Ask a member: How do you save money on holiday?

1. I choose a hotel with character in a well-connected neighbourhood that you can explore easily on foot or by public transport. Choosing the right base lets you see and enjoy far more of the destination without stretching your holiday budget. Location truly is king!
Harvi Sandhu, general manager of Varel Singapore

2. I always choose accommodation with a washing machine. It may sound overly practical, but it completely changed the way I travel. I pack less, save precious luggage space and avoid carrying things ‘just in case’. After years of overpacking, I realised most of those extra outfits never even made it out of the suitcase. Turns out, travelling lighter doesn’t just make the journey easier – it makes me appreciate what I need.
Fickry Zoelfisyahrin, marketing and communications at the Langham Jakarta

3. My favourite way to save money on a beach holiday is to skip the expensive sunbed rentals and buy a cheap beach parasol locally instead. We just got back from five days in Rhodes, where we picked one up for €13 from a local shop – compared with €25 a day for sunbeds on Lindos Beach, €60 at St Paul’s Bay, or an eye-watering €110 for a cabana. We put the money we’d saved towards a day of kitesurfing instead, which was a much more memorable way to spend it!
Charlie Marchant, travel blogger and founder of Charlie on Travel

4. Want to visit a Michelin star or other high-end restaurant? Check out the lunch menu, which is often less expensive than the dinner option.
David A

5. On a recent trip to Greece, I found the beauty products I wanted at a Greek online pharmacy for around half the price and had them shipped directly to the address where I was staying. Now, if I discover something I love while travelling, I always check the local online price before stocking up.
Ana Silva O’Reilly, founder of Mrs O Around the World

6. When I was recently in Ibiza, I booked restaurants and experiences in advance rather than making last-minute decisions once I was there, which meant I avoided a lot of inflated same-day costs and impulse spending. I ended up spending considerably less than I expected without feeling as though I had compromised at all – and I used some of what was left to buy a piece of jewellery from a local designer that I still wear now.
Amelia Hutchinson, founder of concierge service Discreet Global

7. In Europe, there are cheaper, or even free, days to visit galleries and museums. For example, The Louvre offers free entry on the first Friday of the month after 6pm (excluding the summer).
Catherine

8. A trip to the local supermarket is always a priority, partly because I love seeing what local people eat and because there’s always some weird snack worth trying, but it also saves a fortune. A bottle of local wine for the balcony beats hotel bar prices, while fruit and pastries can replace an absurdly expensive breakfast. Plus, our four-year-old son loves to choose his own treats, and it means giving into him avoids a meltdown. On our last trip to Tenerife, we stockpiled some Spanish fruit snacks he became obsessed with. He still asks about them now.
Tom Ghiden, managing director of creative agency adam&eve\TBWA

9. Fall back in love with your summer wardrobe! Before buying new holiday outfits, reacquaint yourself with last summer’s versions: the dress that only behaves in sunshine; the sandals improved enormously by a tan; the slightly optimistic kaftan. Somehow, everything looks better abroad anyway. Save your money for the things that really matter: lunch, wine and one more night away.
Sarah Clark, chief strategy officer of creative agency BMB

10. House swapping is a great way to holiday cheaply, especially as a family when you’d normally have to book two or three hotel rooms. We’ve house-sat near Copenhagen before and saved loads on accommodation. We couldn’t have afforded to visit Denmark as a family otherwise. We have another one booked in Valencia and my son will get his own playroom, which he’ll be thrilled about!
Victoria Philpott, travel blogger and founder of VickyFlipFlop Travels

11. I adjust my eating pattern on holiday to have two big meals a day (usually brunch and dinner) instead of three.
Daniel

12. I try not to cut back on the experiences that make a holiday memorable. Instead, I plan the practical things well in advance, particularly flights, transfers and the location of where I stay, because small savings there can add up without affecting the experience. On a recent trip, I planned the itinerary around a few key places I really wanted to visit and avoided constantly moving between hotels, which not only saved money but also gave me more time to enjoy the destination.
Roop Partap Choudhary, hotelier and entrepreneur

Have opinions? We want to hear them! For a future issue, we’re asking: what is your unpopular travel opinion? Email theclub@cedarcom.co.uk to share your wisdom (the more unexpected the better).

Please note that while we aim to showcase as many submissions as possible, we may not be able to feature every tip we receive.