Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Smart Holiday Planning Tips to Cut Travel Costs
Going on holiday does not have to cost a huge amount of money.
Booking flights early can help you find lower prices.
Flying in the middle of the week is often cheaper than flying at the weekend.
You should also book airport parking and rental cars before your trip.
Rental cars may be cheaper when booked seven to 13 days ahead.
Airport currency exchange desks often offer poor rates.
A prepaid multicurrency card or money exchanged before the trip may be better.
Eating lunch or choosing a set-price menu can also help you spend less.
Booking flights six to two months ahead can offer better prices than waiting until the last minute.
Flying midweek can be up to 60% cheaper for short-haul trips and 30% cheaper for long-haul journeys.
Pre-booking airport parking and other local transport can help avoid higher last-minute prices.
Booking a rental car seven to 13 days before travel may save about 27% compared with booking upon arrival.
Avoiding airport currency exchanges and choosing cheaper lunch or set-price meals can reduce daily expenses.
- Who
- Travelers planning holidays while trying to control their spending.
- What
- Advice on reducing the cost of flights, transport, currency exchange, and meals during a holiday.
- When
- Flights are generally best booked six to two months ahead; rental cars may be cheaper when booked seven to 13 days before travel.
- Where
- The advice applies to holiday travel, including airports and destinations requiring local transport or currency exchange.
- Why
- To help travelers take vacations without spending excessively.
- Flight booking window
- Six to two months before departure is identified as the period when flights are usually priced most favorably.
- Midweek short-haul savings
- Midweek travel can be up to 60% cheaper on short-haul flights, according to KAYAK data.
- Midweek long-haul savings
- Midweek travel can be up to 30% cheaper on long-haul flights, according to KAYAK data.
- Rental car timing
- Booking a car seven to 13 days before travel can save around 27% compared with booking upon arrival.
- Currency exchange
- Airport currency kiosks generally offer poor exchange rates.
- Meal savings
- Lunch menus and set-price deals are often cheaper than dinner menus and ordering items separately.