Too Broke for a Break?

Rarely is anyone too broke for a break these days.

The travel industry is so competitive that as long as you are a bit canny and are prepared to be patient, and spend a bit of time on the internet, then whatever your budget, you can get some time away from it all.

Firstly, and this is most important, do your research online and once you’ve find the ideal package, remember to book online as well.

Most top travel companies run very good web-sites and encourage the users to make use of their automated systems. This is why online prices can be so low, because a computer takes over most of the booking process.

And another tip, if you’re looking for a really cheap break, then get a package that includes says flights, hotel and if you can’t get a good deal on the food thrown in (full board), then go for the self-catering option. That takes many of the variables away and allows you to budget properly. You have one set price (including your self-catering cost element) and that can be saved up and then used to buy your holiday.

Take a case in point. The cheap, no-frills airlines make a big fuss of their seat sales. One such airline offered hundreds of seats at only a token 1p. Superb you might think, free flying, and even when offered with no taxes, there are a number of hidden extras, such as an online booking fee and a check-in luggage charge, which means that your 1p ticket can quickly be £10.

Okay, £10 is still not had, but lets say you pop off to some European location for £10. You tend to land in some remote airport which then requires transport (often expensive) to get you to a decent sized town, or City, to stay at a hotel. But bear in mind that hotels are expensive if booked by an individual traveller. And eating in such hotels can be very expensive if not booked through a travel company, who get the best rates because they book in bulk. So, by the time you’ve enjoyed your 1p, suddenly £10 flight, you might end up paying hundreds of ponds for a very mediocre break.

Just as an aside, someone worked out that with a 1p flight, if you booked using a VISA Electron card (which often does not incur an online charge) and didn’t take any luggage for the hold, and minimal hand-luggage, then your 1p could actually only cost you 1p. Mind you, that’s quite a lot of sacrifice for a holiday flight!

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