Hooray for holiday bargains! Picture: iStock

Here are 12 ways from travel-industry insiders that will stretch the funds in your holiday account and get more mileage for the money you’ve worked so hard to save.

BEST BANG FOR BUCK HOLIDAY SPOTS

13 TRICKS TO BAG A DIRT CHEAP FLIGHT

THE CHEAP WAY TO SCORE A FLIGHT UPGRADE

TOP TRAVEL HACKS YOUR WALLET WILL LOVE

GO TO GROUND

Rob Cuthbert, CEO of Rome2rio, a website helping travellers find the best transport options for a trip, suggests checking all alternatives for getting around and not just planes and trains.

“There’s been an explosion of competition among ground transport operators in Europe resulting in deals that can deliver juicy savings for savvy travellers,’’ he says.

“Paris to Amsterdam for example will cost from $80 to $200 one way by plane or train. Rideshare via BlaBlaCar, which is an incredibly popular French service, will run around $45, and the coach journey on the efficient and friendly OUIBUS owned by France’s national rail operator SNCF costs as little as $21.

“Ground transport options avoid the annoying security that accompanies air travel nowadays and whether it’s train, bus or rideshare, all deliver you into downtown rather than an airport an hour away.’’

SIGN UP TO BE LOYAL

Everyone knows airline frequent flyer programs unlock free trips and seat upgrades, but did you know hotel loyalty membership can save money on every stay? Signing up for a program is almost always free, so it’s a cinch to join more than one before a trip, and as well as gathering points towards complimentary nights and room upgrades, guests can land treats such as welcome drinks and early check-in times.

“By signing up to a scheme like Starwood Preferred Guest or Marriott Rewards, members can enjoy the good life instantly with free Wi-Fi and the lowest room rates while earning points for every stay,’’ says Sean Hunt, Marriott International’s boss in Australia.

“These points can be redeemed for benefits including free hotel stays, room upgrades and late checkout and we work with redemption partners who offer personally-relevant rewards such as access to musical performances and sporting events.’’

Sri Lanka is an emerging destination for budget travellers. Picture: iStockSource:Supplied

ESCAPE THE CROWDS

Expedia Australia’s managing director Michael Pearson says that, while it might sound obvious, the most popular destinations are likely to be the most expensive, so travellers should consider less-visited locations.

“For example, swap Vietnam for Sri Lanka where hotel prices are down 14 per cent and average flight prices down year-on-year. In contrast, Vietnam saw an increase in value since 2015 with a whopping 29 per cent surge in average flight prices, which is something we expect to continue with Jetstar launching direct flights to Saigon.

“Not long ago, the cheapest airports in Europe were the largest and busiest but that’s changed and while the most expensive airports include London, Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam, flying into Budapest will save an average 15 per cent on flights and Milan 13 per cent.”

SAVE ON STOPOVERS

If escaping abroad, you need an airfare, so why not fly with an airline that lets you see another city.

Singapore Airlines, JAL, Hawaiian Airlines, Etihad, Emirates and Cathay Pacific are some of the carriers serving Australia that offer easy journey breaks.

“At Cathay Pacific, we deliberately made our flights flexible to offer people more choice,’’ the airline’s Australian sales and marketing manager Richard Jones says.

“When travelling to any of the 170 destinations in our network, you can easily add a stopover in Hong Kong in one or both directions, add a side trip to one of our Asian destinations, or book open-jaw tickets flying into one destination and out another at no extra cost.’’

A stopover in Asia can extend your holiday without breaking the bank. Picture: iStockSource:Supplied

CARRY A DEBIT CARD TO SAVE

Canstar’s Belinda Williamson says travel money cards have evolved into the most-popular foreign currency tool by letting travellers minimise transaction charges.

“Spending in local currency means you’re not paying fees every time you make a transaction,’’ she says.

And pre-load the plastic when rates are favourable.

“You can convert your money into foreign currency when it’s worth the most, but exchange rates do vary between providers so shop around.

“Say you’re going to the UK and set aside $5000 for spending money, if you load that on to a travel money card at the exchange rate of 0.4774 GBP/AUD you would get £2387, but if you chose a card with a rate of 0.4859 GBP/AUD you would get £2429.50 which means an extra £42.50 spending money.’’

TAKE TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance is one expense that seems to stretch the holiday budget and while there are ways to save — buy an annual policy if you’re going on more than one trip in 12 months, take out cover with the company that insures your car to get a discount — the real savings come when injury or illness strike far from home.

