Travel discount site Priceline can help you save a mighty sum of cash on your next hotel. Most unique is their “Name Your Own Price” function, which allows you to state the money you’re willing to part with for a stay in a given hotel, and see if the property accepts it. The trick, says Money Saving Expert, is to start low and gradually raise your bid (you can do this once per day) until you bag the room. It’s likely the final offer will still be a steal.
Airbnb is two-way street and, as a guest, you'll have the chance to review your host and their property – but they'll have the chance to share their thoughts on you too. This means many guests are unlikely to be wholly honest in the review of their stay for fear of being slapped with a bad review in return. However, since ratings offer more anonymity, guests are more likely to be honest in this part of the feedback. Read the reviews, of course, but pay special attention to the ratings. Click here for more tips to find the best Airbnb properties.
While most Airbnb stays run without a hitch, there have been some horror stories over the years. Fraudsters have operated on the site, and holidaymakers have been swindled by conmen hawking fake properties and who insist that money must change hands via bank transfers rather than via Airbnb's protected system. One such crook hoodwinked a traveller from Bath, who lost £4,000 on a fabricated Sicilian villa. Protect yourself by checking reviews and paying for your property on the platform.
When booking a trip, remember you're not limited to a national operator – in fact, look further afield and you might even land a more attractive deal. Cruises run by American operators in particular tend to be cheaper, and you may also find more affordable rates on destinations such as Hawaii. But be aware of complicating factors such as the potential need for a US credit card and the lack of ATOL protection. The best advice is to shop around and weigh up the pros and cons. Find out more about booking with an international operator here.
It’s no secret that businesses know more about us than they ever have. Cookies gather information each time we visit a travel booking site and sources including The Times report that companies will hike up the price of a package trip, hotel room or flight if they see you’ve viewed the product before. Though this fact is disputed by some major players in the industry (such as Opodo and Expedia), it can’t hurt to spring clean your cookies before you book that big trip.
Before you get booking, follow travel brands such as hotels, airlines and comparison sites on social media. Often deals and discounts will be announced on Twitter and Instagram, and you may also hear about new properties, lucrative loyalty schemes and other insider info. The Expedia, Kayak and JetBlue Cheeps accounts are particularly good at tweeting deals. For more websites that'll save you money on your holiday, click here.
While many assume they’ve bagged the best deal by snapping up their holiday on a booking site, an investigation by Money Saving Expert found otherwise. In many cases, the initial prices customers are drawn in by are not the ones they’ll pay in the end. Once at the checkout, travellers may well find previously undisclosed taxes and resort fees lumped on to the amount. This means comparing deals can be a confusing process and customers may be caught out if they don’t double check the final total before they pay.
Human error affects even the most well-oiled companies and airlines are no exception. An erroneous tap of the key from an airline employee (usually a missing '0') could land you a sweet deal on your holiday – but you'll need to be fast. Luckily, there are sites dedicated to highlighting these unlikely deals – they include Holiday Pirates and Cheap Flights Lab. Discover more tried and tested ways to bag yourself cheap flights here.
Numerous travel experts have touted Tuesdays as the best time to fly on the cheap. Travel comparison company Momondo has confirmed this theory with its latest research, claiming that, for most destinations travelling on a Tuesday will cost you less (an average of 12 percent less if you're travelling within Europe). Flying in the evening will also bring costs down, and the sweet spot for booking is apparently 60 days before you travel.
Luggage fees can push up the price of your flight no end – but there are cheaper alternatives that can also be more convenient. Companies such as Send My Bag offer competitive rates for ferrying your luggage between destinations in Europe and beyond. You can get a quote for your delivery (and compare prices with your airline), then book online. Your bags will be collected from a location of your choice and shipped direct to your accommodation. Bags Ahead offers a similar service.
Sat navs can add up to £100 to the cost of your rental car but opting for offline apps instead can save you a small fortune. You can download data for the destinations you're visiting from Google Maps in advance (you won't get traffic updates, but everything else should run as usual). MAPS.ME is another great option.
