Tips for a budget-friendly vacation during peak season

Good preliminary work is the beginning of a cheap vacation in the high season

Good preparation is half the battle! Below are the best preparatory tips for a budget-friendly vacation during peak season.

Compare, compare, compare

Comparing prices is crucial if you want to save on your travel costs. I can’t stress enough how important it is to thoroughly compare before booking anything. It’s worth searching through different booking sites and not sticking to just one. Sometimes I book a hotel through Booking.com, but other times I find a charming cottage on Airbnb.nl that perfectly fits my budget. So, scour the internet and find the best deals available.

Make use of a price alert

Smart travelers set up a price alert on websites like Skyscanner.nl and Google Flights. This means you will be automatically notified when prices for your desired destination drop. It can help you find the perfect timing for booking your flights.

Ga je binnenkort voor het eerst vliegen met je baby? Lees dan zeker mijn blog met tips over vliegen met baby en het leukste speelgoed voor in het vliegtuig. 

Change airports

Overweeg eens om te vertrekken vanaf een luchthaven net buiten Nederland, zoals Düsseldorf of Brussel. Of te landen op een andere stad vlakbij je bestemming. Soms kan het vliegen via deze luchthavens je tientjes tot zelfs honderden euro’s besparen op je vlucht. Het kost misschien wat extra reistijd, maar het kan de moeite waard zijn voor de besparingen die je realiseert.

Tips for booking a budget-friendly vacation during peak season

If you’ve done your homework well, it’s time to start booking! With the tips below, you’ll likely find ways to save even more on your vacation during peak season.

Book well in advance

If you plan to travel outside of Europe, booking early is key to saving money. I recommend booking your flights 6 to 8 months in advance. This not only gives you a wide selection but also the opportunity to take advantage of early booking discounts and lower rates.

Book on Tuesday afternoon

Here’s a smart trick: book your trips on Tuesday afternoon. Just make sure to clear your cookies first and use an incognito browser to find the best deals. At this time, airlines and booking sites often seem to offer special promotions. It can make a significant difference in the final price of your trip. Bonus tip: did you know that traveling on a Tuesday is often cheaper than on other days?

Book a package holiday

If you’re really looking for an affordable option, consider package holidays. These are often significantly cheaper than booking a flight and hotel separately. My personal favorite sources for affordable package holidays are www.vakantiediscounter.nl, www.prijsvrij.nl, and www.sunweb.nl. They offer a wide range of destinations and accommodations for every budget.

travel tips

The groundwork is done, everything is booked, the fun can begin! You can also save a lot of money while traveling.

Bring your own food and drinks

If you don’t get meals during your flight, you can save money by bringing some food and drinks from home. Take an empty bottle that you can fill at the sink in the airport, pack some sandwiches, and buy snacks at the supermarket. This way, you won’t have to buy expensive airport meals.

Even when you’re on the road, you can save a lot of money by buying food and drinks at the supermarket instead of on the go.

Check the coupons

Voor goedkope dagjes uit op je bestemming, is het altijd de moeite waard om eerst te kijken naar kortingsaanbiedingen op websites zoals www.socialdeal.nl, www.groupon.nl of www.tripper.nl. Deze platforms bieden vaak kortingsbonnen voor restaurants, attracties en activiteiten, waardoor je flink kunt besparen tijdens je reis..

House swapping

An innovative way to save on accommodation costs is to consider house swapping. You can exchange your home with someone else at your destination, which means you won’t have to spend money on accommodation. This can be a great way to explore new places without exceeding your budget.

About Jasmina

I am married, a mother of a stubborn 5-year-old toddler, and have lived in Westland for 14 years, originally coming from Stadskanaal. I love food and even more traveling. In addition to being a blogger/content creator, I work as a virtual assistant (VA) and help companies with their marketing and office support. I do this location-independently, which is why I travel regularly.

Spanje heeft mijn hart gestolen omdat ze daar zo kindvriendelijk zijn. Op elke hoek heb je een speeltuin en in elk restaurantje mag je kind plassen als de nood is. Voorheen dacht ik dat je pas echt op vakantie ging als je een verre reis had gemaakt, maar sinds ik moeder ben, zoek ik het avontuur dichter bij huis op. Vorig jaar vloog ik 5 keer binnen Europa.

Do you want to travel more for less money? Then you should definitely follow my Instagram account @sparklesinside.nl. I have a hobby of finding the cheapest trips, and I often share them on Sundays in my Instagram Stories.