A visit to an American hospital to have a dodgy appendix removed could cost $100,000 but, according to Canstar data, the average amount a 30-something solo spending 10 days in the US will pay for travel insurance is $114 and $229 for a family of four.

Wherever you travel, make sure you’re insured. Picture: iStockSource:istock

FLY ONE WAY, TWICE

Rather than buying a return air ticket to your next holiday destination, take travel-booking website KAYAK director Susan Lee’s advice and select the “smart yet simple’’ alternative of securing two one-way journeys online.

Insiders call this a “hacker fare’’ and it promises to “slash flight costs by hundreds of dollars’’.

“Put simply, a hacker fare involves buying two low-priced one-way fares, usually with different airlines, as opposed to a single round-trip ticket which might cost significantly more,’’ Lee says.

“Searching multiple airline websites to find these savvy ticket combinations can take hours. So, to make finding these ‘holes in the matrix’ easier, we’ve embedded hacker fares into KAYAK’s flight search function and you can see straight up if there’s a one-way combination that’ll work for your designated flight route.’’

BE THE ONE WHO BUDGETS

Establishing a holiday budget is always a challenge but experts suggest turning calculations upside down. Instead of setting an arbitrary spending goal for each day of your trip, determine how much money you have then allocate funds to eating and sightseeing.

There are online resources to help travellers determine the cash needed with both the Lonely Planetand Rough Guideswebsites carrying information about common costs in destination pages while Travelex boasts a travel budget calculator that suggests an amount after considering duration and vacation style.

PAY IT ALL UP FRONT

Another option for managing the holiday budget is paying for everything before leaving home with all-inclusive packages — on river and ocean cruises, beach and ski resorts, guided tours — eliminating the need for travellers to put hands in pockets once they bon voyage.

“Travelling on an all-inclusive holiday means you take all the hassle out for yourself right from the start and you don’t need to change money or worry about your spending budget,’’ Attadale Travel owner Christine Ross-Davies says.

“All-inclusive at Club Med, for example, includes accommodation, transfers, all meals, all-day snacking, open bar, kids club activities while ‘sun resorts’ include non-motorised water sports and land activities like golf and tennis tuition with ‘snow resorts’ incorporating lift passes, ski or snowboarding lessons for adults and ski school for children.”

All-inclusive holidays, such as those offered by Club Med can offer savings. Picture: Club Med BaliSource:Supplied

BOOK A TOUR, GET AN AIRFARE DEAL

Those planning on joining an organised tour are in the box seat to save with companies such as Trafalgar, Scenic, APT and Wendy Wu offering free flights, discount upgrades and two-for-one tickets when bundling land and air components.

“We’ve worked to ensure the flight deals we offer in conjunction with a land booking are as simple and transparent as possible. So if it sounds like a great offer, it’s exactly that with no hidden charges,’’ Trafalgar Australia’s managing director Matthew Cameron-Smith says.

“As a general rule, the earlier you book, the more money you’ll save. Often operators secure great deals with airlines during the earlybird period so keep your eyes peeled once new brochures are released.”

TALK TO A TRAVEL AGENT

Jacinta Blundell, owner of helloworld Queensland branches in Buderim and Caboolture, says there are savings only a travel agent can secure. These include globe-hopper fares, which are sold exclusively through agencies allowing travellers to “unlock the world of hidden airfares and save up to 50 per cent on standard round-world products advertised online’’.

“Discounted doesn’t mean ‘milk run’, inferior airline or limited choice of destination with globe-hopper fares offering up to a dozen stopover cities in Asia, more than 50 in the UK and Europe, dozens across North America, and even Africa is an option,’’ Blundell says. “These fares are available in economy and business class, as well as mixed-class fares where long-haul flights can be in a premium cabin to provide the greatest comfort where it’s needed and shorter hops in economy.

“Why are globe-hopper fares exclusive to travel agents and not online? They are customisable airfares that can be broken down and reconstructed to suit individual travellers.”

BE BUDGET-AIRLINE AWARE

Drip-down pricing is one way airlines structure charges. A base rate is quoted for the ticket then additions like seat selection, checked luggage, and on-board snacks are added later in the booking process.

The system works well for flyers who are sure they will just occupy an allocated seat, but those keen to upgrade their experience by checking in a suitcase or eating at altitude could find what they thought was a cheap airfare costs the same as a spot in a full-service cabin.

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