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1. Be flexible with your dates.
Use the calendar function in Google's flight search to compare the prices on your intended dates of travel with other days in the same time frame. The site will highlight in green the best prices on the calendar so that you can get get a good deal if your schedule permits.
2. Book tickets for off-peak days and times.
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Flights that depart after 9pm and arrive very early in the morning are often offered at lower prices than other times. Red-eyes are hard to find on some airline websites, so you might need to ring the airline or a travel agent to request red-eye prices.
Booking a flight out on Tuesday or Wednesday usually allows for the cheapest seats, but if you must fly out at the weekend, Saturday is the best choice.
3. Get the most for your money by checking out a seating plan.
Before you purchase your seats, check your flight on Seatguru to make sure you're getting a pleasant experience for your money, or to know which seats might be cheapest based on their comfort.
4. Look at return prices even if you're flying one-way.
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If you're moving or on a multiple stop journey, you'll notice that one-way tickets can be insanely expensive. Try searching the same flight, with a return, and you're likely to find a better deal. Do check your chosen airline's stance on "throwaway ticketing" before purchasing a return flight you won't use, however, since it's prohibited in some cases.
5. Embrace the layover.
6. Don't decide your destination in advance.
If you want a cheap holiday, choose by price instead of location. Airlines, train lines, and hotels offer different deals for different locations throughout the year, and you might find an unexpected getaway for a fabulous price by being open minded and finding your holiday based on your budget.
7. Use a travel agent.
Sometimes passing up an app or site to deal with someone directly can help you go farther and spend less. Visit an office such as Flight Centre or STA travel in person to talk through your travel needs with an actual human and discuss the best options for your budget and plans. This little known trick can save you hundreds, so think before you hit up Expedia.
8. Know your discount status.
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Students, military members, and bank customers can potentially receive heavy discounts on some flights. If you're not sure, or think there might be a applicable discount for your situation, don't be afraid to phone the airline and ask. Be sure to check if these discounts apply at attractions once you've arrived at your destination, too.
9. Buy train tickets in advance.
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If you don't absolutely require the flexibility an Anytime single to allow you to travel on any service at any time, committing to a journey through Advance fare can often save upwards of £100. Also consider railcards before buying any single tickets if you'll be travelling by train often. Check out more trips for train travel here.
10. Shop steathily.
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If you're searching for the same site regularly, some ticketing sites may raise prices based on your apparent demand by accessing your cookies. Avoid giving this information away and being overcharged by clearing your cookies, or searching through an incognito window on Google Chrome.
11. Follow air and train lines, destinations, and travel sites online.
12. Use helpful websites.
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Consult a range of sources and know all your options for your trip before you pay for anything - compare prices, prioritise experiences, and consider new ways to travel that could save you money. Check out these these helpful resources for making the most of your travel experience without breaking the bank.
13. Search fares directly from the airline.
If you use a third-party booking source like Kayak or Expedia, be sure to check the price at the airline's website to make sure you're getting the deal you think you are. In some cases, booking fees from third party sites, or special deals from the airline may change the affect the final cost in an unexpected way.
14. Check your destination airport's website.
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If you're not convinced you've found the best price available, have a look at your destination airport's website to see all of the airlines that fly in, to give you wider range of options to search for. Budget airlines are not always in regular search results, so it's good to know what to search for directly, and what cheap lines can actually get you where you're meant to go.
15. Use discount keywords in your search.
Something as simple as Googling through key search terms can help you stumble on deals and shortcuts you wouldn't have otherwise found. Do an exhaustive search pairing your destination, airline, and third party booker with keywords like 'discount' 'voucher code' 'promo', or 'coupon', to see iof what comes up might be useful.
16. Look for alternative accommodations.
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If you want to save money during your trip, don't book a hotel. Instead consider any number of alternatives, from AirBnb to couch surfing to camping. Renting directly from the owner of a home or opting for a hostel instead of a hotel could save hundreds of pounds in the long run, and enrich your journey by giving you a less isolated experience.
17. Look out for museum and attraction free days.
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Keep tabs on hot attractions in your destination city to know when their will be price offers that will save you money, many major museums like the Louvre offer monthly free days, as well as other discounts. Also research what attractions are regularly free so that you can fill up your itinerary with cost-effective outings.
18. Save data without getting lost.
Save maps for offline use with this handy hack for the Google Maps app:
-Search the area you want to save and zoom in
-In the search bar, type 'ok maps' and hit search.
-Save and name the map
-Access the map even when you have no signal by opening up the 'My Places' tab in the app
Note that this only works for area maps, you can't save directions this way.
19. Use public transport.
20. Or city bikes.
Many cities across Europe, including Berlin, Paris, and Copenhagen offer a bike sharing system that's insanely affordable and allows you to pedal your way through the city.
21. Or just walk.
Get to your next location for free using your own feet. For bonus points (and to save on expensive tours), download the City Maps and Walks app to get routes and learn about the area as you go.
22. Don't replace a forgotten charger.
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If you forgot to pack your charger and are staying a hotel, ask the front desk if they have any spares. Often, hotels keep a stash of left behind chargers from former guests, and you can avoid the unforeseen expense.