Many savvy travellers will be au fait with "split ticketing" when it comes to train travel, but this approach can be applied to flying too. It could involve breaking up the journey to your final destination, or skipping on the return flight and booking it separately, or even from another convenient airport. Sites such as Skiplagged.com can help you find the most affordable routes.
Nifty apps such as Hopper and Airfare Watchdog go well beyond regular comparison sites and can help you score a great deal on flights. Hopper allows you to share where you’re travelling to and the window within which you wish to travel. The app will then monitor fares for as long as you'd like and tell you when to strike. Airfare Watchdog is very similar, although it keeps an eye on a specific journey and lets you know if the price drops.
If you’re flying in a group, it may be cheaper to book plane tickets one at a time. Fare Compare's Rick Seaney told USA Today that, if there are only three tickets available at a lower price, and you're booking for four people, the entire group's tickets will be bumped up to the higher price. But, if you do each transaction separately, only one ticket will be more expensive and you can split the total between you. Consider, though, if the saving is worth the hassle of several different bookings.
You'll pay well over the odds to change your money at the airport. In fact, according to Condé Nast Traveller, the rate can be anywhere from seven to 15 percent worse than what you'd pay online or at a local bureau de change. Instead, use tools such as Money Saving Expert's Travel Money Max tool and look out for Travelex's "Happy Hour" deals to ensure you're getting a decent rate.
Despite continued innovation in aviation, a study by watchdog Which? found that airlines' given journey times are longer than ever. This fact had led some experts to cry "schedule padding" – when airlines amplify journey times in order to grant themselves wiggle room and make delays less likely. Though it's a hotly denied claim, this would mean airlines could be saving bucket loads on payouts for late-running services (you're entitled to compensation for a delay of three hours or more).
Baggage handlers must work extremely quickly and therefore your fragile stickers, however conspicuous you think they may be, could go unnoticed. It's far more sensible to pack any truly delicate or valuable items into your hand luggage. Find more secrets that only baggage handlers know here.
Passengers often don't take full advantage of the compensation they're owed. If your luggage is delayed, the airline is obliged to reimburse you for any essentials, such as toiletries and underwear (keep all your receipts). If your bag is lost or damaged, airlines should offer money towards repairing or replacing the contents. You'll need to fill out a Property Irregularity Report and get in touch with the relevant airline – the Citizens Advice Bureau has lots of useful information.
Airport security is stressful enough, but this stomach-turning secret will likely make the experience even less palatable. A recent report claimed that filthy security bins are likely to carry cold-causing viruses such as rhinovirus or adenovirus. The trays reportedly carry even more germs than airport toilets, which scientists found to be surprisingly clean. Carry a hand sanitiser in your hand luggage (less than 100ml, of course) and head straight for those sparkling toilets to wash your hands once you've made it through security.
From strategically placed seating to that winding pathway through duty free, airports are carefully crafted with the intention of getting time-rich passengers to part with their cash. The window of time that travellers have between security and boarding is known to insiders as the "golden hour". According to some experts, faster moving security lines and streamlined check-in processes are as much about maximising the so-called "golden hour", as they are about safety and efficiency.
A recent study by comparison site Price Spy compared the prices of various electronic goods and cosmetics, and found that only 10 percent of products are cheaper in duty free than on various online outlets. The best advice is not to be sucked in by the promise of duty free – instead, do your own research and only purchase the item if you can't find it cheaper elsewhere.
By asking customers to show their boarding passes, companies can avoid paying VAT on goods purchased by people travelling outside the EU. And, in 2015, airport stores were slammed for failing to pass on savings they made to consumers. Showing your boarding pass is not a legal requirement and some consumers may refuse to reveal it by way of protest. Be aware though: shops can refuse you service if you don't show your pass, especially if their system needs it to continue with the transaction. Read more about the airport secrets officials don't want you to know here.
Airlines are cramming ever more seats into their aircraft, and this means those seats are inevitably shrinking. Some Golden Age planes boasted a “seat pitch” (the distance between the back of your seat and the one in front) of 34 inches. Today, some long-haul aircraft have seat pitches of just 29 inches. The same goes for width – while most airlines had a seat width of around 20 inches some 30 years ago, today it’s more common to find a seat around 16 inches across. Learn more about other ways travel has changed in the last 100 years here.
