Travelling and saving: It's so easy to save money when booking
For many people, travelling is a source of pleasure, relaxation and often inspiration. However, planning and booking flights, accommodation and activities can often be a costly affair. For many travellers, flight tickets and the journey to the desired destination are a major factor in the holiday budget.
Then there are hotels, car hire and local activities. Fortunately, there are numerous tips and tricks on how you can save a lot of money when travelling, especially when booking flights, without having to sacrifice anything.
In this article, you will learn how to optimise your travel costs and what special ways there are to save money when booking flights.
Flexibility: The ultimate tip for cheap flights
Flexibility is one of the most important factors when it comes to getting cheap flight tickets. Flights can vary greatly in price depending on the day and time. Here are some ways you can save money by being flexible with your travel plans:
If possible, use flexible travel dates!
If you can arrange your travel dates flexibly, you are already well on the way to saving money. Airlines often adjust ticket prices depending on the day of the week. For example, flights during the week, especially on Tuesdays, are often much cheaper than on weekends. Early mornings or late evenings can also be more attractive in terms of price.
Some comparison portals and websites have a calendar function where prices are displayed according to the day of the week.
Low season instead of high season
Travel when there are fewer other travellers. In the high season - such as at Christmas or during the summer holidays in particular - flight prices are usually significantly higher. If you fly outside of these times, i.e. in the low season, you can not only find cheaper tickets, but also cheaper accommodation.
In addition, the local attractions are less crowded and there are sometimes special prices.
Choose favourable airports
Another tip is to be flexible in your choice of departure and arrival airports. Of course, only if this option is available to you. Smaller airports or those that are a little further out often offer cheaper flights.
Also check whether there are currently holidays in another federal state. If not, there may be cheaper flights there than at the nearest airport.
Use flight booking platforms and comparison portals
There are hundreds and thousands of booking platforms and flight comparison portals to help you find the best deals. However, not all platforms offer the best prices or all available options. It is therefore worth comparing the booking via various portals and then selecting the best of all offers.
An alternative would be to book directly with the airline. You will often find favourable offers on the comparison portals, but it is worth looking for this exact flight directly with the airline afterwards. Many airlines offer special discounts or additional services if you book directly via their website. Sometimes it's even worth calling the airline and asking for offers directly. Don't be afraid to try to save money!
Caution: avoid the ‘incognito’ trap
A common tip that many travellers use is to book in ‘incognito’ mode.
It is claimed that airlines and search engines use your cookies to see how often you search for certain flights and increase or change prices accordingly.
It is best to simply open a private browser window or delete your cookies regularly to ensure that prices are not artificially increased.
Another important issue to consider when booking: Early bird vs. last minute: which is really cheaper?
Is it cheaper to book flights early or wait for last-minute offers?
The answer depends on your travelling flexibility and the demand for the destination in question.
Booking early can help
If you can plan your trip several months in advance, it is worth looking for flights early and booking them as early as possible. Many airlines offer their cheapest tickets at an earlier date. This is especially true for popular destinations and also for travelling in the high season.
A good time to book a flight is usually between three and six months before departure. This is also a favourable time for long-haul trips, and it can be worth booking as early as possible, especially for long-haul flights or highly frequented routes.
Last-minute bargains are also attractive
If you like travelling spontaneously and can travel on the spur of the moment, it can be worth taking advantage of last-minute offers and playing high poker. Airlines often try to fill empty seats shortly before departure and therefore offer greatly reduced prices. However, this is more difficult to plan for families or larger groups than for couples or individuals.
However, you should be flexible with last-minute bookings when it comes to the destination and time of travel. There is no guarantee that there will still be cheap tickets for your desired route.
Take advantage of discounts, vouchers and special offers
There are many ways to take advantage of special discounts and vouchers to save even more when booking flights and other travel expenses.
Newsletters and price alerts
Sign up for airline newsletters or travel portals.
This way you will find out about special promotions and discount offers in good time.
Many airlines offer special sales or discount campaigns only for newsletter subscribers.
The McParking newsletter is also a good way to make sure you don't miss out on any bargains when parking at the airport. Customers often save a lot of money when parking off-airport compared to parking directly at the airport.
When booking a parking space, the earlier you book, the cheaper the price. If you book your car park last minute during the peak travel season, you often have to dig deeper into your pockets. It is therefore worth booking your car park as early as possible.
Find cheap accommodation
In addition to flight tickets, accommodation costs are often a major expense. But here too there are a few tricks to save money.
Choose alternative accommodation
You don't always have to stay in expensive hotels. In addition to hotels, you can also find good and nice AirBnBs or guesthouses and holiday flats. In many cases, you can also meet locals there who will give you valuable tips about your destination.
Hostels are also a good option if you are on a budget. Many now also offer private rooms, so you don't necessarily have to stay in a shared room.
Conclusion: travelling and saving is possible and it's not even difficult!
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