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Everyone wants to have a great holiday but do remember it’s only two weeks of the year. It’s not worth over stretching and then spending the rest of the year worrying about your finances. We have put together a few hints and tips to help you get the best value holiday without damaging your long term finances.

Get your money in place and then wait for the best deals

Get your money sorted then you are ready as soon as you see a great deal. Put your money into an INSTANT ACCESS SAVINGS account and its is there when you need it and you can pounce on a bargain!

Work out how much you can afford to spend

Check how much have you managed to save for your holiday to date. If its still a few weeks till you need the money available to book your holiday use our SAVINGS CALCULATOR to work out how much you could save by then.

If you are going to borrow for your holiday, make sure its planned and affordable. Make sure you can pay off the loan in less than twelve months. Use our LOAN CALCULATOR to work out the amount and period that’s suitable for you. Just credit Union makes sure all loans are affordable and they all come with a savings account. This means you will start building your savings for spending money  or towards next year’s holiday.

Consider all cost

Once you know how much in total you have to spend you can start to work out your budget. Don’t forget it’s not just flights and accommodation that you need to budget for, there are lots of small things that all add up make sure you have included every thing you will need to pay for

  • Travel insurance
  • Transport to and from the airport
  • Airport parking
  • Transport from your destination hotel
  • Any tourist tax passport or visas
  • Trips or excursions

Consider different destinations or departure airports

Look for destinations that provide best value. Some holiday destinations fall out of fashion and If demand has fallen some large hotels can have lots of spaces at discount prices. The same applies to destinations that have not yet become mainstream Bulgaria is likely to be cheaper than a Greek island.  Consider how much you will need to spend whilst you are there by check out how much it will cost to go out for a meal or a drink.

Flights from some UK airports may be cheaper than other but don’t forget to factor in the cost of getting there and parking.

If you can be flexible on dates

If you have school-age children, travelling in term time might not be an option for you. The good news is there are still some cheaper times to travel within the summer holidays. Late August can be almost 12% cheaper than July, while flying mid-week is also likely to help cut costs.

Generally if you can take a holiday when others can’t or prefer not to you’ll get a better price. Usually packages earlier in the school holidays are more expensive as most people want to go as soon as they can, and many don’t want to be a way just before schools go back.

For those with more flexibility on dates, the difference between peak and off-peak prices can be substantial. If you don’t have children, make sure you’re also aware of when all the holidays start and finish including half term holidays.

Opt for all-inclusive

If you don’t mind eating in the hotel all the time and having some restrictions on what you can eat or drink it’s worth considering all-inclusive. Sometimes it’s only a little more and you can make big savings overall.

An all-inclusive deal can not only save you money but can help you to stay in control of your holiday costs. With all your snacks, meals and beverages included in the price you pay upfront, you can worry less about money to spend while you are away.

Many hotels and resorts also offer half-board, which factors your breakfast and dinner into your accommodation price. This can be a great option as it means the majority of your meals are paid for upfront but you also have the flexibility to eat elsewhere when you want to.

Benchmark and Compare

Do your research and get an idea of the approximate price you will need to pay, start by searching the major package holiday listing sites. Once you have an idea of the market price you can use comparison site to make sure you get the best deal. You can then call agents and ask if they will beat the best deal you have found. Do make sure you are comparing like with like and that you know everything that is included or not included in each offer.

When to Book to get the best deal?

If you have some flexibility on dates and destinations and you have no specific needs then booking late is often the cheapest way to get a package holiday. This means 8-10 weeks before departure when bargains may appear. The tour operators will have chartered the planes and reserved the rooms, and if they have lots left they may discount heavily to sell them. The later you leave it, the more desperate they me be to sell empty rooms. This however is never guaranteed as in some years the tour operators may not have reserved enough flights and rooms to meet demand which can see process rise.

If you are planning on booking later you can put your money into a Just Credit Union SAVINGS ACCOUNT until you find the right deal at the right price. You can do this even if the money is from a loan. You then know it’s safely locked away but you can get same day access when you find that great value deal.

You can often also get great value deals if you book early with many tour operators offering early booking codes or discounts to sell their holidays as quickly as possible. These can include £100s per couple discounts or buy-one-get-one-free weeks. If you have children then booking early may secure  limited free child places offered by lots of tour operators.