50 easy ways to save money on your summer holiday

Summer holidays are one of the main highlights of the year, if not the biggest. But they can also be a budget-buster, if you’re not careful.

But, with a little planning and a few savvy tricks, you can enjoy a memorable getaway without draining your bank account.

Whether you're heading abroad, staying local, or just dreaming of sun and sea next year, these 50 easy tips will help you save money and holiday smarter.

Travel hacks to slash your costs

1. Book early for 2026 – if you’ve missed this year’s early bird, book now for next year to lock in lower prices.
2. Set up price alerts – use Skyscanner, Google Flights or Kayak to track the best flight deals.
3. Bag someone else’s booking – check out sites like Transfer Travel for discounted holidays people can’t go on.
4. Be flexible with dates – avoid peak weekends and look at midweek travel for better deals.
5. Avoid school holiday surcharges – if you’re not tied to term-time, travel before or after the school holidays begin. September can be a fabulous time to go abroad, when it’s less busy and often a little cooler.
6. Fly from Scotland – term dates differ slightly in Scotland, so flights can be cheaper from the Scottish airports. But don’t forget to factor in travelling to and from the airport, which could seriously add up.
7. Compare packages vs DIY trips – sometimes booking flights and hotels separately can save you money. Always take the time to do some research and shop around.
8. Use a trusted travel agent – the travel experts might throw in perks like free upgrades or transfers.
9. Look out for flash sales – sign up for newsletters from airlines and tour operators for last-minute deals.
10. Check local airports – don’t dismiss regional airports, as they can sometimes offer cheaper flights and parking than the larger airports, where higher demand drives up prices.

Save on accommodation

11. Book directly with hotels – you might get discounts or free perks by cutting out the middleman.
12. Look at self-catered rentals – self-catering can be ideal for families or groups and can be cheaper than booking multiple hotel rooms.
13. Try hostels – many hostels offer private rooms, while shared dormitory-type rooms can be perfect for solo or budget travellers.
14. Go camping or glamping – it’s a great way to enjoy nature and save money.
15. Stay just outside town – nearby areas on the outskirts of town often have lower accommodation prices.
16. Book midweek – hotels are often cheaper on weekdays than at weekends.
17. Look for loyalty deals – some hotel chains offer discounts or perks to returning guests.
18. Consider house-sitting – websites like TrustedHousesitters let you stay for free in exchange for pet care.
19. Swap homes – home exchange platforms like HomeLink and PeopleLikeUs, are perfect if you’re wanting a change of scenery.
20. Book last-minute – apps like HotelTonight can help you find heavily discounted rooms.

Be savvy on currency and money matters

21. Pay in local currency – avoid extra fees by declining conversion to British pounds.
22. Take advantage of a strong pound – keep your eye on the exchange rate, as the higher the value of the pound means better value abroad.
23. Shop around for exchange rates – use comparison sites like MoneySavingExpert or CompareHolidayMoney to find the best deals on exchange rates.
24. Avoid airport currency exchanges – airports offer some of the worse exchange rates, so always plan ahead and change money in advance.
25. Use a prepaid travel card – it means you can lock in good rates and help you stick to a budget.
26. Be careful about using credit cards – a lot of credit cards will charge high fees for spending abroad but you can get specialist travel credit cards where there are no fees. But remember, you get interest-free spending, but only if you repay IN FULL each month.
27. Check debit card fees abroad – some banks charge hefty foreign transaction fees.
28. Withdraw cash abroad smartly – take out larger sums at once to reduce ATM fees.
29. Use travel-friendly bank accounts – some fintech banks like Monzo or Revolut have low overseas fees.
30. Stick to your budget – apps like Trail Wallet or TravelSpend help you keep track holiday spending.

Get there for less

31. Book train tickets early – advance tickets are typically cheaper than same-day travel.
32. Split tickets –use apps like Trainline or SplitMyFare to break your journey and save.
33. Use railcards – Family & Friends or Two Together railcards offer big savings.
34. Try coach travel – National Express and Megabus can be among the cheapest ways to travel.
35. Car share – split fuel and parking costs with friends or use BlaBlaCar for carpooling.
36. Cycle or walk if local – if you’re not travelling far, cycling or walking to your location is great exercise, comes with zero fuel costs and is super environmentally-friendly.
37. Use cashback sites – book transport through the likes of TopCashback or Quidco for extra savings.
38. Pack light – avoid baggage fees by travelling with hand luggage only.
39. Bring your own snacks – save on pricey service station food or airport meals by taking your own snacks.
40. Travel overnight – save on a night’s accommodation by taking night trains or buses.

Save at the seaside

41. Pack a picnic – save on lunch by bringing your own sandwiches and drinks to the seaside.
42. Share portions – one large portion of fish and chips can easily feed two.
43. Seek out early bird deals – restaurants often offer cheaper menus before 6pm.
44. Look for set menus – fixed-price menus are usually better value, such as Spain’s well-known ‘menu del dia’ – ‘menu of the day’.
45. Bring reusable bottles – refill used bottles instead of buying pricey bottled drinks.
46. Buy ice-cream from supermarkets – they’re just as delicious and often half the price of what you’ll buy a kiosks on the beach or in bars or restaurants.
47. Use discount apps – apps like Too Good To Go offer cheap food at the end of the day.
48. Eat in – if you’ve got a kitchen or BBQ at your accommodation, get cooking, you’ll save loads by eating in.
49. Try local markets – local markets are great for picking up affordable, fresh food.
50. Skip tourist traps – restaurants in quieter streets often have better food and lower prices. Head to where the locals go, they’ll know where the best deals are.

Happy travels and sunny savings!