For years there have been small companies that offer ‘holiday swaps’ these allow people who own homes all over the world to travel to a ‘home away from home’. Holiday house swaps are becoming increasingly popular nowadays as couples who have children save the most. You only need to sort out and pay for flights and a little bit of money for food and entertainment. For many people the thought of letting a stranger into your home is very uneasy as you don’t know who they are and what damage can be done to your property whilst you are away. After extensive research there are not many complaints about this weird way to have a holiday.

Most people who swap homes do so via a well reputable company and in most cases they have to pay an annual membership for this service, so if you can get free accommodation at the end of it, it’s well worth it. The majority of people who house swap are upper middle class people who have big houses or houses/flats that are in well sought after areas. Although you may get a few that are just normal houses that are nowhere near anything of interest.

What to look out for when holiday swapping

• Some holiday swappers are leaving behind pets or plants that need looking after so if you are allergic or would prefer not to research as much as possible
• Some holiday swappers also would like the use of your car so you must check your insurance policy to make sure that it is legal and safe to do so
• Not all holiday swaps allow children; this is because they do not have adequate safety such as a crib or carpeted floors instead of tiles or laminate
• Make sure that there will be no building works carried out whilst you are there as there have been previous holiday swappers that have been left disrupted by works being carried out to the home

There are things like bedding, towels and general housekeeping to consider as there will be a house manual left by the owners. This can be cause problems if one family is fussier than the other, also if you choose to swap your home you will need to include a list of what can be found in your area for the new family that will live there temporarily. Things like supermarkets, sights, babysitters and restaurants.

Do some thorough research before you choose and make sure you have insurance for both your own home and the holiday home you plan to visit.

• If you are going or plan to go on a beach holiday then get out the suitcases and start packing the basics such as swimwear, beach towels and summer clothes. As British weather can be unpredictable even if the weather was to get better you can always dig them out the suitcase if you need them.
• Don’t pack toiletries such as shampoo, shower gel and sun cream. If you get them at the airport you will save luggage allowance, also buy the small travel sizes as they are likely to run out before you travel back. Sun cream, after sun products and insect repellent is usually always on offer at the airport so save some money and also luggage allowance here.
• Shop around on airport parking deals so you have an idea of how much it costs, most places require at least 24 hours notice for you to benefit from airport parking discounts of up to 70%.
• Have a bag packed if you have a young child or toddler that still needs milk or nappies, it’ll save time if the bag has already been pre-packed. As children are also allowed to bring on hand luggage use it to your full advantage by stocking up on nappies and other baby essentials for when you are on holiday.
• If you have house plants don’t neglect them, buy slow water feeders that slowly release water or plant food, they can cost as little £1 and will last 28 days.
• If you are going on a family holiday make sure everyone knows that they will be travelling, it’s a pain because young children will keep talking about it but if they are involved they will help out more and there will be less reliant on you to do everything.
• Make a list of things that need to be packed such as underwear, pyjamas and shoes. There are some items that need to be packed at the end such as toothbrushes and chargers for mobile phones; cameras and camcorders so don’t forget them either.
• Make sure all windows and doors are locked with the keys out of site and not still in the keyhole, if you have a light timer then use it for the evening to make it look like people are home.

You shouldn’t really tell all your neighbours if you are going on holiday as you don’t want to advertise an empty house to the whole neighbourhood. If you are worried about your house leave your keys with a good trusted friend or relative that can check or drive by the house daily.

By taking note of these handy tips you can save time as well as money, don’t be afraid to book last minute because of the preparation just be organised and prepared.

Travel companies have bought too many seats and holiday packages for hotels abroad that they are now unable to sell them. This has caused many travel agencies to slash the costs of holidays during the next 6 weeks. The biggest saving will be those that can afford to spend a little more and travel a little further afield. Holidays to places such as the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Far East have had their prices reduced by up to £800 so if you couldn’t afford to go on holiday when the holiday deals were first released then chances are you get more for your money now that they have been reduced.

The average cost for a week’s holiday in Europe was over £2,000 last year in some places this has fallen by 25% the further afield you go the cheaper it has become. The only place that has had an increase of both tourists and price is Orlando with an increase of over £100 compared to last year. As we all know the cost of holidays both during peak and off peak seasons are very inflated so for travel companies to reduce their prices by as much as £800 it goes to show that they aren’t as ‘affordable’ as they can be.

