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IF you’re planning your next holiday but you’re on a strict budget, the experts have stepped in to help you save hundreds.
TUI‘s Commercial Director, Chris Logan – who has worked there for 17 years – as shared some of his top tricks to shave hundreds of pounds off your holidays.
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The experts have weighed in on how to save hundreds on your next holidayCredit: AlamyGreek holidays are better in shoulder seasonCredit: Alamy
One of those is forgetting that Saturday departure.
He explained: “Mid‑week departures offer a sweet spot of value and convenience for travellers.”
“Flying midweek, especially Monday to Wednesday, could save you hundreds on the exact same holiday.
” For example, this week there’s a deal for a 7-night all-inclusive stay at the 4T TUI Suneo Kenzi Europa in Agadir, Morocco for just £523pp.
“Travelling on May 4 (Monday) instead of May 3 (Sunday) currently saves you nearly £300 per person.”
Not only that, but travelling just a month out of the busy season can save you loads.
He continued: “May and September offer gorgeous weather without the peak prices.
“You’ll get balmy temperatures upwards of 20 degrees in destinations like the Canaries and Greece but pay a fraction of the cost.”
When it comes to what board you want to book, he also advises not always going for the all-inclusive.
He explained: “If you’re not a big drinker, you don’t need to splash out on all-inclusive.
“Half board could work out as much better value for money.
“And if you love exploring local restaurants and heading into town for dinner, self-catering or bed and breakfast are your best bets.”
He added: “The best hack is to always scroll down on our holiday pages – there’s a calendar that breaks down prices by departure date, so you can instantly see which days are cheapest.”
Otherwise TUI has a secret “under £500” page for all holidays that are less than that, if you don’t mind where you travel to,
Chris finished by saying: “The ‘Holidays under £500‘ page brings together all the best deals in one place – you can filter by your local airport, star rating and board type.
“It’s how customers can find some incredible deals for five-star hotels for under £500.”
One of the cheapest deals we found was seven nights in Greece in May for just £265 each.
Otherwise there are a number of five star holiday packages in Spain, Bulgaria and Tunisia that just come under £500 each.
Chris says his inside advice could save holidaymakers huge amounts on their next trip – but his hacks come with a warning: “Bargain hunters really need to act fast – my biggest tip is to lock in your next trip asap to secure the best rates, as the deals are constantly updating and changing.”
Agadir in Morocco is an affordable choice tooCredit: Alamy
SOCIAL media is a great place for discovering hacks, but sometimes they don’t always work.
To save you the time and money, we have tried and tested some of the viral travel hacks that have popped up on our social media.
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The Sun Travel team has tried and tested a number of travel hacksCredit: Getty
Whether it is grabbing an item you already have and using it for another purpose to save yourself some money or a specific product that can make travelling better, we know what works and doesn’t.
Tried and tested and would recommend
New toys for the journey
One of the best tips I’ve followed is to buy a couple of new toys and keep them out of sight until the plane journey, if you’re travelling with young kids.
Wiki sticks were recommended to me and went down a treat with my son.
You can mould them into different pieces of art, then pack them away for the next trip.
A small box of Lego works very well too, and you can even pick these up in duty free at most airports.
If you’re looking to save money, a kids’ magazine with several naff plastic toys on the front works equally well – they have often kept my child entertained for the journey and the whole trip.
CBeebies magazine, Lego magazine and Pokemon magazine have held attention for a particularly long time.
– Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Snoozeband
Any hack that promises to improve sleep will pique my interest and the Snoozeband did not disappoint me.
Essentially, it makes using headphones much more comfortable, particularly when you are trying to catch some kip.
I’ve used my band on many overnight flights – and it’s pretty much the only way I can ensure I’ll get some shut eye.
It looks a little like a sweatband or running headband in that it’s made from elasticated material that wraps around the circumference of your head, over the ears.
A Snoozeband is an elastic headband with earphones inCredit: Supplied
Built into the band are two mini speakers that line up with your ears and connect to your device via Bluetooth.
They most definitely save you that horrible discomfort that you get with traditional earbuds or AirPods-style headphones, particularly if you are leaning on a surface trying to catch some Zs or even when on a pillow.
