August 1938: Eleven million British workers are given the legal right to a paid holiday for the first time. Most take one week somewhere, and then have no idea what to do with it.
There was no lack of imagination as to how to take a holiday. Rather, knowledge of how to take a holiday – when to go, what the stars meant in hotels, what one was legally protected against, why one didn't change money at the airport, and so on – had, for generations, been the property of expensive Baedeker guidebooks, of the educated and the socially connected, and of the commonly accepted assumption that everyone already knew these things. Knowledge of how to take a holiday was class property.
Every piece of budget holiday advice ever written is, in a small way, still doing the original job: handing across knowledge that used to cost money to possess.
The Season That Travelled Word Of Mouth
Shoulder seasons are well known by the wealthy. As they generally fill their social diaries around peak periods to avoid the hordes, travelling in late September or early May to take advantage of lower fares and relaxed resorts is common knowledge. It can make the biggest difference to the cost of travel, often greater than the choice of destination.
What The Stars Were Calibrated Against (And It Wasn't You)
A long time ago it was often unclear what a hotel's star rating meant. So a good one star hotel and a horrible one star hotel could only be told apart by someone who had already stayed in a two star hotel, which took money and experience. Nowadays the star ratings are more standardised, but ratings compare hotels within a country rather than against any universal standard, so three stars can be very different from three stars elsewhere. For example, three stars in Portugal and three stars in a British seaside town. Read the recent reviews. The badge is your starting point.
The Legal Rights Bundled Into A Package
Protections in package holidays were once a well-known fact to travel agents. A clear explanation of what you actually are buying when booking a package holiday and what you are not getting when booking a DIY flight-plus-hotel can be found in The Invisible Object You Buy When You Book a Package Holiday, which is worth reading. In brief, a package holiday contains real legal protection that you do not get when you book separate travel arrangements.
The Money Question Everyone Asks At The Airport (One Hour Too Late)
Checking how your bank charges for foreign transactions before you go is simple travel knowledge. If your card does charge foreign transaction fees, then change cash at a high street bureau de change like the Post Office, where rates are often competitive, rather than at expensive airport ones. Airport desks are only for people who forget to check these charges.
Is booking directly with a hotel cheaper than using a comparison site?
Not reliably, because many hotels offer a Best Rate Guarantee if you ring up or email them. And even if you find a hotel on a comparison website, remember that the site must make money from your booking and that charge is not always visible in the price you are shown. So shop around and ring up the hotel before you book, especially for a longer stay or more flexible dates.
Do I need travel insurance if I've already booked a package?
They cover different aspects so yes. ATOL protection protects your money in case the travel company goes out of business before you travel or whilst you are on holiday. Travel insurance provides cover for medical treatment whilst abroad, cancellation on your part, lost luggage, and delays. Don’t assume your package holiday is covered by your ATOL protection and therefore you don’t need to buy travel insurance – it’s a costly mistake many make.
Are budget airline prices always cheaper once everything's added up?
Not always. A headline fare without hold luggage, seat selection, and airport check-in can quietly double before you reach the payment screen. The useful comparison is total cost, all charges included, against a scheduled carrier on the same route. Sometimes the scheduled carrier wins without you realising.
Does it matter when I search for cheap flights?
Most of the best-time-of-day-to-search myths are just that. Booking well in advance for peak summer travel (and indeed for packages in general) and watching for last-minute deals on city breaks off-peak is what makes a difference. Tuesday and Wednesday flights tend to be slightly cheaper than Friday and Sunday flights for example, simply because fewer people want them.
FAQ
Is booking directly with a hotel cheaper than using a comparison site?
It’s unlikely you’ll reliably find a lower price online, but some hotels offer a Best Rate Guarantee when you call or email, and comparison sites earn commission from your booking, which may not be reflected in the price. It’s worth calling the hotel before booking, especially for a longer stay or flexible dates.
Do I need travel insurance if I have already booked a package holiday?
It is a common error and can be costly to assume that ATOL protection will cover you for all events and therefore you do not need to purchase travel insurance. In fact, ATOL protection provides a different layer of protection and covers you against the risk of the travel company failing before you depart or while you are abroad. Travel insurance provides cover for events such as medical treatment while abroad, cancellation by yourself, loss of luggage and delay.
Are budget airline prices always cheaper once everything is added up?
Headline fares from low-cost airlines are often advertised without including the cost of hold luggage, seat selection and airport check-in. When you get to the payment stage these extras can double the original fare. Check the total cost including all charges against a scheduled airline flying the same route, as they can sometimes be cheaper.
Does it matter when I search for cheap flights?
Not much: most myths about the best time of day to search for cheap flights are just that. It makes more difference to book in advance for peak summer holidays and last minute for off-peak city breaks. There is also generally a slight discount for flights on Tuesday and Wednesday compared to Friday and Sunday.
