While going away with family is wonderful, many of us either don’t have children, or want a break away from them with friends or our partner, while they go on their own fun break getting spoiled by their grandparents.
Summer holidays are often geared towards families and activities for children, so it can be hard to find good deals for adult-only holidays – even if your only time to take annual leave is during school holidays (such as if you’re a teacher).
The good news is there are ways you can save even when travelling during peak holiday time. It might only be March, but that’s the first tip: book ahead! You can snag great prices if you plan in advance. But there are plenty of ways to save more money on your next adult-only holiday, too.
Be flexible
Even if you can only take your annual leave during school holiday times, you have the advantage of being flexible. Many parents only get a week or two annual leave over the summer break, meaning the Saturday to Friday week-long trip is a popular one for families.
If you’re willing to travel on midweek days, you could save a lot of cash. You can also save by choosing off-peak travel routes: it’s hard for parents to travel with children on night flights, for example, so if you’re willing to take a red-eye overnight you could save on the cost of your ticket compared to one that leaves during the day.
Take the long route
Consider splitting your journey into more than one destination. This applies whether you’re travelling by train or by air! Not only could you save a lot of money by adding an extra leg to your journey, you can add another destination to explore.
For example, direct long-haul flights can be expensive, but flying first to a European airport makes the air travel more manageable. Add an extra night at the European destination and you can go explore a new place to make the most of your annual leave and travel experiences.
Ask for upgrades
Upgrades are often available last-minute, but only for one or two people. It’s rare for an entire family to be upgraded, whether to business class travel or at a hotel, because it means accommodating more people in a group.
Adults travelling as a couple are far more likely to be able to swing an upgrade as it means only one or two seats, or a single hotel room change. Always ask politely at the flight check-in desk or at hotel reception on arrival – you never know what you might be able to get without extra cost!
Get travel insurance in advance
If you travel more than a single weekend away in a year, you’re more likely to get a good deal on travel insurance with an annual policy. Buying in advance of any trip is ideal because it will help mitigate any last-minute cancellations or difficulties – and having an annual policy gives you time to shop around and compare for the best deal.
Use rewards and cashback
While you’re looking for travel insurance, package holidays, or flight deals, make sure you use cashback websites to search from. This will give you a little percentage back on your purchase, and sometimes give you access to exclusive deals or discount codes, too.
If you have a rewards credit card, remember to use the points for air miles, hotels, or even restaurant vouchers. If you can’t use the points for international spending, convert to a gift card for your favourite holiday shop in the UK to stock up on your luggage, swimwear, and holiday wardrobe!
Get ready for a last-minute adventure
For adults who love adventure and don’t mind last-minute surprises, consider not knowing where you’re off to until the day before you travel. Or even the day of travel, if you really want to wing it! Websites like Mr & Mrs Smith and LastMinute.com are great for finding hotels and travel packages literally at the final chance to book, with huge savings available.
Sign up to newsletters and alerts
Make sure you sign up to alerts for price drops from your favourite airlines and saved searches on sites like SkyScanner and Kayak. This will help you find a good time to book tickets for your next holiday. There are plenty of other travel deals to be found too, such as on the MoneyMagpie newsletter or with newsletters from sites like Booking.com and Expedia. They’ll help you snag amazing deals at short notice.
Destination ideas for a city break
Now you know how to save, where should you consider going for an adults-only holiday? For city breaks: Split in Croatia is a popular destination for those who love exploring historical towns on a budget. It’s perfect for those who can’t decide between a city holiday and a beach trip, as it has both!
Prague is a popular group holiday destination as well as romantic getaways for couples who want to immerse themselves in gothic architecture and strolls around the old town. Sign up to a walking tour to kick off your trip, it’s the best way to see the city and get your bearings.
York is the perfect short getaway from anywhere in the UK, being around 2 hours on the train from London, Manchester, and Edinburgh! It’s a small enough city to walk around and there’s so much to see and do you can easily spend a week there if you want.
Destination ideas for a beach break
If you fancy something more beach-vibes than city break: Thailand is always a popular destination, with amazing deals on flights often available and top five-star accommodation incredibly affordable. It’s an ideal place whether you want to travel on a budget or go all-out.
The Seychelles is a classic luxury destination, the smallest country in Africa but with huge offerings of nature reserves, beautiful beaches, and over 110 islands to choose from. You will need to save your pennies to go here, but it’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Greece is a classic choice for many, as the flights are often cheap and it’s not too long to sit on a plane, either. With around 200 inhabited islands – and thousands more adding to the scenery – a boat trip around the islands is a popular choice for adults-only holiday makers.
Destination ideas for an adventure break
If you prefer to have some get-up-and-go for your trip instead of reading on the beach, try: India is a classic for travellers with a rich history and so much to see and do. You can choose to go budget or big-spender, depending on the kind of experience you want to have.
Iceland is a must-do for those who love adventure, whether in summer or winter. For summer, mountain passes are accessible for amazing hikes. In winter, see the Northern Lights (if you’re lucky) and traverse glaciers. Sri Lanka combines beauty with activity, thanks to everything from cycle tours to snorkelling and scuba diving, safari tours, and amazing train rides. This is another place that can be done on almost any budget, too.
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