and saving money on costly meals out or hotel dining prices. Just make sure you visit the cheaper supermarkets.
The drawback to popular places in Europe however is that the cost of living can be high and so this may outweigh savings made through cheap flights and self-catering. A solution to this is to visit countries within the EU that can also benefit from cheap flights but that are not in the Euro, as the pound will stretch much further. Countries such as Bulgaria, Poland and Latvia boast cheap food and drink costs, as well as cheaper accommodation and as such are becoming travel hotspots.
It may also be possible to find far-flung holidays for little more than the cost of a week in an expensive European city. Whilst flights can be expensive, in certain countries within Asia, for example, it’s possible to spend very little once you are there, as accommodation and other costs will be low. Because the flights will take up the bulk of the cost it’s possible to spend more time there and thus get more for your money.
If spending lots of your time searching the internet and bolting together different parts of your holiday for the best price isn’t an appealing option, then package holidays can also prove to be a cheap option as they can save money once you’re there. It may seem counter-intuitive but opting for all-inclusive packages, though seen as luxurious, may actually limit overall spend and reduce the total cost of your holiday.
Travel agents such as Thomas Cook often offer discounted all-inclusive packages to secret destinations at bargain prices, allowing affordable access to top hotels in great locations. You will be able to choose the region that you wish to visit and will usually have three options that are available for you to see first.
Last Minute Holidays
Published August 8, 2012 | 
While many people choose to book their holiday many weeks or even months in advance, there are others who simply cannot do this, because of work or family commitments. In such circumstances, what have become known as last minute holidays have come about to address that need. But it’s not only the last-minute nature of these breaks that are so appealing; they can also be very cheap. Here’s some of the destinations on offer;
Last Minute Holidays
The beach holiday has become a key part of many families’ lives, but when you book a holiday at the last minute you can also enjoy a beach getaway. It’s never good to have capacity that isn’t being used, and this ethos is why hotels and airlines prefer to sell off un-booked rooms and plane seats at discounted prices; a small profit is better than none at all.
You can book beach holidays in all the same places as someone who books in advance: the beaches of southern and south-eastern Spain, the islands of Greece or the dramatic coastline of Turkey. You can book last minute getaways of this type with various travel agents, including Thomas Cook.
But the classic beach holiday isn’t the only option. There are of course planes going to city destinations across Europe and further afield, and there are plenty of hotels in these places. All of them regularly have extra capacity, and the notion of a last-minute getaway with its inherent reduced cost can offer a great way to sell such capacity off. You can choose from all manner of famous cities, from the chic charm of Paris, to the incredible depth of history found in Rome. If you’re looking for nightlife, why not sample Berlin, offering as it does a truly unique night time experience.
But as well as holidays in Europe, you can find discounted breaks to destinations across the world, including places like Egypt, the USA and Asia.
You can arrange a cheaper last minute getaway by yourself, by choosing your own airline and finding a hotel, but often you’ll discover that it’s cheaper to have the whole thing organised by one travel agent, as they have the power to offer greater discounts.
Last minute breaks have become very popular with both travel firms and tourists, which is understandable since both get to benefit. One gets to sell their hotel rooms and flights, the other gets to have a fantastic holiday at a great price!
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