Bag - Raefeather | Fragrance - Jo Malone
When it comes to finding good deals on luxury holidays, I like to think I've perfected the art of the search. For example, in January we managed to scoop up a week in Mexico for £750 all inclusive, right on the beach, just down the road from the insta-paradise that is Tulum. I often get asked about how I find the best deals, so today I thought I'd share those secrets.
1. Know where you want to go, but be prepared to be flexible.
When looking for holidays, I always tend to have an idea of where I want to go (Mykonos was the dream this year!), but I'm always prepared to change my mind if something better comes up. For instance, Mykonos is extremely expensive this year because it seems to be the 'go-to' spot in Europe for the summer, however a 5* resort in Thailand was coming up as half the price. I'm lucky that I don't mind going long haul (I normally prefer to!) so this wasn't an issue for me, but being flexible on where you want to go will definitely help you find the best deal. Often if you're just looking for a beach holiday, there will be a similar (lesser known) destination which is just as fab, but for half the price. Pinterest is great for finding little spots off the beaten track.
2. Don't be scared to stay on the outskirts of town.
Often the 'it' destination in a particular area is super expensive, as travel agents know that tourists are willing to pay extra to be in these resorts. However, sometimes staying just down the road is exactly the same, but a lot cheaper. In Mexico we wanted to stay in Tulum but weren't keen on the £3000 price tag, so we stayed in Riviera Mayya for a third of the price and travelled into Tulum by taxi (which cost £10 each) for a day or two. That way we got the best of both worlds 👌.
3. Where to look for deals...
Knowing where to look for the best deals is half of the battle, and this really depends on what you're looking for. If its an all inclusive beach break that you've got your heart set on, then its best to look when sites like Tui and Thompson have their sales on (their boxing day sale is particularly fab), or look out of 'school holiday' season if you can - there are some great deals if you travel in the first few months of the year.
If you know where you want to go, there are normally some great deals on Expedia. This is where I book most of my trips, but I normally wait until they have their 'daily deal' on and watch it for a few hours as the price normally goes up and down. This is how I've booked my upcoming trip to Thailand and we managed to save £300 by waiting for the right 'daily deal'. I'd also recommend signing in as you can earn points to put towards free hotel stays...and use your Nectar Card!
One site which I've also come across several times is Holiday Pirates. I've not booked with them personally, but a few friends have, and they have some incredible deals. I mean, who wouldn't want Miami return flights for under £300?!
4. Fly on a weekday
Like I mentioned earlier, the more flexible you can be, the better. I often find that flying on a weekday saves me a few pennies, as a lot of people book the Monday - Friday off work and want to fly on a weekend. I've always had a lot of luck with flying on a Wednesday, and sometimes have found great deals flying on a Tuesday morning as they seem to be unpopular times!
xo Becky
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