Many of us will be looking at booking a summer break to our favourite holiday destinations about now. After all, it is often said that the middle of April is the best time to catch the cheapest deals for flights and hotels. And while we are on the subject of travel, why not take one of our beautiful travel ladies with you?
Summer is always a pricier time to travel, particularly to major tourist hotspots, as the narrow window of school holidays leads to high demand. With that in mind, what budget should you count on for a couple of weeks in the sun this year? Check hotel and flight prices, then research the daily cost of living in different locations and then triple it. This is to replicate splashing the cash on things like eating out, excursions, sun cream, roaming data, and so on.
Travel accommodation, flights and holiday costs
Accommodation tends to be the most significant expense, and hotel costs in summer locations certainly do increase around the holidays. Even checking price comparison sites, such as Trivago or Booking.com, shows high prices for most destinations. Of course, you could leave it until the last minute, but then you risk getting stuck with a hugely expensive accommodation bill or staying in a subpar hotel. Or both!
The next most significant expense for most of us will be the flights to our favourite holiday destinations. While we recommend checking the deals offered by budget companies, we found that the best prices were with the big carriers, especially at this time of year. One significant factor is luggage, unless you plan on wearing a pair of Speedos for the duration of your trip. And of course, the budget airlines charge extra for this. Another thing to remember is that budget airlines often fly to airports that are many miles from where you want to stay.
Finally came the cost of living calculation in your favourite holiday destinations. Europe was the most expensive destination for the cost of living, with Africa the cheapest. Of course, you could probably do this for a lot more affordable if you go camping in Wales, but where’s the fun in that?