– Sophie Sweitochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Have an iPad for holidays-only
We have an old iPad that my child is only allowed to use on holiday.
Before the trip, I download audiobooks and Netflix shows and he’s allowed to watch as much TV as he wants on the actual flight.
He also has some apps that he is allowed to use on the holiday.
A big favourite at the moment is Simply Draw, with video tutorials on how to draw different things.
– Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
For kids, an iPad on the plane can help keep them occupiedCredit: Getty
Universal plug adaptors over single country ones
Plug adapters are a travel essential that often prove to be more frustrating than you’d think.
It’s difficult to remember which countries use which type, and even if you think you know, you can sometimes still end up packing the wrong one.
Some countries will catch you out, too.
For example, even though Switzerland is in Europe it doesn’t use the standard EU Type C plug – it uses the Type J instead.
So the easiest way I’ve found to get around all of this is by packing a universal travel adaptor.
One simple block with prongs that fold in and out depending on which plugs and sockets you’ll need to use – nice and easy.
I often leave one in my suitcase: readily prepared for the next trip, no thinking required.
– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
A universal plug adaptor alleviates the stress of having the wrong adaptor when on holidayCredit: Getty
Inflatable booster seats
Hiring a booster seat from a car rental company can be astronomically expensive, costing up to £15 a day.
But you can buy an inflatable booster seat by BubbleBum for under £40 and take it on multiple holidays for years.
You’ll make the money back in just one trip.
Plus it’s also helpful for if you take taxis to the airport or go on coach transfers.
– Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
An inflatable booster seat is a great way to save money spent on hiring a car seatCredit: BubbleBum
Balloons to cover bottles
If travelling with liquids, my biggest worry is always, what if they leak?
But a while ago whilst carrying out my daily doom-scroll session, a video came up of a woman cutting the stem off of a balloon, just to be left with the bit that would have been the spherical part of the balloon.
She then stretched this over a bottle of fake tan.
I was sold, and sure enough on my next trip I tried it out and it worked.
A bag of 20 plus balloons will set you back a couple of quid, which is well worth it when you could be saving your suitcase from being an entire ooey-gooey mess.
– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
If you cover your bottles with balloons, it should help to stop them from leakingCredit: Getty
TikTok underseat bag for budget flights
Ever since I had to fork out £65 in excess baggage fees at the Ryanair departures gate, I’ve made sure never to make that expensive mistake again.
I realised just before boarding that you can’t simply eyeball your travel backpack and hope for the best – especially since the eye-watering fee cost me more than my return flights to Dublin.
So when I saw the perfect underseat bag pop up on my TikTok For You Page – black, collapsible and barrel-shaped – I knew I had to grab it.
Since my purchase I’ve been able to stuff my new bag to the brim – and it still slides perfectly into the baggage sizer at the gate.
And at £11.99, this one-off purchase has saved an over-packer like me from endless extra luggage fees!
– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
For Ryanair, it is worth getting a cabin bag you know fits their requirementsCredit: Getty
Ditching tours for Google Lens
A friend introduced me to the wondrous Google Lens a while back and it’s saved me hundreds on guided tours over the years.
Strolling around an unknown city and curious to know what a particular landmark is?
Snap it on your camera with Google Lens and it will be identified in a matter of seconds – and if you want to learn more about that monument’s story or historical significance, you can expand the description through use of Google’s integrated AI tools.
The Lens feature is built into the Google app, so it won’t take up an unnecessary storage on your phone.
It doesn’t just work on well known buildings either.
I often use it to identify unusual plants that I don’t recognise in tropical climates or even items of food and old artefacts in museums.
– Sophie Sweitochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Google Lens can essentially act as a your tour guideCredit: Alamy
Packing cubes
If there is one thing I never do on holiday, I never check in a suitcase.
And trying all the hacks over the years, my failsafe?
The good old packing cube.
I’ve managed to cram in 10 days worth of clothes into just four packing cubes, which all fit into my hand luggage-size suitcases.
It also makes it so much easier finding my clothes, as everything is separated into tops, bottoms, jumpers and underwear.
You don’t need to spend too much on them either – certainly less than having to check in a suitcase, anyway.
– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Packing cubes allow you to organise your clothesCredit: Amazon
Solid shampoo and conditioner bars
If you’re anything like me, packing your liquids bag often feels like an impossible challenge of fitting a million make-up items into one tiny pouch.
And once you’ve got your mascara, concealer, foundation and perfume in there, suddenly there’s no more room for your actual shower essentials.
So instead of buying a large (and often more expensive than you’d hope) shampoo and conditioner abroad, I recommend packing a solid shampoo and conditioner bar.
These won’t affect your liquids allowance, which is especially great when you’re travelling with hand luggage only.
My personal favourites are from Lush – the Squeaky Green shampoo is packed with fragrant herbs and flowers, and the ‘Big’ conditioner leaves my hair beachy and shiny with a coconut oil and vanilla scent.
– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
Solid shampoo is great if you are worried about bottles leaking in your bagCredit: Alamy
Free calculator currency converter
Trying to work out if that Moroccan souk bag is really a bargain? Not sure if that cheap glass of wine is really so cheap?
You don’t need any fancy currency converter apps.
Did you know that the iPhone calculator app can be used instead?
Simply click the button at the top right and change it from Basic to Convert.
And there we go – every currency you can think of at your fingertips, so you don’t end up paying £1,000 for that rug you thought was £100 instead…
– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
If you have an iPhone, then you can convert currencies on a calculatorCredit: Getty
Tried and tested and wouldn’t recommend
Foot hammock
With an old knee injury, long haul flights in economy can be pretty unbearable.
So when everyone was raving about ‘foot hammocks’ which you can tie underneath the plane seat, I was intrigued.
The mini hammock is meant to raise your legs to a higher, more comfortable position to ease pressure on your knees and back.
However, I found it didn’t help at all, instead just making my feet slide together and feel even more crammed in.
My cheaper, easier hack?
Just put a small bag on the floor underneath the seat in front of you, and rest your feet on that instead. Voila.
– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Foot hammocks are not worth the money according to Kara GodfreyCredit: Amazon
Mobile phone straps
A strap for your phone that hangs around your neck, allowing you to go hands free, sounds great. In reality, however, it falls short.
I don’t think you’ll ever feel fully secure parading one of your most valuable possessions around on display for the world to see, especially in city or festival environments.
The only thing standing between you and a thief is your neck.
And I’m not sure I’d fancy putting my neck on the line (quite literally).
The one time I did use a mobile strap, I found that I wasn’t able to wear it for long as my neck started to ache – and wearing it across the body, on one shoulder, defeats the purpose of having your phone easily accessible as I’d have to remove it from under my arm to use my device.
The one time I did find it useful was at a theme park, when on a roller coaster – although many places don’t allow this.
In general, though, a cross body bag is much more practical. You can carry a shed load more, too.
– Sophie Sweitochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Mobile phone straps sit around your neck which can be uncomfortableCredit: Shutterstock
Elastic band phone strap
I love taking photos and videos on my phone when away, but in some spots I am stressed about losing it forever.
For example, let’s say you are on a boat tour and want to lean over the edge of the boat to take photos of the vibrant blue water.
The fear is that you’ll drop your phone in the sea, right?
Well, if you have an elastic band or hairband, you can loop this through the bottom of your phone case and pop it around your wrist for a makeshift wristband.
After seeing this on Instagram, I thought it was a great idea.
That was until the hairband snapped and my phone plummeted to the ground. Luckily, I wasn’t there.
– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
Mini toiletries
So-called ‘travel-sized’ toiletries are not suitable for travel at all – unless you’re planning on only showering once on your holiday.
These often overpriced minis can set you back £3 to £5 per tiny bottle, or even more if you opt for the luxury brands.
I often find that I can only get one use out of mini shampoos and conditioners, especially when you have longer hair.
And when it comes to the mini spray deodorants, it soon seems like you’re only spraying air from these aerosols.
Other than the disappointing contents, these mini toiletries are also not the most sustainable option.
Plus it can save you both time and money to simply refill a set of reusable 100ml bottles each time you go away, rather than repeatedly fork out on minis.
It’s also worth checking the toiletries your hotel already provides ahead of time.
