The ongoing cost of living crisis means that many of us may feel like holidays aren’t an option for 2023, but budget travel is possible (when you know what you’re doing).
Actually, there are plenty of lesser-known tricks of the trade that can secure a much more affordable holiday than you ever dreamed of. Luckily, self-confessed budget holiday hunter Chelsea Dickenson – aka @cheapholidayexp on Instagram – has shared some of her secrets with GLAMOUR, so you can still look forward to a holiday no matter your budget.
Whether it’s securing cheap flights, affordable hotels or bargain activities so you can explore new destinations without majorly forking out, Chelsea has all the know-how. Her best-ever travel steal? “I got a 4 hour 50 min train between Prague and Bratislava in 2022 that only cost me £21,” she says. “And that was in business class! I got a huge leather arm chair, sparkling wine on arrival and got to sit in a cabin like I was on the Hogwarts Express. What’s more, the food on board was so cheap too – 30p for a slice of cake and 65p for a bottle of beer!”
Now that’s budget travel we can get on board with. Want in on that action? Here’s the tips and tricks to follow to secure a bargain holiday in 2023…
How to find cheap hotels and accommodation
When it comes to securing a cheap holiday, consider how much it will actually cost to be at your destination, before you worry about how you’re getting there. “My favourite thing is to do my travel search backwards and start with accommodation first,” says Chelsea. “This is because we often obsess over cheap flights when they are a one-off cost and actually your daily costs – such as food, activities and accommodation – can really add up.”
“To do this, I put really general areas into the search fields such as ‘United Kingdom’ or ‘Europe’. Then I use the website’s filters for whittling down the results. This technique works on Airbnb and Booking.com and is great for working out where’s offering great value.”
She adds: “Some websites like Airbnb also allow you to search using a map and I love using this tool when I’m looking for a beach holiday. I do this by zooming in on the map and then searching down the coastline. It’s fantastic at showing lesser-known beach stays where you can get amazing value for money.”
As for hotels: it’s all about shopping around. “If you’re looking to stay in a hotel, always check the cost across several platforms – I tend to begin with a comparison site like Google Hotels or Trivago – and then click through to the results it offers. Also, always make sure you’re signed into booking websites as they can often reward members with cheaper prices. Finally, if you do find the price cheaper than booking direct you could always contact the hotel directly and ask them to price match, or even ask if they can offer any more incentive for you to book direct.”
How to find cheap flights
“The best way to get a cheap flight is to be flexible – be that on the date or the destination or, better yet, both,” says Chelsea. “When you’re in this situation, use websites that allow you to search options all over the world – for Skyscanner type ‘everywhere’ and for Kayak type ‘anywhere’ in the destination field. They also allow you to search across a range of dates.”
