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Planning sensibly so that your holidays are always a success The cost of your holidays can vary depending on where and when you go and what sort of holiday you want to have. We will be glad to show you some of the factors that you should consider when planning. You can enjoy your trip properly if your budget is carefully planned. |
What type of transport suits you best?
Car, train, bus, plane or ferry? Check which mode of transport is the most cost-effective for the route that you have chosen. Taking your own car is not always the cheapest option. Think of the petrol costs or the wear and tear caused by long journeys. By contrast, flying is not necessarily the most expensive option. Taking low-cost airlines or favourably-priced charter flights can often be a cheaper way to visit cities. Also, if you travel by a ferry, the holidays start as soon as you arrive at the port.
All-inclusive deals or individually-planned trips?
Which is cheaper, an all-inclusive deal or an individually-planned trip? There is no definitive answer either way. The Internet is prompting more and more people to organise every aspect of their private holidays. Anyone who has time to research what is on offer and compare prices can put together real holiday bargains. According to a German study on the development of the tourist market in 2004, there is a clear trend towards individual travel.
Special deals for people on a shoestring budget
Find out about special holiday deals for children and families within a limited budget. For example, REKA (the Swiss Holiday Scheme) offers a one-week holiday for as little as 100 francs. You can also contact Pro Juventute, Pro Familia or similar agencies for information about other deals.
If you are not considering holidays for the whole family, your children can go to a holiday camp, often run by schools, churches or youth groups. Towns and cities often stage events for children, particularly in summer.
Peak season or low season?
You can also save on your holidaying costs if you are prepared to travel during off-seasons that are not the most popular times of the year. Prices can come down substantially only a week or two after the peak season. If you have no children of school age, you can benefit from not having to book your holidays during the school holidays. You can at least avoid the summer holidays when the whole of Europe is on vacation.
