UK holidays: Booking on specific days could be cheaper – money saving tips for staycations

Simon Calder offers advice on booking staycations for 2021

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UK holidays have become a fail-safe way for Britons to enjoy a getaway this year without having to navigate the often confusing restrictions in place for international travel. However, some holiday hopefuls have reported eye-watering quotes for summer staycations to popular destinations across the country.

Self-catered accommodation in the UK reportedly set holidaymakers back 40 percent more this summer than in 2019.

The rise in price is the equivalent of £300 more for a week in August.

The study was conducted by Which? with BBC Panorama, using data from AirDNA, which looks at websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

Luckily, according to experts at Uswitch, there are five simple ways Britons could cut costs.

Avoid booking around big events

The experts at Uswitch state: “Big events happening around the time you are on holiday, such as football games or big concerts, can dramatically increase the prices of hotels and accommodation.

“Unless you have a good reason to visit around those dates, book another week.”

Britons should look at calendars in advance of their trip, and research any major events which could be happening at their desired time of travel.

Flexibility is often key when it comes to making savings.

The experts add: “If your dates are flexible, view your accommodations list of monthly view prices.”

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Book on a Sunday

Surprisingly, the experts claim that booking on a specific day of the week could see travellers reaping the financial rewards.

Hotel and accommodation prices can vary a lot depending on the day and week of the year that you choose to book on, given that some times are more popular for bookings than others.

Holidaymakers should consider booking on a Sunday, with Uswitch claiming prices can be up to 30 percent cheaper at the end of the week than on a Friday.

Avoid peak travel times

Peak travel times are usually in the height of summer or during school holidays.

While it is difficult for parents to avoid these times, those who are able to be flexible with their travel dates should be.

The Uswitch experts explain: “You can make big savings by booking your holiday out of season.”

Those who are still seeking summer sunshine are advised to book just outside of the school holidays when prices could be dramatically reduced.

Book early or late

Planning far in advance or waiting until last minute deals show up can be a great way to tighten the purse strings.

The experts explain: “If you don’t mind being flexible with which dates you go away then getting some last-minute deals can offer some great possibilities for lower costs when travelling.”

However, they do note this often depends on the exact location of where you are hoping to travel.

They add: “Booking amenities like hotels further in advance can lead to prices a lot cheaper than a month before.”

Check for additional charges

Additional charges can often appear on a bill seemingly from nowhere and catch holidaymakers out.

This is particularly true for those booking via a third party website, who are known to add on admin fees or service charges.

The experts warn: “Check the website for extra fees before making payments for your accommodation or excursions.”

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