airline deals: Money - Use travelmoneymax.com, a website set up by MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis, to find the best exchange rates for your holiday currency. This tool checks through online currency convertor bureaux to compare the best fates, inclusive of fees. The best deals tend to be if you collect at the branch but order online, you will get a slightly worse rate if you want to have the money delivered to you. The catch is that, unfortunately, the best exchange rates are from small bureaux with few branches. Airport currency conversion is certainly the worst, avoid them unless you absolutely have to. Try to avoid using credit cards (and some debit cards) to buy travel money in the UK. Card companies often treat these purchases as a foreign transaction and will charge you extra fees.
airline deals:Insurance - Purchasing travel insurance can be cheap, however it is worth checking carefully what you are covered for. The cheapest basic annual multi-trip policy for a family of four start at around £25 - £30, however they only give you the minimum amount in the event of lost luggage or cancellation. Raising the the payout inevitably raises the the premium. However, it may be worth spending the extra amount as the excess will be lower in the event of anything happening. Single trip insurance is also available if you are definitely only having one holiday this year. Remember, before purchasing insurance check if you already have cover from your “premium” bank account. Also, you may not necessarily need travel insurance, some home insurance policies have good cover for your personal items outside of the home. In addition if you have an Ehic card, you’ll have access to European healthcare, although some may still charge. Travel insurance is particularly problematic for older travellers as they face steep premiums. Some of the companies worth trying are Insureme4 and Ehicplus, however, you won’t be covered for anything that happens as a result of a pre-existing medical condition, therefore remember to declare any existing conditions. Specialists in travel insurance for people with specific medical conditions are Medicitravel and Saga.3Airport parking - Often, it can be a much easier and cheaper option to get a coach or train to the airport instead of driving. If you can manage without a car, particularly if you are travelling alone, this will save you money. Coach companies such as National Express and Easybus provide inexpensive airport transfers from most of the major cities, prices are particularly cheap if you book in a couple of weeks in advance. Take a look at the advance fares on The Trainline for cheap train tickets. If you decide you would prefer to drive, there are some good advance rates on airport parking. The drive-up cost of these car parks can be astronomical, so it is imperative to book in advance. Companies such as airport operator BAA and Airparks provide good parking rates, offering you several options. Car parks which are a longer walk or bus ride from the terminal will always be cheaper than those that are a 2 minute walk from the terminal or offer a valet service.
