If you're not careful holiday spending can get out of control. Now more than ever people are shopping around for the best deals to get away, but being careful with your money needn't stop once your plane lands on the other side. With a little forward planning and sensible shopping you'll be able to make the pennies stretch just a little further.
Food is one of the most expensive parts of a holiday. For this reason it may be worth thinking about going all-inclusive or self-catering. If you do decide to go all-inclusive find out as much as you can about the quality of the food. We all know somebody whose holiday was ruined because the food wasn't up to scratch. Self-catering as an option should only be pursued if two conditions are met: firstly, you find cooking enjoyable rather than a chore (this is supposed to be a holiday remember!), and secondly, that there is a decent supermarket nearby. The internet can help you on the second point, but the first is up to you to decide.
If you are eating at restaurants every night set a limit to what you are able to spend daily. Try to underspend at first - as the holiday draws to a close you'll be happy to spend what you have left over, but will feel constrained if you have to budget yourself more strictly. Many restaurants will seek your custom - ask if they can do you any special deals or discounts, you may be surprised at what you're offered.
Because holiday resorts know that many tourists will at some point need suntan lotion they charge over the odds. By bringing plenty of your own you can make sure you don't have to pay a ridiculous amount once you reach your destination. Many airlines don't offer complimentary food and the food they do sell is usually expensive and not very filling or nutritious. Making sure you eat properly before you leave and perhaps even bringing packed food with you will make sure you don't waste money before you've even taken off!
While you want to enjoy yourself on holiday it is important to try and keep sensible. You can't keep to a budget if you want to buy everyone at home and the dog a souvenir. And finally, while on holiday remember that things like the beach, walks down cobbled streets and taking in the country's unique culture can often be completely free of charge and utterly charming.
Food is one of the most expensive parts of a holiday. For this reason it may be worth thinking about going all-inclusive or self-catering. If you do decide to go all-inclusive find out as much as you can about the quality of the food. We all know somebody whose holiday was ruined because the food wasn't up to scratch. Self-catering as an option should only be pursued if two conditions are met: firstly, you find cooking enjoyable rather than a chore (this is supposed to be a holiday remember!), and secondly, that there is a decent supermarket nearby. The internet can help you on the second point, but the first is up to you to decide.
If you are eating at restaurants every night set a limit to what you are able to spend daily. Try to underspend at first - as the holiday draws to a close you'll be happy to spend what you have left over, but will feel constrained if you have to budget yourself more strictly. Many restaurants will seek your custom - ask if they can do you any special deals or discounts, you may be surprised at what you're offered.
Because holiday resorts know that many tourists will at some point need suntan lotion they charge over the odds. By bringing plenty of your own you can make sure you don't have to pay a ridiculous amount once you reach your destination. Many airlines don't offer complimentary food and the food they do sell is usually expensive and not very filling or nutritious. Making sure you eat properly before you leave and perhaps even bringing packed food with you will make sure you don't waste money before you've even taken off!
While you want to enjoy yourself on holiday it is important to try and keep sensible. You can't keep to a budget if you want to buy everyone at home and the dog a souvenir. And finally, while on holiday remember that things like the beach, walks down cobbled streets and taking in the country's unique culture can often be completely free of charge and utterly charming.
