There’s nothing quite like getting away from it all, especially when life is particularly stressful. Whether the pressures are caused by work, family or anything else, once you’re on that plane and heading off into the sun you can feel the burden lessening as each minute passes by.
For many of us, the only hard part about a vacation is having to come home again.
It’s not always easy to find the money to pay for these trips, however, and for those who are on a tight budget it can be especially difficult to justify the outlay.
At times like these, it’s important to remember that there are bargains out there, as long as you’re prepared to compromise a little and to search for the right deal. Perhaps the most important requirement is in relation to where you actually travel to.
If you have set your heart on a specific destination, you may have to pay the going rate, but if you’re prepared to be more flexible then you can potentially save money. For example, you may have a strong desire to fly to Lanzarote, but if there are special deals available on flights to Gran Canaria or Tenerife, can you still afford to be so adamant about where you want to be sunning yourself for the next seven days?
Time to fly, time not to fly
The time of your flight can have a major bearing on the cost sometimes, so if you’re determined to pay the lowest possible prices you may have to consider flying to and from your chosen destination during the middle of the night. This might sound like a major inconvenience, but most travellers generally find it’s acceptable on the journey out, although they discover it to be more of an irritant on the way back.
Budget airlines are often exceedingly cheap, especially for those tourists who are planning a city break holiday. Be warned, however, that the city itself may be some distance from the airport you’ll be arriving at. Do a little research first, because this can make a difference. Generally, there is a bus service into the heart of the metropolis so you can still save money by taking advantage of the cheap fares.
In previous years, there were genuine bargains to be had if you either booked your seats several months in advance or, conversely, just a few days before you travelled. The shrewder travellers almost had a sixth sense when it came to knowing when to book, but there are very few significant fluctuations in the cost of air travel anymore. Hotel rooms can definitely be cheaper if bookings are left to the last minute, but sadly this doesn’t apply very often to flights.
There was a time when the more cynical tourists refused to consider using a comparison website to find less expensive flights, but nowadays these sites are far more reliable and far more accurate. They provide an excellent selection of prices, making it easier for passengers to seek out the bargains in no time at all. Of course, they can also be used to find cheaper car hire and hotel accommodation as well.