With the cost-of-living crisis threatening to bite especially hard this winter, many UK households will be looking to reign back their spending. This might mean forgoing spending on certain luxury items and getaways.
Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable options when it comes to holidaymaking, which means that might not need to give up your break at a time when stress levels are sure to be high. You might have been tempted by the package holiday, which aims to make life more affordable and convenient by bundling everything you need for a break into a single all-inclusive service.
But do package holidays really work out as cheaper in practice? The answer, you might not be surprised to hear, is that it depends. It depends on your personal circumstances, as well as the quality of the provider.
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Choosing the right holiday
There’s no point in shopping for a cheap holiday if you end up paying for something that doesn’t match your needs. Think about the utility and enjoyment you and your family are going to get from the break. If it seems like you aren’t going to get much from a cheaper trip, then any saving you’re able to secure is likely to be a false economy.
What do package holidays include?
Prior to July 2018, a package holiday was defined in UK law as providing two of three key components, namely: transport, accommodation, or a significant attraction. Since then, the rules have changed a bit.
UK law provides customers with a range of protections when it comes to package holidays. Of these, the most important states that a holiday must be as it’s described in the promotional material. This puts the onus on you, the customer, to fully read the description of what you’re going to get. That way, you can be reasonably sure that you’ll avoid any nasty surprises.
Your provider will need to tell you specifics about how you’re going to get there, what you’re going to be eating, and what activities you’ll be doing and when. If you’ve got reduced mobility, then you’ll need to be apprised of any arrangements being made to accommodate you.
Do they work out cheaper?
If you’re prevented from travelling because of pandemic-related restrictions, then you might end up out of pocket, so make sure that you get a bit of flexibility. Use a comparison site to track down the best deal. If you’re a key worker, then look for a TUI NHS discount online.
In many cases, you’ll be able to haggle a more favourable price. This goes especially if you’re booking at the very last minute. On the other hand, you might find that the better offers and discounts are to be had by booking early.
