How to save money when booking a summer holiday

theguardian.com:

R ecent headlines have not been kind to those of us who like a bargain getaway. With the price of hotels, self-catering and package holidays all rising, there’s been a barrage of bad news, putting a dampener on our summer holiday plans even before we’ve started looking.

But just how hopeless is the situation? I have made it my profession to search out cheap holidays, so I’m not prepared to throw in the towel just yet. True, I would be in denial if I refused to acknowledge current climbing costs, but I also think these straitened times give us an opportunity to hone our holiday booking skills while embracing one of my favourite things about travel: trying something new.

First things first, let’s talk about mindset. If you want to spend less this summer, it’s all about being flexible, having an open mind and double checking all your costs.

Before I book anything, I always check “the triangle of cheap travel”. The three points are: transport, accommodation and daily costs. Nail all three, and you’re on track to stay within your budget.

“Beginning your holiday on a weekend can cost you more, with Saturday being the most expensive day for starting a trip to Europe,” says Annie Wilson, chief commercial officer at booking website Kayak. Instead, opt to depart midweek to chip a few pounds off the cost, and avoid the changeover-Saturday crowds too.

The begining of the school holidays in England and Wales is always more expensive. However, going away in the last week of August can offer much better value, thanks in part to schoolchildren in many countries on the continent – and those in Scotland – having already returned to school. Another reason is an understandable reluctance on the part of parents not to go away just before the