The last thing you want is to get sick on your holiday. But, according to numerous studies, planes are a breeding ground for all sorts of germs and some nasty microbes can survive for more than a week in an aeroplane’s nooks and crannies. Microbiologists found that the seat pockets, arm rests and tray table were among the dirtiest spots on board, with potential viruses ranging from the common cold to MRSA. You have the best chance of staying healthy if you wash your hands regularly, especially before eating.
You might want to think twice before snuggling under that blanket you were given on the plane. One flight attendant confessed that those blankets aren’t always washed between flights. While planes are given a quick clean between journeys, during a fast turnover there’s not always time to wash or replace blankets. Given what we know about the germs lurking on planes, it’s probably best to bring your own.
It might be better to bring your own drinking water on board too. While it’s important to stay hydrated, some plane crew have reported that the water tank is not cleaned as often as you might hope. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has also expressed concerned about the regulation of the water on board.
While it’s well-known that flying is one of the safest ways to get from A to B, plane crashes can be calamitous. According to a report commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority, if things take a turn for the worst, the rear seats are where you want to be. It found that passengers sitting in the plane’s back seats had a higher chance of survival due to a likely lesser impact (a measured force of 6G, compared to 12G at the front of the plane).
Delays can be frustrating and tiresome, yet many people remain unaware that they’ve a right to compensation if they’ve experienced a significant hold up. In the UK, if you’re delayed for more than three hours, you could claim to up to £540. You’re also entitled to food and drink vouchers, and overnight accomodation if you can’t fly until the next day. Take photos and hold onto tickets and boarding passes. Each airline will have a different process for making claims so check the website. If your claim is rejected, contact the Civil Aviation Authority.
Another secret is that many cruise liners will have a small onboard jail or brig. You have to do something pretty bad to be confined here but, over the years, passengers have been busted by onboard security for fighting, abusive behaviour and possession of drugs. The detainee will often be arrested at the next major port or even held in the prison until the end of the trip. Read about more strange things that have happened on cruise ships here.
It’s not easy or cheap to cancel a cruise, and policies vary greatly from liner to liner. It’s vital that you read the small print and organise travel insurance, in case you need to take this step. According to Cruise Critic, the longer the cruise, the more money you could lose. Added extras such as excursions may be dealt with separately, and some companies will require a written cancellation rather than a phone call.
Even if you think you’re staying in the best room your hotel has to offer, there may be some unlisted rooms reserved for the most high profile of guests. According to Bloomberg, it’s not uncommon for properties to hold back their most lavish suites in the case that a celebrity should make a booking. Bloomberg lists The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland as one of the hotels keeping shtum about a particularly plush room.
When sinking into your hotel room bed after a long day’s exploring, you’d hope at the very least that it’s clean as a whistle. But a 2013 study by Check Safety First suggests that's not always the case. Televisions, tea-making facilities and mattresses were all found to be teeming with germs, even harbouring bacteria such as E. coli.
Most holidaymakers would be horrified to find bed bugs in their hotel room but it turns out that they're not as rare as you might think. According to a study by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky, hotels are the third most common place for bed bugs to be found (second only to apartment blocks and family homes). Have a quick peek beneath the mattress and watch for little brown spots left behind by the bugs – if you notice anything, report it immediately.
While a third-party site may be a convenient and affordable way to book a hotel stay, some hoteliers have claimed that the quality of your room may suffer as a result. Since a guest has not booked direct, it’s assumed that they made their choice based on value, rather than loyalty to the brand or property. Hotels also have to pay commission to booking sites. Therefore, the best rooms are purportedly reserved for those who cut out the middle man. For tips on how to bag the best hotel room, read our guide here.
Most guests will cause little trouble for hoteliers but those who cannot behave could be put on a blacklist. Databases such as Guestscan allow hotel staff to record information about difficult patrons, from those who damage property to those who are abusive to staff. This data is then shared with other members of the hospitality industry.