How-to Guides » Have a cheap holiday

Get organised

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Make a checklist

To ensure the smoothest trip possible, make a checklist of all the things you need to do before going away.

Ten travel tips to keep you safe provides a good starting point.

Avoid airport rip-offs

Buying food and other essentials at the airport is likely to cost you a small fortune. So eat before you leave, or pack sandwiches to bring with you if you're flying on a budget airline, where food costs an arm and a leg.

Just be careful when it comes to bringing drinks as you won't be able to take liquids over 100ml through airport security. Don't forget to bring your own sealable clear plastic bag for these liquids - otherwise you might be forced to pay for one!

Read Avoid these airport rip-offs for more stings to steer clear of.

Consider how you’ll get to the airport

Avoid using services such as Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express if you can – you will find it cheaper to simply use national rail services and the tube.

For example, a family of four travelling from Battersea in south west London to Heathrow would have to pay £96 return on the Heathrow Express, plus the train fare to Paddington which would add on an extra £21 or so – taking the total to around £117.

However, if you simply took national rail services and the tube, you’d only spend £41.40 return – a saving of more than £75!

Of course, the downside to this is that it can take a lot longer and if you have a lot of luggage, travelling on the tube can be a nightmare. So it’s also worth considering taking a pre-booked taxi. Using the above example, a family of four could get door to door service for £82.50 return with premierairportcarrs.com. This is more expensive than travelling by train, but it’s still far cheaper than getting the Heathrow Express.

Alternatively, consider taking the coach, such as National Express. You can get some great deals if you book in advance.

And if you’re driving, check out websites such as Purple Parking, parking4less and aph.com which help you to search for the best priced parking spaces near the airport.

Get stuff for free!

If you're off to Europe, it's worth remembering that several museums across Europe offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. So, if it’s a family holiday you’re planning, time it well, and you could avoid paying entrance fees altogether.