Brits are following Martin Lewis’s advice on booking flights from different airports at certain times – and you could save money too with these clever tips and hacks
Martin Lewis recommends Brits consider travelling from a different airport to save money on holidays.(Image: Getty Images)
January marks the period when countless families begin contemplating their summer getaway destinations, but if you’re raising school-aged youngsters it might end up draining your wallet.
Costs for package holidays can more than treble throughout the school breaks which explains why some mums and dads remove their kids from lessons during term-time.
However, we’ve found a way you can still experience the ideal family break during the school holidays without emptying your savings account.
One Martin Lewis supporter revealed she slashed £6,000 from the price of three getaways by heeding his guidance. And the MSE website highlights a deal where you can save £1,148 on a holiday for four.
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As Martin outlines on his MSE platform: “Most schools in England and Wales break up around the week starting 20 July.
So book for before then if your school finishes sooner, eg many in Leicestershire break up 8 July this summer.We found a week’s four-star self-catering in Dalaman for £449pp leaving 10 July, but £736pp two weeks after.”
If you reside in northern England or northern Wales it could be worthwhile looking at departing from Scotland because their school holiday schedules differ.
“Fly from Scotland in the last two weeks of August, even if you don’t live there. As Scottish schools generally return around 12 Aug, you can make big savings by flying the family out from Scotland instead.
“We saw the same Rhodes all-inclusive holiday flying from Edinburgh for £354pp less than flying from Manchester. It works in reverse too.”
And if you reside in southern Scotland, why not consider departing from northern England? As the website clarifies: “Fly from England in late June/early July, even if you don’t live there. So on 27 Jun, the day after most Scottish schools break up, a three-star all-inclusive week in Majorca was £1,010pp flying from Glasgow, but just £695pp from Liverpool.”
Alison informed MSE: “We saved about £6,000 over three holidays flying with Tui from Manchester instead of locally at Glasgow and Edinburgh. That includes petrol, extra meals and a hotel the night before.”
If this approach doesn’t suit you, then remember that the final two weeks of summer are typically more affordable as costs plummet sharply at the end of August. MSE discovered a week’s three-star self-catering in Lake Garda was £1,019pp departing 29 July, but £752pp departing 22 Aug..
Finally, think about having your ‘summer’ break during October half-term instead. MSE found a week’s five-star all-inclusive in Crete for £1,121pp in Oct half-term, but £1,832pp in early August.
And it’s one I can personally endorse – I consistently saved several hundred pounds taking my daughter on her main getaway in May when she was of school age.
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