Dreaming about a luxurious getaway to an exotic far-flung destination? Like most people, you probably save a good portion of your hard-earned cash for that amazing, blow-out holiday and understandably, you don’t want to pay more than you have to.
If that sounds like you, then read on for some tips on how to holiday like a millionaire but without the millionaire’s budget.
1.Get The Best Deals On Long Haul Flights
1.1 Best Times To Book
Whilst the best time (financially) to book a short haul flight is at least 70 days (2.5 months) ahead, things aren’t so clean cut for long haul flights (6 hours flying time or more). Some travel agents advise not to book more than 47 days (1.5 months) in advance, based on 2016 statistics compiled by online travel agent Tripsta. In fact Tripsta recommends booking even closer to your departure date to get the best flight deals – assuming you are brave enough to hold out that long.
On the other hand, major travel search engine Kayak claims that to get the best prices on long-haul flights you should book 2-4 months in advance.
So who is right?
A search on Virgin Atlantic for a return flight to Barbados from Heathrow for one person gave these prices:
Booking two months in advance: £4684 (First Class)
Booking within a few days of departure: £3,302 (First Class)
A mega saving of £1,382 is not to be sneezed at. But are your travel plans flexible enough to allow you to fly on a last minute flight which might not be on the date or time you had hoped for?
Another tip from the holiday search engine Skyscanner is to book long-haul flights on Tuesdays. This is the day that many airlines know if their weekend flights are fully booked. Any empty seats could be offered at a fabulously discounted rate. However, this timeframe is really cutting it fine, especially if you already have accommodation booked at your luxury destination. Only if you have nerves of steel (and a backup plan to enable you alter your accommodation booking without incurring a charge) is this an option to consider!
1.2 Pre-Booking For Peace Of Mind
If you like your holidays fully booked in advance, even if it means shelling out a few more quid, you’ll have to pay the going rate of the flight when you book. The price will of depend on a multitude of factors including the travel and flight operator, the time of year and your destination.
Generally speaking, routes with most competition and lowest airport costs are the least expensive. These include Boston in the US, Bali and Tokyo.
Fortunately, the cost of flying has fallen by 10 per cent for Britons in 2017, with flights to the US and Canada dropping to new lows. According to Skyscanner, long-haul flights became 7 per cent cheaper overall, with Vancouver seeing the biggest drop in prices – a huge 18 per cent.
1.3 Be The First To Know About Flight Sales
Long haul flight airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic often launch great money-saving sales. Subscribe to the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic newsletters so you’re one of the first to know about these offers.
Costs nothing to do but could save you a lot!
2. Hassle Free Holiday Planning – Delegate To An Agent
If you don’t have the time or inclination to wait for flight offers to arrive, leave the whole holiday research and booking process to a professional: talk to a travel specialist agent.
Companies such as Trailfinders and Dialaflight have travel specialists to help you find the ideal flight or package deals to make your holiday of a lifetime a reality. Plus they have access to some deals that we would simply not see by booking ourselves online.
Certainly worth a call!
3. Off The Shelf Package Deals
It is often cheaper to flight and accommodation packages from a tour operators. Long-haul luxury tour operator companies like Tropical Sky and Hayes & Jarvis offer amazing value on long-haul holidays, often with saving of up to 40% on deals.
For example, in April 2018, Tropical Sky have a week’s all-inclusive stay in the 5 star JW Marriott Phuket in Thailand for £819 including flights from London Heathrow. If you book this independently, the cheapest flight is around £500, so Tropical Sky’s deal is pretty darn good!
Another example is a 50% room discount at The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa in Mauritius that saves £1500 per person when hotel and flights are booked together through Trailfinders. Book before 31st October 2017 to nab this great deal!
According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), package holidays remain the most popular type of booking, with 46 per cent of holidaymakers booking this way each year. Reasons for such popularity include the security offered if your flights are cancelled and the potential savings you could reap with operator’s discounts.
In conclusion, it is possible to travel to exotic destinations without a millionaire’s budget. You just need to consider whether you are flexible around flight dates, which will enable you to take advantage or last minute bookings. Or whether it makes more financial sense (and a lot less stress) to book a package deal rather than trying to tailor-make your own itinerary to a far flung destination.
