The traditional week or fortnight in the sun is outdated, say experts
If you’re a fan of a fortnight in the sun for your annual holiday then it’s time to rethink it, according to travel experts. They say that going abroad for seven, 10 or even 14 nights is old hat and can be costing you more cash.
Instead they are urging holidaymakers to think outside of the box when it comes to the duration of their trips. And they say being more flexible will save you money on your summer holiday.
There’s no doubt financing a family holiday is costly, but by deviating from the favoured week or fortnight away and playing about with dates, there are substantial savings to be made.
Karen Williams, a travel expert at Eurocamp, explained: “There are lots of holiday providers which don’t have fixed departure or arrival days, so you can have complete flexibility over your travel dates.”
She added: “Have a play around with the length of your trip by a few nights either way and if you’re flying, choose a duration that allows you to get the best flight prices,” reports Birmingham Live.
Spain is the most popular travel destination for Brits, with 17.8 million trips made in 2023. France, Italy, Greece and Portugal make up the rest of the top five travel destinations for Brits – all of the top five are in Europe.
And she said there are other ways to save money on your holiday. In this cost of living crisis it can pay to think differently.
She said: “Whether it is putting the family in the car and hitting the motorways for a cross-country road trip, or opting for rail travel, looking for different modes of transport can get you some serious savings.
“A great tip is to split the cost of your accommodation with your mates or nearest and dearest as this can save you a fortune.
“Holiday homes are perfect for this, allowing you to book accommodation for a fixed price, not per person.”
She also said it could be cheaper to book less traditional stays, and opt away from fortnights, seven days or ten days.
And when you go can also have a huge impact on price.
“Looking at earlier or later in the season can help to keep costs down,” she said. “For those travelling with children, look for the latter weeks of the school holidays running up to September which tend to be cheaper than the main part of the school holidays.
“When travelling during these months, think carefully about the destinations. If you’re looking for sunshine, southern Europe is slightly hotter than more northern regions so you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors even during off-peak months.
“You don’t need to go out to enjoy a good, filling meal and instead taste some local delicacies from the comfort of your own holiday home. You can even pack and bring your own food to your holiday home to ensure that the kids have all their favourite snacks.”
She also advised that it’s worth looking at next year’s break before you’ve even been on this year’s.
“For the super organised, many travel providers will be bringing out their 2026 holidays over the coming months, so keeping an eye out for these can also help you save for next year too,” she added.