Most hotel bathrooms are stocked up with shampoo, conditioner and body wash as standard.
So once you’ve simply topped up your refillables with your holy grail products, you’re all set.
– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
Mini toiletries, especially when bought at the airport, can cost a lot of moneyCredit: Getty
Paper to stop clothes creasing
When packing a suitcase, it is slightly heartbreaking to think the next time you open it you’ll see the clothes you meticulously packed, but now with loads of creases.
So you can imagine when I saw someone on social media saying that acid-free tissue paper helps to prevent clothes from creasing, I was thrilled.
You are meant to place a sheet between each folder layer of clothes and essentially, the paper acts as a buffer to stop creases.
Though, having now tried this a couple of times, it hasn’t worked for me.
In the future, I think I’ll stick to using the hotel iron…
– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
When it comes to packing, acid-free tissue paper is meant to keep your clothing crease-freeCredit: Alamy
Boarding the plane first
You know that announcement at the beginning of the flight that says families with young children can board first? Ignore it.
Unless you have masses of cabin suitcases and are worried about there being enough space on the plane, wait until the end of boarding to get onto the plane.
Because the last thing kids need is MORE time stuck in a seat.
I’d also add that if you’re child can possibly walk to the boarding gate, do away with the buggy and let them.
A FLIGHT attendant has opened up on secrets of the trade and revealed how you can earn brownie points in the air to score freebies.
The flight attendant, who has been serving major airlines for two decades, said it is easier than you think to win the favor of those working on planes.
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A 20-year veteran flight attendant revealed the secret to getting freebies on the plane – and it’s not as hard as you might think (stock image)Credit: GettySandra White said that being really nice can go a long way while you’re up in the air (stock image)Credit: Getty
Sandra White has lifted the lid on her veteran experience serving the skies.
“You draw more bees with honey,” she said, meaning rude or impatient flyers will likely not get anything for free – especially not any “off-menu” items.
She shared several tips with Shermans Travel, ranging from how to get a free drink, how to score a better seat, and how not to be the most annoying person on the plane.
“Scoring a free beer on a flight is not all that hard,” she admitted.
According to White, there are a few reasons why she’ll give a customer a free drink, but it all comes down to one thing: being nice – really nice.
If a plane is having mechanical problems and passengers have been sitting on the tarmac for hours – without being rude – she’ll likely comp them a drink.
“I’m sure they need it,” she said.
She noted that if a flyer happens to only have cash on them, while most airlines only accept cards, she’ll just hand you the drink.
“Basically, kindness goes a long way,” she said.
And as far as a better seat goes, politely asking if there is any availability could help you to win big.
White shared that she’s more than happy to make sure a guest is as comfortable as possible.
When it comes to seats on the plane, that typically comes down to the gate agent’s discretion – but occasionally, flight attendants will send you up to first class if there’s space, and if they ask nicely.
It is not a guarantee, but it never hurts to be friendly to the person serving you peanuts.
The worst passengers, however, are those that come onto the plane having had too much fun while in the airport.
That is, flyers who are already drunk on the flight.
“Annoying drunks” are the bane of a flight attendant’s existence, according to White, thinking their funnier than they are and ordering more drinks before beverage service has even started.
White said these flyers should not even bother getting on the plane.
“I’ve only had to cut off two people – you really don’t want to make a drunk angry at 36,000 feet,” she said.
“They might defecate on the beverage cart. Yes, this really happened to a co-worker.”
The first occasion, I spotted my mistake on the train to the airport just one stop from home and was able to make a quick return.
The second time, I was AT the airport before I realised my mistake.
Cue getting my husband out of bed and handing over the correct passport to a taxi driver who sped to the airport and passed it through the car window as I shoved £60 cash into his hands!
– Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Wrong season clothes in New Zealand
My three months backpacking was one of my first big trips by myself, ready to explore Southeast Asia.
Packing just shorts and bikinis, I forgot to check the weather at my first stop – New Zealand.
Rocking up to Auckland in weather colder than the UK, I quickly realised I was going to struggle by the time we hit the ski town of Franz Josef.
