HOLI-YAY
Little known holiday booking trick can save you £270 on hotels – all you need is your phone
Plus more tips on how you can save money on that long-awaited summer holiday
IF you're looking to book a getaway this summer, there's a simple trick which could save you hundreds of pounds when booking a hotel stay.
Which? Travel discovered that simply making the booking on your mobile phone, instead of a computer or laptop, can give you a much better price.
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This is because Booking.com, Expedia and Hotels.com all offer mobile-only discounts on selected hotels - promising up to 40% off stays, but only if the booking is made on a smartphone.
Which? Travel tested this tip out, and managed to slash £270 off the cost of an apartment in Amsterdam on Booking.com, and saved £60 on a weekend in Edinburgh with Expedia.
A pop-up appeared, stating: "You’re getting a reduced rate compared to the rate available on a computer or laptop."
On Booking.com, 15 out of 50 listings had a cheaper "mobile-only" price.
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But because these mobile-only prices are only visible if you’re using your phone, if you're always browsing on a laptop, tablet or desktop, you’ll have no clue they exist - meaning less tech-savvy customers, those who are elderly or might be more vulnerable, could lose out.
But not all of the deals were as good as they first appeared.
The consumer group also found that some of these "mobile exclusives" were the same price when checked against a laptop - not cheaper as promised.
And some deals which were cheaper on the phone were not as high as advertised.
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It's always worth double checking a mobile and laptop price if you can, to make sure that you're getting the best price, rather than assuming you've found the best deal.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Many of us will use a laptop to make big purchases like a holiday, but we could unwittingly be missing out on significant savings offered by ‘mobile exclusive’ prices.
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"Next time you’re looking for accommodation, take five minutes to cross-check the prices on both your mobile and laptop to see if there is a cheaper price, and always call the property directly as this is often the best way to get the cheapest rate."
A spokesperson for Expedia Group told The Sun: "Expedia always aims to provide competitive rates and bring value to our customers.
"We are looking into the points raised by Which? and look forward to further discussions on the matter."
How else can I save money on holiday?
Research budget-friendly holiday destinations
There are lots of classic locations that UK holiday goers flock to every summer, and the temptation to join them is always high.
However, a bit of research is all that is standing between you and some great savings.
Popular holiday destinations for British travellers, like Mallorca and Ibiza, can end up being more expensive during the summer season as locals take advantage of the tourist season.
Researching more inexpensive holiday destinations can be a great way to save on your daily holiday spending.
Book short city-breaks
While a lot of holidaymakers are looking to relax and rejuvenate by the pool, many are looking to explore the history and sights of their holiday destination.
For those looking to sightsee, it may be cheaper and easier to book multiple short city trips.
By booking shorter stays in several cities, you will get to visit and explore more locations.
You could also save on travel, with many major cities in Europe connected by cheaper transportation like trains.
If you’d rather space your city breaks out throughout the summer, you can also save on travel.
Flights to many major European cities can work out cheaper than flying to major beach locations.
Book at the end of the summer season
As with most things, the higher the demand, the higher the price.
Being flexible for when you take your summer holiday can lead to huge savings.
Cheap holiday essentials
IF you're jetting abroad this summer, here are the cheap holiday essentials you won't want to miss.
PACKING CUBES: They're loved by mum-of-22 Sue Radford and not only do they save space in your luggage, but they'll ensure that your case is super neat and tidy.
TAG TRACKER: There's nothing worse than loosing your luggage, but thanks to this handy £15 buy from B&M, you won't have to worry about that on your next trip.
KIDS' CABIN BAG: Don't worry if you can't afford to splash the cash on a Trunki, as Aldi are selling an alternative dupe buy for just £29.99 - and it's great for children.
HAND LUGGAGE CASE: For those that are opting to go hand luggage instead of paying a fortune for a check-in bag, Morrisons are selling extra small cases, that are perfect for taking on a flight, for only £7.99.
If you want to get the best deals on flights and hotels, we recommend that you take a look at going away later in the summer season.
A lot of Brits tend to get away in the early summer months, leading to price peaks in June and July.
As it is less popular, prices become less expensive in August and the early weeks of September.
Some airlines and hotels will offer discounts to encourage holidaymakers to get away in the less popular months.
So, if you want to save on your sunshine, booking your trip for the end of August is the way to go.
Keep an eye on last-minute travel deals
As we mentioned above, you can get some great deals later in the summer season if you are flexible when you go away.
For those who are even more flexible, booking last-minute can save you money.
If you were unable to book your holiday earlier in the year, keep an eye for last-minute summer travel deals or even flash sales.
Book a staycation in the UK
Let’s be honest, when we think of a summer holiday, our first thought is always jet-setting to some foreign location.
However, you don’t have to go overseas to get some major relaxation and rejuvenation this summer.
The UK has some amazing holiday destinations to suit everyone’s tastes, whether you prefer sightseeing or chilling out.
You can find almost any holiday type across the UK; you could retire to the tranquil English countryside, head up north for a fun city getaway or visit some of the beautiful British coastline.
Some of the top locations for UK summer staycations include Brighton, Bournemouth, and the Lake district.
Make sure to fly midweek
While flight prices may peak during the summer season, you can save by being careful of what day you fly.
As most people will be able to fly on the weekends, flight prices will tend to be higher on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
In contrast, prices for flights tend to be lower during the week, usually hitting their lowest on Tuesday.
So, if you can book a mid-week flight, this will help you keep your holiday costs lower.
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Go self-catering
One of the biggest factors that we have to budget for before going away is food and drink.
While eating out is one of the best aspects of a summer holiday, booking a self-catering holiday can be a great way to save on meals like breakfast and lunch.
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