Loans 2 Go: Now it’s time for a holiday!

So the children have gone back to school and everyone is moaning about the end of the holidays. Everyone, that is, who has children of school age. For those of us who either don’t have children or are empty nesters, the world is our oyster!

Now is a really good time to get away for a holiday. Prices have tumbled because school holidays are over, and most holiday destinations will be blissfully quieter than during the summer. So why not do it?

You could get an even better deal on a holiday if you are prepared to be flexible about when and where you go. Yes you will need to take time off work, but for example if you have two weeks off and are prepared to take a 10 day holiday anywhere within that two week window, you could pick up a great last minute bargain.

So where do you look for a bargain holiday? There are so many travel companies and websites and adverts that it’s hard to know where to start. Here are a few ideas that may help:

Websites

You really are spoilt for choice here! Try websites of travel companies such as Thomas Cook, Tui (was Thomson) and First Choice; and also travel searching websites such as Last Minute, Travel Supermarket and Travel Zoo.

But don’t just stick to the familiar: you may be able to get a really good deal by checking out some lesser known sources. Here are some websites with a difference that are definitely worth a try:

HolidayPirates – searches daily for the best holiday offers and discounts, and emails them to subscribers
Secret Escapes – offers flash sales to members, with discounts of up to 70%
Jacks Flight Club – great deals on international flights from the UK to a variety of destinations
Travel Republic – offers flights, all-inclusives and package holidays with a lowest-price guarantee

Travel agents

Whilst it can seem easier to try and find a holiday online, don’t forget your local travel agent. Sometimes they are able to get excellent deals that may not be available online. At the very least it is worth a visit to find information about potential destinations, some of which you may not have come across before

Home from home

If you prefer to stay in a home rather than a hotel when you are away then do look into home swapping. There are so many website available, through which you can arrange to stay in someone else’s home anywhere in the world, and they will stay in yours. This can turn out to be a very cost-effective way of having a fabulous holiday in a comfortable environment.

Some home swapping websites to check out are:

Word of mouth

This is often the best solution. Ask friends and family for their ideas. You may get recommendations for a really nice place that you had not thought of. Or you may even find that someone knows someone who has a cheap holiday home, or one that is only let out to friends of friends. Definitely worth an ask!

Get ready for the off

As you are looking for your ideal holiday – particularly if it is at short notice – it’s a good idea to start getting ready to go away. Dust down that suitcase, ensure your holiday clothes are clean and presentable, make provisional plans for pets and home care as needed, and work out the best means of getting to the airport. Then if you do find the bargain of a lifetime but the flight leaves the day after tomorrow, you stand a good chance of being able to make it.

We hope that the above tips help you to find the holiday of your dreams. Check out our recent article Top Ten Tips to save money on holiday which has lots of advice about how to prepare for and enjoy a wonderful holiday without breaking the bank. But if you do need a bit of extra funding to enable you to have a holiday then Loans2Go may be able to help. We offer a range of online loans that are easy to apply for, and if your application is approved the money could be yours within 60 minutes. Click here for more details about how we can help.