My strict budget was eaten into when I had to invest in warm trousers and thick jumpers, costing a lot more than they would have in the UK and spending about NZ$120 (£53) in the end.
Safe to say I learned to check Met Office before going abroad.
– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Scam Egypt tours
On my recent visit to Hurghada, I was expecting great things from the activities I had planned, having trawled through a generally positive mass of reviews on TripAdvisor and Google.
Sadly, these experiences turned out to be far from what was promised – dangerous transfers, private tours turned into large group ones and back alley services that pushed me way out of my comfort zone.
By tour three, I’d come to expect the unexpected and was so fed up, I asked to leave early – meaning I lost out on all the money I’d splashed for a dinner in the desert.
Of course, not all Hurghada excursions are like this. This area is known for its impressive coral reefs and windsurfing – and there are some cracking experiences you can book.
The best way to know you’re getting what you paid for is by going off recommendation.
Keep an eye on the price, too. If it seems too good to be true, with maddeningly cheap prices, it probably is.
And if that fails, scrutinise the reviews with a harsh eye. If they are listed as 5* but the review is very short and vague, it’s likely a false one.
That way you can ensure you’re not spending over the odds on something that’s no where near up to scratch. Pay cheap, pay twice.
– Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Scams are common in Egypt unless you are carefulCredit: Alamy
Holding credit card fees in America
Sometimes you come across a bargain hotel deal that looks too good to be true – and sadly, sometimes it is.
When travelling across California in a group of three broke students, I was of course scouring the internet for the absolute cheapest hotels I could find.
I stumbled across a Sheraton hotel for our stop at LAX – a spacious room for 3 for just $60 (£44.50) each for the night was a bargain deal, plus I’d heard of the hotel chain before. All seemed well.
But in gunning for a bargain I’d missed the T&Cs of the stay, so when I was charged a $100 (£74) deposit for the night I was shocked to say the least.
$100 is an awful lot to a group of backpackers coming towards the end of their trip, and although you get your money back, I didn’t receive it back in my bank account until I was home in the UK.
Now I always make sure to scan the small print before booking a stay.
– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
Remember the credit card rules when in the USCredit: Getty
Roaming fee mistake in Switzerland
We all know about roaming charges since we left the EU – or so I thought.
My current contract allows me to use my phone for free across Europe.
Yet I completely forgot that Switzerland is not included in this, being part of the EEA instead of the EU.
My trip ended with a very expensive £50 phone bill after I arrived and forgot to turn it off.
Makes sure to always include a cap in your contract for out of service charges.
Without this, I wouldn’t have been alerted to hitting my £50 limit, and it could have run into hundreds.
– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Check your roaming rules before you goCredit: Getty
Poor haggling in Morocco
It can be nerve-wracking to say the least heading into the markets to haggle for goods on holiday. Even if you’ve done your research and know how to bargain, it doesn’t make the reality of the moment any easier.
I knew I wanted to come home with a piece of jewellery to remember my holiday in Morocco’s Fes, so I headed into a shop glimmering with silver and gold handmade pieces.
A beautiful gold bracelet with a giant sage-coloured stone soon caught my eye, and the shopkeeper quickly noticed my interest. Before I knew it, I was having the bracelet fitted onto my wrist.
Facing the shopkeeper’s eager grin, I knew I’d gotten myself into the exact situation I’d been wanting to avoid. “1,100 MAD” I was quoted, which is about £90.
“I only have 400 MAD” I replied, and soon found myself paying 40 Great British pounds for a bracelet I was scared to search for on Temu in case I saw it pop up.
My moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to come in with an initial offer that feels almost unreasonably low – and don’t be afraid to simply leave the shop, either.
– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
You can get a bargain in Morocco – as long as you haggle rightCredit: Alamy
Sneaky Wizz Air boarding fees
When you fly, checking in doesn’t seem like the most urgent thing when you know you can do it at the airport.
But with Wizz Air you have a window where you must check-in online, and if you miss it – well, you have to check in at the airport for fee.
This set me back around £40 and all they did was print off my boarding pass…
To avoid, make sure to set up a reminder on your phone for when the check in window opens.
– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
Wizz Air has some sneaky rules to know regarding your boarding passCredit: Getty