Now that the schools have closed for the summer it may be the best time to shop around and find that ‘bargain’ family holiday. Places such as Spain, Greece and Turkey have suffered a massive blow by the reduction of tourists visiting and the price of the Euro falling. By opting for all inclusive or half board meal plans you could save some money on self catering packages but this is not always the case so shop around.

Is it too late to book a summer holiday?
It’s never too late to book a last minute getaway, but if you have children this can cause a problem if you need to travel within the next few days. Many people make the mistake of buying too much or packing too many items when they go on holiday so buy toiletries and last minute things at the airport and buy travel sizes so you don’t use up your allowance. Shop around and if you find a deal that fits your budget go for it and have a nice time.

Do offers of £99 holidays really exist?
If you buy newspapers or receive weekly newsletters from travel companies and agents you will notice how every now and again you will see offers of ‘bargain’ holidays that are available for a limited time only. Here are a few that I have come across 1 week in Turkey £139 including flights, 1 week in Greece £159 including flights and the most popular 1 week in Spain £129 including flights. When you see a week’s accommodation including flights to the destination you think ‘wow what a bargain’ but what does it or doesn’t it include?

When you call up so called ‘£99’ holiday deals you are nearly always told that they’re sorry but the offer has sold out, this is a ploy so the travel agent can tell you about other so called ‘fantastic’ deals they currently have. It’s not known if such bargain holiday deals were ever available in the first place or if it’s just a way of reeling in potential customers.

If you are lucky enough to find a bargain holiday then here are some popular mistakes travellers make when they book their holiday:
Airport departure and arrival – check to see that the departing airport is accessible to where you live, you may fin that the holiday you’re after is departing from an airport further than you think. It’s the same for the holiday arrival destination, make sure it is in your resort area and you don’t need a costly and lengthy taxi ride to another resort.

Are meals included – know beforehand if you have a bed and breakfast, half board, all inclusive or self catering accommodation. If it is self catering you can save some money by bringing some essentials such as tea bags, sugar, powdered milk and pasta.

Airport transfers – when you arrive at your holiday destination are transfers included or do you need to pre book or find a taxi when you arrive. This is important as you don’t want to be left stranded at the airport in a foreign country.

Luggage allowance – most cheap holidays only give you an allowance of 10-15kg and this is to be taken onboard as hand luggage. If you want to bring a suitcase that needs to be checked in you may have to pay an additional £30 that will also give an allowance of 23kg or more.

Location – if you are getting a good deal you may want to enquire about local amenities such as how close is the beach, the bus stop, taxi, supermarket etc. You may find that the beach is a good 15 minutes walk or a fee paying bus ride daily which can soon add up.

In all you are highly unlikely to be able to find a good deal for anything less than £300 at least. Once you take into account that you will need to go to the airport via taxi or pay a week’s airport parking, transfers at the holiday destination, food, transport costs on holiday and pocket money for gifts, souvenirs or entertainment you soon find out that there is no such thing as a £99 holiday.

Holiday checklist

Transfers – So the holiday has been booked but do you know how you are getting to the airport in the UK? If you are booking a private taxi do it at least a month before travel and confirm again the day before you are due to travel.

Airport parking – by booking at least 24 hours in advance you can save over 50% on the gate price. So the earlier you book the cheaper it can be.

Accommodation – double check travel details a week before travelling to make sure name and duration are as they should be to avoid problems when checking in.

Flights – check airport information a day before travel to check of any delays or changes to terminal concerning your flight. You may also have the option to check in online prior to departure saving you valuable time to go and buy products and last minute items from Duty Free.

Insurance - as we all know it’s very important to have travel insurance but did you know that by purchasing annual travel insurance you could make bigger savings. Of course if you only travel once a year it’s not really worth it but if you plan to travel a few times a year it will be cheaper than paying travel insurance for each holiday. Make sure you have insurance when travelling and if you are travelling in Europe don’t forget to apply for your (EHIC) European Health Insurance Card entitling you to treatment for free or sometimes at a smaller fee.

