'We swapped our cottage in Huddersfield for a house in Hawaii': How you can save a small fortune on holidays this year

Nearly a quarter of families book their summer holiday this month due to a mix of post-Christmas blues and attractive low deposit deals. 

Here Tara Evans looks at ways of cutting holiday costs without compromising on quality.

New horizons: You can get accommodation for free in almost any country of the world by swapping your home

New horizons: You can get accommodation for free in almost any country of the world by swapping your home

CHEAP FLIGHTS

Most major airlines hold ‘flight sales’ this month. Comparison websites such as Skyscanner and Kayak can also help to pinpoint the lowest fares across the market.

For example, last Friday, Kayak was advertising direct flights from London to Orlando, Florida, from £367 return through Virgin Atlantic for the first week of February. Anyone buying direct from British Airways would have paid from £472 for the same journey.

Skyscanner, meanwhile, was promoting direct flights from Manchester to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for £390 return through Thomas Cook. Going direct through Thomson would have cost from £559 per person.

LUXURY HOTELS FOR LESS

You can snag a cut-price luxury trip by booking through a specialist discount travel website.

Secret Escapes offers ‘flash sales’ on holidays to destinations in the UK, US, Scandinavia and European countries such as Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain. It guarantees its price will be the lowest you can find online during specific sale periods.

Secret Escapes is currently offering discounts on holidays – some up to 70 per cent. For example, a luxury two-week Vietnam and Cambodia ‘beach, city and junk cruise’ trip is available at £1,799 per person, including flights. This is reduced from £2,399.

TravelZoo has a one-week ‘ski and snow’ holiday in St Martin de Belleville, in France’s Three Valleys – with meals and wine included – from £375 per person. This represents a 25 per cent discount (flights are not included).

Before booking, it makes sense to check reviews from feedback websites such as TripAdvisor as well as compare prices for the same trip on rival websites to be certain you are paying the cheapest price.

SWAP YOUR HOME

Dream deal: Bruce Wrigley and Janet Frenton swapped their cottage for a house on Kauai, Hawaii

Dream deal: Bruce Wrigley and Janet Frenton swapped their cottage for a house on Kauai, Hawaii

Get accommodation for free in almost any country of the world by swapping your home.

British home exchange company LoveHomeSwap recently acquired Dutch rival Home for Exchange – enabling it to now list more than 100,000 properties worldwide, ready for swapping.

It works in a similar way to well-established players HomeLink and HomeExchange, where members pay an annual fee to advertise their home to potential swappers. You stay in their home while they stay in yours – with no money changing hands.

It is possible to arrange a holiday where the occupant may not need your home, but these are harder to find.

Holidaymakers still need to pay for travel to their holiday destination, including transport from the airport, coach or train station.

From Huddersfield....

From Huddersfield....

... To Hawaii

... To Hawaii

The process relies heavily on trust between swappers, with many companies offering optional deposit services where each side of the swap pays a refundable sum up-front to cover any accidental damages. It is important to check your home insurer is happy about the arrangement before signing up for a swap.

Homeowners with a mortgage should also check with their lender that a swap does not breach the terms of their loan.

Newly retired couple Janet Frenton and Bruce Wrigley, both 69, have travelled all over the world by swapping their three-bedroom house near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Janet, a former teacher, says: ‘Our last house swap was in August last year when we swapped homes with a lovely lady from Kauai – one of the Hawaiian islands.

‘It was somewhere we hadn’t considered before. We didn’t think someone from that part of the world would want to come to West Yorkshire – but she was keen to visit Europe for a while.’ The swap allowed Janet and Bruce to stay for five weeks. Janet says: ‘It was fabulous.’

GET TECH SAVVY

Travellers who are comfortable with technology can get speedy access to exclusive holiday deals and discounts through their smartphone.

Many travel firms give preferential rates to those who book this way. For example, travel agent Expedia offers a 40 per cent discount on last-minute hotels booked via a mobile.

Steve Nowottny, at comparison website MoneySavingExpert, says: ‘If you have a smartphone, it can also be worth checking out some websites’ apps too. That way you may be able to grab extra discounts.’

The STA Travel app offers discounts and so-called ‘secret app deals’.

... And now your pound goes further too 

Liz Phillips and husband Rod Tapp have been enjoying the benefits of a strong pound during their travels in Cape Town, South Africa

Liz Phillips and husband Rod Tapp have been enjoying the benefits of a strong pound during their travels in Cape Town, South Africa

Holidaymakers who dream of sunning themselves on Brazil’s Copacabana beach with a Caipirinha cocktail in hand, or spotting lions and leopards in South Africa’s Kruger National Park are in luck.

With the pound strong against the Brazilian real and South African rand, these countries have been pinpointed as top destinations for British travellers this year.

Exchanging £500 today would buy you an extra £150 in Brazil and £110 more in South Africa than a year ago.

Those travelling to eurozone destinations such as Italy, Spain or Portugal can also get more for their sterling than this time last year.

David Swann, from money exchange service Travelex, says: ‘Those planning a ski break might like to consider Canada, where the pound is 14 per cent stronger compared to December 2014.

‘It means those exchanging £500 today would pocket an extra C$123 (£60).’

Freelance journalist Liz Phillips, 58, and husband Rod Tapp, 70, have been enjoying the benefits of a strong pound during their travels in Cape Town, South Africa. The couple have been there since mid-November and plan to remain there until next month, spending time with Liz’s parents who retired to the area 18 years ago.

Liz says: ‘Rod has his own business called Hunter Tracing working with major companies to track down debtors, so we can both work remotely.

‘The prices here are amazing especially if you’re a tourist. Eating out, drinking, hiring a car, buying petrol and hotel accommodation are either really reasonable or dirt cheap.’

Although flights are expensive – around £1,000 return from the UK – the daily costs of living help make up for it.

She says: ‘South African wine is lovely and will cost you no more than £2 a glass in a trendy bar. Beer is around £1.30 a pint.’

Jewellery, especially anything with precious stones, diamonds and tanzanite, is at bargain prices if you look outside the main shopping centres.

 

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