Travel insurance - Tips & Advice - Holiday planning guide
When you are planning for a holiday , there are certain costs that you take into account. Firstly there is the cost of your flight and accommodation (or your package), then there is how much money you expect to spend on food and drink while you are away. Another thing that most holidaymakers should also factor in is the cost of travel once you are there.
Unless you have booked a fly-drive holiday or don’t intend to leave your hotel for the entire time you're away, then it is likely that you will be paying for extra travel once you arrive. This could be anything from hiring a car to getting around on a city’s public transport system.
But what is the most effective way of getting around once you are there?
Plan ahead
Siobhán Morton-Roberts is a travel agent based in Southampton who regularly gets asked this question, but as she admits: 'There isn’t one size fits all, unfortunately. It absolutely depends on where you are going, what is available, what you plan to do and how much you want to spend.'
The cost of a transfer from an airport to hotel is one where people can be hit hard, but where a little forethought can really make a difference. 'If you are a lone traveller or a couple, then public transport can often work out a lot cheaper than getting a cab. For instance, if you are travelling from JFK Airport in New York to downtown Manhattan, then a subway ticket and Air Train will cost $7 per person. A cab, on the other hand, can cost $40 or more depending on weather, traffic, tolls and so on.
Taxis, it seems, can be the cause of a lot of frustration for people on holiday. 'Cabs in major cities can be obscenely expensive,' Siobhán points out. 'You only have to ask people visiting London about that! And when you consider that a day’s travelcard for Zones 1 and 2 is only £6.80, it’s a bit of a no brainer.'
Indeed, Siobhán recommends checking out public transport wherever you are going. 'Most destinations, particularly major cities, have transport systems that will get you where you want to go in a reasonable amount of time at an affordable rate,' she says.
Eight tips for cost-effective holiday travel
Based on her experience in the travel industry, here are a few tips that Siobhán has to offer those heading away on holiday:
- Check before you go – ask your travel agent, read a guide book or go online and find out the cost of public transport, cabs and other methods of transport such as ferries – then you can work out which could be best for you.
- Check times – the last thing you want is to think you can get a train somewhere only to find that they don’t run on a Sunday!
- Book in advance – if you like to have things all sorted out before you go, then you can pretty much book most trains, ferries, coaches and so on, online and take an e-ticket, so you don’t need to worry about it when you are there.
- If you are planning on hiring a car, find out whether it is cheaper to hire in advance or when you get there.
- And do you really need a car for a week or are you only going to use it for a few days – so would public transport be better?
- Look for deals and discounts – most mass transit systems offer reduced ticket prices for a multiple day booking, such as a week’s travelcard
- Find some alternatives – look for different ways of getting around, such as river boats along the Seine.
- Finally, do you need transport? Sometimes the best way to explore any holiday destination is on foot.
Related information:
Hiring a car – it’s easy and cheap to book car hire online these days, but make sure you’re aware of all the terms and conditions and any restrictions first
Keeping kids amused in the car – this is essential on long car journeys!We’ve put some ideas together to help you make the journey less stressful for you and your children.
Travelling by train – if you’re not keen on flying or driving long distances, have you considered exploring Europe by train?
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