resources

TRAVELLING ON THE CHEAP: 6 thrifty tips to make the most of your holidays

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People often ask me how I manage to travel so much. There’s no secret! Here are some of my tips on how to plan great holidays on a budget.

1. Book in advance:

Start booking everything about six months in advance to make sure you get cheap flights and that the best value hotels are available.

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2. Do your research:

Use Kayak or Momondo to find the cheapest flights – then book straight from the airline website. Find cheap hostels at Hostelworld or sign up for rewards programmes from hotel chains like Accor.

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3. Take someone with you:

Travelling in pairs is one of the best ways of saving money, especially with accommodation. Some hotels charge the same for one of two guests, so splitting everything between two people really pays off.

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4. Avoid peak season:

Summer holidays in Europe are the worst time for travelling as it’s much more expensive and most places are packed with tourists. Avoid June-August and you usually get better prices AND a better experience!

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5. Enjoy the free stuff:

Everywhere is different, but most places will have something free for you to do. London has free museums; Paris has amazing parks and squares; and you can find a free tour in most European cities (for a small tip). Make the most of it!

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6. Save on food:

When you’re travelling it’s easy to eat out three times per day. Find your local supermarket and make use of the hostel kitchen (if available) to make valuable savings. Then find a great restaurant for that special meal you will remember!

Get planning!

WHERE TO GO ON HOLIDAY

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The Philosopher’s Mail, a recent enterprise by Alain de Botton, recently asked an interesting question which got me thinking about my trips:

An outer answer to an inner puzzle: what is there in the outer world that satisfies something in my inner world?

The article asks us to consider how travelling can fulfil some of our inner needs – the idea is that people should think about what is lacking in their lives and help fill that need through their travels.

I think that makes sense.

My favourite destinations used to be the big European cities, especially Paris.

Nowadays, maybe because I live in London, I tend to look for something else. I like going to places which offer something new, different from what I have at home. I am more interested in the souks of Marrakech than in the shopping centres of Western Europe.

I haven’t shifted to off-the-beaten-track destinations by design, it just happened over time. It seems that I’ve started to feel comfortable in more different settings, actively looking for them when I’m planning my next adventure.

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The view from the harbour in Reykjavik

THE 5-MINUTE TRIP PLANNER: A WEEKEND IN EDINBURGH

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I go to Edinburgh on occasion to visit friends. It’s easy to get there and it’s always fun.

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: there are lots of flights from London, but you can also take the train, which takes a bit less than 5 hours. Book in advance as prices can get quite high.
  • Stay: I always stay with friends, but Hostelworld has many options available. Accommodation is not particularly cheap in Edinburgh, but it’s worth paying more to stay in the city centre.
  • Do: On a nice day, hike up Arthur’s seat for a great view of the city. Recover with a nice beer in one of the many great pubs around the city centre.
  • Shop: Ness has lots of nice bags and jackets, with a modern Scottish feel. I always find it a bit on the expensive side, but they often have sales on.
    Easy!
The 5-minute trip planner: Planning a short trip in no time.

TRAVEL WRITING: THREE FAVOURITES

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Travel blogging is 20 this year (apparently this was the first-ever travel post), so here’s a small selection of a few good travel writing resources (not blogs though, all good old-fashioned print):
  • National Geographic Traveller magazine: I’ve had a subscription for a couple of years now, and it’s still my favourite travel magazine. There are lots of resources, and they always seem to go to places that I want to visit. Plus last year they printed one of my photos!

My photo which was printed on National Geographic Traveller

  • Maps, by Aleksandra Mizielińska and Daniel Mizieliński: I got this as a present recently, and it’s amazing! The illustrations are so beautiful, perfect!

  • Around the World in 80 Days, Jules Verne (available for free, here): A classic. The travel channel is showing a rerun of Michael Palin’s recreation of Phileas Fogg journey, and it is just fantastic. Cheap air travel has changed our perception of distances, but overland travel always offers a different view of places and time.

TRAVEL RESOURCES: ROME 2 RIO

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I was planning a trip to Eastern Europe recently (details here), and had the chance to try a website that I’d heard about but hadn’t used yet.

Rome 2 Rio tells you how to get from one place to the other, which seems pretty simple but it’s quite handy for trips with many legs or for when you’re not going to major cities with frequent flights.

The site gives you several options through bus, train, plane etc, so you see all options in a single place. The picture below shows how simple it is:
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THE 5-MINUTE TRIP PLANNER: 2 DAYS IN BATH

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  • Go: Take the train from Paddington at around 11am (get anytime return tickets from around £54).
  • Sleep: The Harington’s has rave reviews and at £87 per night on weekdays is a good choice – it’s right in the city centre, with nearby cafes and lots of amenities.
  • Do: Visiting the Roman Baths is a must, but for a relaxing break head to the Thermae Hot Spa. For £26 for two hours, you can indulge in a hot bath with amazing views of the town. With no advance booking, this is perfect for a last-minute getaway.

The 5-minute trip planner: Planning a short trip in no time.