It’s technically autumn but most of us now have winter and Christmas on our minds, which could well mean a trip abroad! Winter holidays have become increasingly popular over the last few years as families head out into the wider world to see what’s on offer.

With travelling there is, of course, expense. However, with a few nifty tactics you can save some much needed money without removing fun from your holiday. It just takes a bit of knowhow and, after all, as the world is your oyster, you can use thriftiness to your advantage to have a fantastic time away this Christmas.

Go for it – travel during the winter!

Travelling at Christmas is one of the cheaper times to do so – much more than during the summer holidays, for instance, when prices are hiked up and it’s extra busy.

Christmas is an ideal time to head off out and secure cheap tickets and hotel prices – you can also use software such as Skyscanner to track and compare cheap flights!

Get new tyres

If you’re going on a road trip, ensure your vehicle is in tip top condition. In the cold weather, it’s sometimes best to make the switch to winter tyres to get low rolling resistance and better fuel mileage.

Alternatively, all-season tyres offer a distinct improvement then if you’re on summer tyres, for instance. New 4×4 or van tyres are just as good an option, though, depending on what type of trip you’re heading off on!

Just be aware, brand new compounds on your car, van, or 4×4 will mean you’re vehicle is performing to the peak of its abilities in the winter conditions, meaning you save money on lower usage of fuel as well as enhancing your overall safety.

Choose cheaper locations

Head to London, New York, Dubai, or Paris and you’re going to be hit with big bills, despite how fantastic those locations are.

If you’re in the UK, you can try the likes of Manchester or Nottingham for great cities to visit. America offers a wealth of amazing destinations at half the price, and in Paris you can head to the outskirts and travel into the city to make amazing savings.

Europe is one of the cheapest locations in the world to visit, so check out this 75 point guide to saving money when travelling in Europe.

Use Airbnb

Airbnb has been a revelation in recent years. It’s a bit like eBay, but for accommodation across the world.

It’s a trusted community where people list places to stay all over the world, with 2 million destinations and counting! Give it a go and you can secure a great place to stay with the minimum of fuss and at great savings.

Book well in advance

A bit late for this now, of course, but for future holidays and next winter, if you book your travel tickets well in advance you can save an absolute fortune! Bear this in mind for any of your future trips.

Look for family holiday perks

Many tourism companies are now promoting holidays which are cheap for families, including deals where kids go free. It’s up to you to key an eye on the market, but download a few quality apps to keep up to date on the deals, and be aware of new occasions such as Black Friday which are only just starting to become popular in the industry. Again, it’s a great way to save a bit of money.

Use TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor is a fantastic community where people visit a location and then comment on it.

You can visit reviews of somewhere you’re going beforehand to get an understanding of the expenses involved. A neat little way to make sure you’re heading to a quality location which is also reasonably priced.

Katie
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