10 Money Saving Tips for a UK Staycation
We all look forward to our summer holiday. Whether you are jetting off overseas or having a getaway a bit closer to home in the UK, the costs can add up quickly. The rising cost of living has affected everyone, and a cheap UK break is hard to come by when you include your holiday spending money. But at Hirasté, we believe a little bit of pre-holiday planning can really help you save money and avoid the post-holiday dread.
Enjoy our money saving tips!
1. Booking Your Staycation
Timing
Holiday dates are a big factor in the initial cost of your holiday. The school holiday versus the school term is a huge debate. Wherever your views lie, it can't be argued that going away at peak school holiday times will cost significantly more than term dates. But all is not lost, for example going away in May half term is still cheaper than going away in the school Summer holidays. Travelynn Family has lots of great advice for taking your kids out of school.
Advance booking
There are also lots of deals to be had for the early bird. Booking your holiday in advance can mean you pay less. Expedia, for example, recommends booking 6 months in advance.
Shop around
Using comparison websites is a great way of ensuring you get the cheapest price and finding the best deals available. Another top tip is to book directly with the hotel or holiday cottage owner.
2. Go Large!
At Hiraste we are all about big group holidays. Whether that's getting all the family together, or going away with friends, we're all for it. There are numerous benefits of a group holiday in the UK, the biggest one being you can split the cost of the accommodation which can significantly reduce your holidays costs. And the best bit is we've done all the searching for you: Check out the fantastic range of UK properties we have gathered from around the country that have everything you need for an epic holiday.
3. Money-Saving Meal Deals
We all like to treat ourselves on holiday and, at Hirasté, we love a treat that doesn't involve us cooking or clearing up, so we love eating out. But that can soon eat into the holiday budget. Do your research in advance and look for meal deals such as kids eat free, or 2 for 1. Or sign up to discount schemes such as Tastecard as a way to save money off the bill. Lots of restaurants have their own apps now which give you discounts.
4. Vouchers for Attractions
Look out for vouchers for UK attractions near where you are staying. For example, If you are staying in Devon and think your kids will love the zipline at the Eden Project, buy them gift vouchers as a Christmas present. If you are a member of the National Trust or English Heritage, look for affiliated places to visit whilst on holiday.
5. Don't Buy Travel Size
Yes, we know those teeny tiny bottles of shampoo are cute, but they're not good value for money, or for the environment for that matter. It's way more cost effective and sustainable to buy a set of travel sized containers, and decant your own products into them when you go away. You can reuse the containers for every getaway and save hundreds of pounds! Ok, maybe not hundreds, but you will save money and reduce your plastic usage.
6. Get Organised
Making a packing list is one of the best tips we can give you. We know it sounds boring, particularly if you're a just-chuck-everything-in-a-case-and-go sort of person , but having a list can save you money. Firstly it ensures you won't forget anything important...like the kids swim stuff when you then end up having to buy it whilst you are on holiday. Secondly, having a list stops you from buying things you don't need before you go away. Getting organised means you can enjoy your UK holiday without spending lots of money on things you don't need.
7. Meal Plan
Another one that might sound boring, but a meal plan for a self-catering holiday can really be a game-changer! It ensures you don't overspend on food and buy lots of things you don't need. One of our favourite tips to help is to do your shopping online and have it delivered to your accommodation on the day you arrive. Who wants to spend their precious holiday time traipsing round the supermarket? Keep holiday costs in check by doing it all before you go. Who wants to spend their precious holiday time traipsing round the supermarket? Exactly.
You will thank your past self, even if at the time it felt really boring!
8. Research Free Things To Do
Whether it's a country park,a kids playground, or a day at the beach, do your research before you go and see what free things there are to do in the area. You may be surprised at how much is on offer. We once discovered a garden centre in Devon that was also a gnome reserve. It housed over 2000 cheeky gnomes around the garden, and it was free to enjoy - amazing!
Also, and this might sound counter-intuitive, but sometimes you actually save money by spending a bit more on your accommodation. For example whilst a property with a pool might be more expensive, you are likely to spend less money on holiday and save on activities because the pool becomes a fun activity to spend hours splashing about in. Check out the Hirasté properties with pools for some inspiration.
9. Take a Picnic
The cost of a day out for a family of four whilst on a family holiday soon begins to mount. One of the easiest ways to cut spending and enjoy your holiday without needing financial advice is to take a picnic with you. It's far more cost effective than buying lunch at attractions. Take lots of snacks too, and save your money for ice creams. Always carry a water bottle. Many places offer free water when you need a refill. It's healthy and saves you lots of money.
10. Pre-Holiday Spending
One of the holiday costs we often forget about is our pre-holiday spending. What we buy before we go. Most of us spend a good chunk of money on new clothes for our holiday, which lets be honest, don't normally make it out of the suitcase. Be strict with yourself about what you really need, and set a budget and stick to it. Buy second hand to save even more money.
There's no need to blow the budget!
There are lots of ways to enjoy a UK summer holiday without blowing your holiday money on day one! Hopefully these money-saving tips and tricks will help keep your holiday costs in check. With a little bit of organisation before you leave you won't have to worry whilst you are away.
If you're planning a stay in the UK we hope these holiday tips help you get the most out of your break at a reduced cost.