Posts Essential guides
Our essential guides will help you to plan, book and enjoy your next holiday. We'll show you how to save money on your travel plans, avoid being ripped-off and help you to get it right the first time
Latest posts
Guide to: Airbnb for beginners
6th July 2023 by Paul
Airbnb is an amazing tool that can dramatically reduce your annual travel spend. I’m a self-confessed Airbnb junkie, having notched up over 21 Airbnb stays in 8 countries. It can seem a bit daunting for the beginner, so I thought I’d run through the service from my own perspective to help tip you over and make that first booking. What is Airbnb? Airbnb started life as a DIY B&B service. Anyone with a spare room could rent out that space for a night or two. The host makes a...
Guide to: Cheap Car Hire
27th June 2023 by Emma
With more catches than a Norwegian fishing vessel, car hire firms abroad aren’t shy when it comes to relieving you of your hard earned cash. That’s why we’ve put together these top tips to help you navigate those “choppy waters†and slip through their “nets†- sorry! It’s actually possible to get your hire car for as little as £3.50 per day, so don’t wait until you arrive. We’ll help you find the best prices, skip those hidden extras and cut your...
Guide to: Secret Hotels
27th June 2023 by Emma
So you want to stay at a top hotel, but those prices are ridiculous right? There is a way. You can choose an unnamed hotel at a huge discount. A range of sites including Priceline, Hotwire and Lastminute.com allow you to book what they call ‘Secret Hotels’. You won’t know which hotel you’ll be staying at until you pay, but these top tips can help you get an edge on the competition and narrow down your options. 5* hotels at 3* prices anyone? Secret hotels can save you a...
Guide to: Priceline.com Bidding
27th June 2023 by Emma
With US site, Priceline, you can get huge discounts on hotel stays across the globe and our guide will give you the tools to beat their system and secure the lowest bids. Done correctly, this is a great way to get top end hotel stays without blowing your budget, particularly if you’re flexible about where you stay. How it works While Priceline will let you book hotels the traditional way, comparison sites like TripAdvisor, TravelSupermarket or Trivago are a much better bet if...
Guide to: Winter Sports Travel Insurance
27th June 2023 by John
While 1 in 5 brits skip travel insurance when headed abroad, you'd be crazy not to grab insurance before heading to the slops. Obviously, the risk of injury is far greater when hurtling down the side of a mountain than sipping a beer by the side of a pool. If you’ve booked your winter adventure, but not your travel insurance, do it now! Much of what we've covered in our guide to cheap travel insurance stands here, but I thought I'd pull out the main points that relate to winter sports. And...
Guide to: UK Hotel Breaks
27th June 2023 by John
Never overlook the UK as an alternative to heading abroad when you need to get away. Whether you’re living it up in London, relaxing in the Cotswolds or dipping your toe in coastal waters of Cornwall, there are loads of useful tips you can use to help slash the cost of your bill. Here we run through the key steps for bagging a great bargain, plus clever ways to save from special rates and haggling to university stays, riverboats or even sleeping in the trees! Do your research to...
Guide to: Cheap Package Holidays
27th June 2023 by Paul
Did you know that it was us Brits who invented the package holiday? Thomas Cook himself organised the first "tour" that included accommodation and flights in one convenient package. Fast forward to today, and it's still a uniquely British affair. The popularity of the package holiday has waxed and waned over the years, but post-pandemic it's going strong due to it's convenience and strong consumer protections.And what's not to love? One simple price including flights, transfers, travel...
Guide to: Cheap Flights
13th March 2024 by Paul
If you wait until the last minute, flights can get really expensive, but plan ahead and book smart and you can really reap the rewards. Regardless of whether you’re flexible or looking for specific dates and destinations, these helpful hints will help you slash the cost of taking to the skies. Check comparison sites to cut costs if you know when and where you’re going If you already have an itinerary, don’t go direct to an airline; use a comparison site get all the info you...
Guide to: Cheap Travel Insurance
27th June 2023 by John
An astonishing that 1 in 5 of us head abroad without any travel insurance, risking thousands of pounds in medical bills, lost luggage and more! If you’ve booked your trip, but not your travel insurance, do it now for as little as £9 a year. It’s not just about finding the cheapest price though; here we also explain how it works and what to look out for when you buy it. The idea behind travel insurance is to cover yourself for any unforeseen circumstances, such as injury or illness,...
A guide to tipping abroad - what is appropriate?
27th June 2023 by Andy
Most of us are pretty comfortable with the etiquette rules of tipping at home - we know who to tip, how much, and generally what is and is not accepted here in the UK. But when travelling abroad, it can be difficult to discern exactly the most appropriate way to behave when it comes to tipping. Luckily, there are many things you can keep in mind when figuring out how many extra pounds you should (or shouldn’t) give your waiter, concierge, cleaning staff, or taxi driver. Here are a few...