How to Plan a Holiday | Sainsbury’s Money

Holiday Planning Guide

How to plan a holiday abroad

Build the perfect travel plan

Give yourself the best shot at a fun and stress-free holiday by doing your homework before you go.

That’s where our holiday planning checklist comes in. We’ll show you how to plan a cheap holiday with our top tips, including how to prevent excess baggage charges.

10 key questions to help plan a holiday

When you start planning a holiday abroad there's lots to consider, and so many destinations to choose from.

Kick off by asking yourself these questions:

What’s your budget?
Working out how much you can afford will help you narrow down your options and plan the perfect holiday without breaking the bank.
What kind of holiday are you looking for?
A family break on the beach or a city break?
What catering option is best?
All inclusive, full board, half board or self-catering?
Where do you want to go?
If you need inspiration, take a look at Tripadvisor’s top global destinations.
How long do you want to go for?
A weekend, a week or two, or longer?
Short or long haul?
Our guide to air passenger duty will help you understand how the distance of your flight affects ticket prices.
When do you want to go?
It might be cheaper to plan your holiday for the off-season – but that could mean missing out on sunny days on the beach.
How do you want to book?
Would you rather book online or use a traditional travel agent?
How do you want to pay?
Decide if you want to pay upfront, with a deposit, credit card or on arrival.
Do you need a visa or vaccinations?
You may need to sort these out in advance. For vaccinations, the NHS recommends seeing a GP or private travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you travel.

Different ways to book

Spend a bit of time considering what type of holiday deal will work best for you.

Package deals

If you’re considering a traditional holiday resort, a package deal may be your best option.

Package deals can be booked through travel agencies, online booking sites or direct from the operator. And they’re typically covered by financial protection schemes like ATOL or ABTA.

Here are our top tips to find the best package deal:

The best time to book a package holiday could be either last minute or as early as possible
Many operators offer discounts if you book as soon as a holiday goes on sale
For a last minute deal, Latedeals.co.uk recommends booking around eight weeks in advance

Accommodation only

If you’re booking your flights and accommodation separately to save money, there are loads of ways to find your dream hotels and apartments. Just make sure your travel insurance covers both your travel and your accommodation.

Here’s how to find the best accommodation deals:

You can use comparison websites to find the best accommodation
If you’re looking to book an apartment or villa, check out sites like Airbnb or HomeAway
Check discount sites to see if there are any voucher codes for your chosen hotel
Check prices over a few days and set up alerts for price drops; many hotels monitor demand and change their prices accordingly
Once you’ve chosen your hotel and found the best price online, contact the hotel. You might get a better price if you book direct

Flights only

If you’ve chosen your destination and found the perfect accommodation, it’s time to search for the best value flights:

Compare flight prices using comparison websites like Skyscanner or TravelSupermarket
If you’re travelling to a resort that’s popular for package holidays, consider booking seats on a charter flight
Check your flight times carefully, especially if you’re flying with a low cost airline. If your flight is early in the morning you may want to stay in an airport hotel the night before
Remember to check that your travel insurance covers both your flights and any accommodation you book separately.

How to plan your holiday spending money

Whether you prefer to carry cash or cards, here are some top holiday planning tips to make the most of your travel money.

Cash

Before you buy your foreign currency, monitor exchange rates in advance – they change rapidly so act quickly when you see a good deal
Compare all offers – don’t just look for an offer with zero to low commission fees
Look out for hidden fees – rate charges and handling fees can add a few pounds to each transaction

If you think you might return with leftover currency, look out for a good ‘buy back’ rate or no ‘buy back’ fees.

Credit and debit cards

It’s quick and easy to use your debit card abroad to buy things and withdraw cash from ATMs. Credit cards can help manage the cost of large, unexpected or emergency purchases.

Here are some key things to consider if you’re planning to use your credit or debit card abroad:

Find out if your debit or credit card can be used outside of the UK without incurring a transaction fee
Check the foreign conversion rate at the ATM and remember that some machines will charge a local transaction fee
If you’re given the option to pay for a withdrawal in your home currency, rather than the local currency, don’t. Sticking with the local currency may help you avoid additional currency conversion charges
If you’re using a credit card, remember that withdrawing money is seen as a cash advance, so you’ll be charged interest on it. You may also incur a cash advance fee
It’s a good idea to tell your card provider you’re travelling abroad – this may stop your card being blocked due to ‘unusual transactions’

Find out more

For added peace of mind, have a look at our guide to keeping your money safe abroad.

Holiday extras - things to consider before you go

Airport parking

If you need to park your car at the airport, you could find yourself out of pocket. Here are some tips to keep the costs down:

Save money by booking in advance through a comparison website
Usually the cheapest option is a car park located outside the airport grounds. Just make sure you check travel times and find out if the car park provides shuttle buses to the terminal
If you need to stay overnight before you fly, look out for an airport hotel with car parking. This could work out cheaper than booking a car park

Airport lounges

Got a long stopover between flights? Or just fancy a relaxing start to your break?

Here are some reasons why you may want to consider using an airport lounge:

Lounges offer unlimited food and drink, newspapers and magazines – providing everything you need to get you in the holiday spirit
Check whether your credit card or bank account offers free access – it may be a benefit you didn’t know about
If you fly regularly, consider getting an annual pass – most of the large hub airports have lounges
You’ll have to pay to access an airport lounge but booking entry in advance, or getting an annual pass, could cut down the cost

Car hire

If you’re looking to hire a car while you’re on holiday, there’s a lot to bear in mind. Here are some tips to help you get the best car hire deal:

Consider booking in advance – your daily rate will often be much more affordable
Use a comparison website to find the best deal at your chosen airport. Remember to check if booking direct with the hire company works out cheaper
Check whether the deal includes a mileage limit – you may end up paying an additional fee if you go over this
You may be able to buy car insurance directly from the car hire company . Or you can buy a standalone car insurance policy from another provider

Mobile phones and data

We’re all partial to posting a holiday pic on social media these days. And while it’s great to share your holiday snaps with friends and family back home, make sure you keep on top of costs.

Check if you have free roaming in the country you’re visiting. Some mobile phone providers let you use your phone abroad as part of your standard calls, texts and data package
If you don’t have free international roaming, consider a roaming package. Your phone provider might offer a good rate if you pre-purchase calls, texts and data
Turn off data roaming when you aren’t using it – many apps use data even when you’re not actively using them
Use a mapping app that allows you to download maps in advance to use offline
Consider using messaging apps that work over wifi, like Skype, FaceTime or WhatsApp – it’s often cheaper than sending texts or making phone calls

Protect yourself and your booking

ATOL and ABTA protection

If possible, make sure your holiday’s covered by ATOL or ABTA. These financial protection schemes can help you get your money back if your travel company goes into insolvency. You can find out more about ATOL protection in our guide to dealing with flight disruption.

Travel insurance

No holiday planning checklist is complete without proper protection. Wherever your journey takes you, travel insurance helps to cover emergency medical expenses, lost or damaged items and more. Check out our flexible travel insurance policies to find the best cover for you.

Sainsbury’s Money Travel insurance is underwritten by AWP P&C S.A. for core cover.

Travel insurance

Healthcare

Before you head off on your travels, find out if you need any vaccinations. The NHS Fit for Travel website is packed with health information and advice for travellers.

If you’re travelling with a medical condition, the NHS has advice on taking medicine abroad. You may also want to think about translating your medical details into the language of the country you’re travelling to.