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Book outside of school holidays

The best tip of them all has to be avoiding school holidays as the price of your holiday is likely to rise significantly. To get an idea of how much more it would cost to travel inside term time, when you are choosing a date for a flight scroll back to show earlier dates and see how much more you would have to pay. Travel companies are fully aware how much higher demand is in school holidays which is why they adjust their prices accordingly. However being retired you should normally have more weeks available when you are free to travel. Times to avoid are Easter, half terms and the summer holidays which run from the last week in July until the start if September. Granted this is peak time but if you are going somewhere where it is hot from April to October then it can make financial sense to avoid the school holidays.

Book in advance OR last minute

OK ill explain this one. With some holidays it benefits you to book as far in advance as possible for example if booking cheap flights to a popular European destination. If you know your holiday dates in advance (as most retired people will do) then it obviously makes sense to book early and save. However some holidays are best bought at the last minute as airlines and hotels will have seats and rooms that they need to fill. If you are flexible over your destination and dates then wait to see what last minute holiday deals become available. This used to be done using teletext but most now use the internet to find the latest offers. Of course there is no harm going into a good old fashioned travel agent and doing the same thing!

Use a credit card, not a debt card

The reason for this is that an increasing amount of card fraud is being committed against travellers abroad. If you use a debt card and someone clones your details they can potentially empty your bank account in one go, leaving your with no money whatsoever. However if you only use a credit card, although they can make fraudulent transactions you will see these when you receive your monthly bill which when allows you to inform your card company. In other words you wont have to pay for them and then try and recoupe the money. Some credit cards also provide insurance cover for purchases so that if you buy something abroad that either turns out to be faulty or is not delivered, you can reclaim the purchase amount through the card company’s insurance cover.

This article was produced by Simon who runs pension website Annuity City. Visit them for the top annuity rates on the market.

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Cottage in Longparish Road, Wherwell / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Anguskirk

Location

Cottage holidays can be enjoyed in very different parts of the country. Many holidaymakers opt for Devon, Cornwall and the Cotswolds for their flat scenery and wide range of cottages and homes, while others prefer the more mountainous Lake District. Decisions can often be made in terms of how isolated a trip you want to enjoy, or whether you prefer to be close to a major town or village. Cottages in Sussex are recommended for the latter, as they offer quick access to London. By contrast, the rural Scottish Highlands can give you great peace and quiet in the Northernmost part of the country.

Timing

When you choose to book a holiday cottage will make a big difference to the overall experience. Christmas bookings tend to go very fast, and need to be booked far in advance to avoid both high costs and places selling out. This approach is particularly important to take if booking on behalf of a large family or a group of friend. Many holiday cottages also tend to sell out around school holidays and bank holidays, so check your calendar beforehand. You might also find that some holiday cottages can be booked during off peak season at a reduced cost.

Manor House at Great Dixter / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by antonychammond

Local Activities and Features

It is always important to look into whether a holiday cottage can offer any specific features and activities. A cottage might be self catering or catered, or might include special bathroom and living room facilities like a hot tub or video games. At the same time, the cost of a holiday cottage may or may not include charges for Internet use. When viewing a holiday cottage, try to think about whether you can access any specific local activities like horse riding or sailing. It is also worth exploring the potential of a day trip to a neighbouring village or town.

Family and Pets

Many holiday cottages will have specific rules about the number of children and pets that can be brought to a location. Problems might arise in terms of having the facilities to cope with a lot of small children, and visitors may have to bring their own equipment. However, by checking ahead and doing your research, it is possible to see unique parts of Britain, while enjoying the best facilities and activities of an area.

Habs is a traveling enthusiast working with Cottages Direct. I love taking breaks in the UK and abroad. But most of all, I love to share my vacation experiences.

The post Holiday Cottages – A Great British Holiday! appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo by admin

But happily for the rest of us, there are plenty of opportunities for bargain Italy holidays that don’t come with the luxury price tag – far from it.

Take the Neapolitan Riviera for example. Situated around the Bay of Naples, this glorious corner of the world is all pine-clad hillsides, rugged cliff tops and long swathes of golden sandy beaches. These classic holiday ingredients means it fits easily into the package holiday bracket, and with this comes plenty of tasty discounts and last-minute deals.

You can now get an affordable break on the Italian coast with one of many established tour operators, and if you really want to knock pounds off the cost of your holiday, you can opt for one of the many late deals to grab a last-second bargain. Flexibility is key to getting the best deal, so the more adaptable you are with elements such as departure dates, exact location and choice of hotel, the more likely you are to bag yourself a cut-price holiday.

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