Food – if you are going on a self catering holiday you could save a lot of money by buying a lot of the food you will need before travelling. Food like canned goods, pasta, tea bags and sugar can be put into the suitcase that will be going into the hold.

As well as the above, you will need to make a list of items such as sun cream, moisturiser, contact lenses, and snorkelling equipment and so on. This comes in very handy if you have a large family as it gets quite hectic and confusing when you have so many people to pack for and organise items for taking on holiday.

There are a few different types of airport parking and while some are reasonably priced, others could leave a dent in your wallet.

Off airport parking – usually within a few miles or more from the airport and the cheapest option for parking at the airport. Pre booking will save you some money if done at least 24 hours in advance. The keys are handed in upon arrival and the car will then be parked in a secure car park until arrival. Upon arrival your car will have been moved closer to the exit saving you time having to find it in the car park. A shuttle bus is provided to take you to the flight terminal and the same goes for when you return although waiting times vary with some due every 20 minutes.

Meet and greet parking – all you have to do is arrive at the terminal at an agreed time (some advise you to phone 20 minutes prior to arrival for a driver to meet you) and a uniformed driver with a clipboard will be waiting for you. You can then check in for your holiday quicker whilst the driver will then drive it away and park it securely in a nearby car park.

On airport parking – this is usually what most people opt for as you don’t have to hand over your keys and you park your car yourself. Cost for on airport parking can cost as much as £9 a day but by pre-booking you can get it at nearly half that. Shuttle buses are quick and transfer times can be as little as 4 minutes.

Read the small print when it comes to airport parking as you might find that some car parks state that when they have an influx of customers they may move your car to another secure car park up to 15 miles away. Some customers even report dents, scuffs and damages to their car. If you do use a car park where you have to hand over the keys, make sure you inspect the car thoroughly before driving away otherwise it’s harder to get the damages paid for.

If you know a bit about the country you are visiting, you can then plan what you want to see and where you want to go. You will be very surprised how a little bit of research whether on the Internet or asking friends and family can make your holiday more pleasant. Here are a few examples of what you didn’t know about some of our well loved destinations: Sharm El Sheikh is well known for diving and snorkelling due to its crystal clear waters and extensive and protected coral reefs. Hawaii is known for water sports and surfing. As well as Kenya, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia also have wildlife safaris.

How to book excursions?
When you go on holiday with a tour operator, you have the services of a rep who can tell you about all the local attractions and things to do and see. What people don’t do is venture out and explore for themselves. Holiday reps charge double to see local attractions and specialist excursions but did you know that if you leave the hotel and wander down the road a few metres away, you could find a local tour guide who will charge you 50% less. Most well known holiday destinations have local tour operators that have booths along the beach or somewhere near the resort and by just having a look you’re not obliged to book an excursion.

If you are not so confident about being able to find reasonably priced excursions whilst on holiday, then you can always pre-book your excursions before travelling. By booking with a local tour operator in the country you are going, you will be definitely getting a better deal than going with the holiday company.

Another reason why pre-booking excursions is a good idea is because people tend to overspend when they go on holiday so by doing this beforehand you should have no excuse to overspend and can manage your money better.

Creating a holiday timetable

Here are a few things you can do to write your timetable:

• First sit down and make a list of all holiday destinations you would like to visit
• Then go online and find out when these places are in season
• Then write in order of month what countries you would like to visit if it is in season
• If you have children you will be limited to go on holidays only during half term breaks, start looking early for good deals
• All the common places like Spain, Portugal and other places in Europe always appeal to families but by venturing further out like the Caribbean or Egypt, it can work out cheaper sometimes

Try and have a variety of different holidays a year or you will find that you always go on beach holidays and children can get bored of seeing the same thing all the time. Consider skiing, safaris and touring holidays and throw in a multi centre holiday in there too, it will save time. If you want to visit a few places in the same region for example Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand then why not visit them all at the same time? Keep an eye out for travel programs and they might give you some inspiration for your next holiday. There are so many countries which are really beautiful and you should take advantage and visit them and learn about different cultures and traditions. Try not to go to the same places year after year especially with children as the best memories they will ever have will be about holidays.

Remember that there are some countries that require a visa, so take this into consideration when planning holidays as some may take months to process the application.