6 holiday spending tips for families in 2023

To go or not to go? That is the question. Whether to suffer the slings and arrows of those supporting staycations or to take off to the Costa del Sol or bask in Bali in 2023? Cost is a major factor but hopefully you’ve built up savings over the last six months – haven’t you?

John Lowe of Money Doctors.ie identifies six money-saving holiday tips to make sure you don’t miss a trick when you’re treating yourself and your family to that breakaway next year.

It’s all about ensuring value at all times and planning…

1. Book smart

• You can trawl the app SkyScanner for cheap flights and set an alert on GoogleFlights to see if they fluctuate.
• Try ClickAndGo, LastMinute.com, Secretescapes.com, HolidayPirates, BudgetTravel.ie (largest travel agent in Ireland) or SunSearchHolidays and build your own break (note: many HolidayPirates trips depart from the UK). A quick look on SkyScanner and AirBnB this week resulted in a 7-night trip to Vigo, Spain for two adults and two children for less than €840.
• Travelling last minute is one of the best ways to capitalise on resorts rushing to fill rooms at low rates.
• Buy through sites like Expedia.com, Hotels.com or Booking.com to accumulate rewards that convert to money off future holidays. If you find a bargain say on Booking.com take it straight away because if you log out and come back at a later time that juicy deal has long gone!

2. Think ahead

Money-saving sites like Pigsback, Groupon, DoneDeal and LivingSocial work just as well abroad. You can find some real bargains on local events, meals, spa deals and day trips – so get clicking.

3. Reward yourself

Check if you can convert any of your retailer points to Avios points (Aer Lingus’ loyalty scheme); or redeem your Tesco Clubcard points against Reward partners like Stena Line or Irish Ferries travel tokens. Other retailers are now looking at this incentive – stay alert for new entrants to these schemes.

4. Food and drink

• Staying in an AirBnB or apart-hotel gives you the option to shop at a local supermarket and cook your own food. While it might not be for every night – remember, you’re still on holiday – it’s an excellent way to save money.
• Consider packing a picnic for days on the beach, or backpack snacks for sightseeing. You’ll save a pretty penny – and you’ll never have to queue for a table!

5. Banking abroad

• One of the least expensive, most secure, and convenient methods of payment, credit cards especially prepaid cards kike Revolut or N26 are also one of the most widely accepted – and they’re less conspicuous than a wad of cash. The only problem may be the exchange risk.
• If you’re travelling within the EU, most Irish banks don’t charge for ATM withdrawals (although foreign banks may impose their own charges).
• For US, Canada, Australia and UK and 12 other currencies, try the nifty An Post Money FX card. You buy up to 16 currencies here in Ireland – lock and load – at half-decent rates and no commission. It’s also a safe way to travel. Revolut has created a stir with their prepaid card – over two million adults alone in Ireland have subscribed, plus more than 200,000 children under 18.

6. Travel Insurance

For the sake of peace of mind, it is well worth reviewing your travel insurance needs.

• If your family travels more than once every two years, multi-trip insurance is almost always better value than a single-policy purchase.
• You may see insurers offering both Travel Disruption and Flight Cancellation cover. There’s usually no need to select both options, as you can end up paying for the same cover twice.
• If you have health insurance, you are almost guaranteed to save money on your travel cover – but even gadget insurance can save you up to 10% if you book with the same insurer.
• Make sure to start your travel insurance from the day you buy it; that way, if something happens before you leave, you will be covered.

For more information click on John Lowe’s profile above or on his website.

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views.