With so many of us opting for a staycation this year, I wanted to look at some of the best holiday hacks to make life that little bit easier during our summer holidays. That said, there will still be people flying abroad and enjoying time in foreign countries so there are some holiday hacks for you as well. I asked a group of bloggers for their top ideas so we can get a more rounded view from all walks of life. Check out the top 10+ best holiday hacks for your vacation.
Blogger Holiday Hacks
Luisa from Online Personal Stylist has ideas to help you pack.
Create a capsule wardrobe to make packing more practical and successful. Rolling up clothes keeps them relatively crease-free and saves room too. Make use of boots and other items in which you can squeeze in extra clothes and packing items. Most importantly, make a list so that you don’t forget anything!
Ana from Faded Spring likes to avoid the pressures of flying.
Part of the beauty of going on staycation is that you don’t have the added pressures of flying abroad, can choose to spend all of your holiday in your apartment/hotel/Airbnb if you want to and don’t need to tick off the obligatory ‘tourist trail activities’ if that isn’t really your thing.
Liberty from Liberty On The Lighter Side suggests swapping homes.
One of our favourite budget holidays with a large family is doing a home swap via reputable home swap websites. We have swapped with like sized families in France, Spain, Italy and South Africa as well as Ireland where we live. If you can arrange for a car swap overseas too – even better! It’s a brilliant way to enjoy local hospitality and we’ve maintained friendships with families we’ve met 11 years ago.
Laura from Three Little Zees has a great tip for saving money and an awesome idea passed down from her mum.
My mum always told me to pack all of our outfits including socks/undies in big sandwich bags – it really does help even when I feel a little crazy! Also worth checking out the sun or break free holidays as we went away for £70 for a staycation to Butlins last year and the family next door to us paid over £700 for the same holiday.
Samantha from Coco Travels has a great money saving tip.
One of my favourite money saving holiday hacks is to try staying in hostels rather than hotels! They have private rooms so it’s not too much different (obviously a lot more basic!) but they also have self-catering facilities so you can cook your own meals, saving you even more!
Claire from Stapos Thrifty Life Hacks has a great idea of how to remember all your travels.
What if I told you that you could collect a unique memento from each destination you visited? It will cost you less than £2, all in, you can keep it forever and you’ll be able to reflect back on it for years to come. Would you be surprised to learn that I’m talking about the humble postcard?
Even More Holiday Hacks
Let’s turn our attention slightly more specifically to holidays abroad. Check out this simple but great tip from Tracy at Mind Over Money Matters.
Work out how much spending money you really need, instead of plucking a figure out the air.
Emma Drew has some great advice about holidaying and saving money on food in America.
Look for coupons for popular restaurants before you travel. You can get 50% off or free food just for signing up. Most places accept digital coupons now too so you don’t have to worry about printing them out. Check out these Orlando coupons if you’re heading to Florida.
Hong from 360 Mum has figured out how to get the best exchange rates and what it means in terms of actual savings.
A key one for me is to exchange currency in good time. So that you don’t get it last minute at the airport (where the exchange rate is usually horrendous). I usually do this around 2 weeks before so that I can have a little shop around for the most competitive exchange rate. Get it right and it could be a significant saving. I worked out that the difference with my last holiday currency exchange. At a competitive rate versus at the airport. It was a good meal out with wine. An extra motivator!
Caroline from Mrs Magovern also discusses the best things to do in regards to spending money.
Although it may seem to make sense to pay in GBP when you go abroad – don’t! It will cost you more than paying in the local currency as you will be charged a fee to convert it.
Finally, Vicky from I Beat Debt has a great tip to help you rack up the miles.
I use a credit card as a debit card, which is paid off in full every month. I earn flying club miles on everything I spend. This means when I am ready to travel again the flights are much more affordable.
Camping & Conclusion
Hopefully these top holiday hacks from some of the best bloggers on the internet have given you some food for thought. I’ve spoken before about how camping is fairly inexpensive but gives you great family memories. Also, a campervan lets you road trip in style and discover new places you might have never thought about visiting. Enjoy a fantastic holiday this summer!
