Spill the beans... on your holiday tricks

zagfles

tabbycat wrote: »

Oh, and when the children were still quite young we would buy beach mats, a beach umbrella and buckets and spades on day one when we went abroad. We always left them behind for the next family to use when we left. It saved us quite a bit of money as to hire a sunshade and a couple of loungers on Spanish or Italian beaches over a fortnight was very expensive. It also meant we could nip down to the beach for just an hour or so after a day out without having to find an empty lounger/ umbrella to rent.

However, now that I am semi-retired (they keep moving my state pension further away), we did this again last year in Sardinia - they were charging between 25 and 40 euros per day for a sunshade and two loungers on our nearest beach. We bought a very posh beach umbrella for 15 euros and a couple of beach mats at 5 euros each at a local shop - we only had to use them twice to make them worthwhile.

BUT, they also did not provide any public toilets at any of the beaches we visited. You had to buy something from the cafe and then ask for the key to the one portaloo - 10 euros for a small can of Coke was the cheapest thing. Any one got a money saving way round that? :whistle:

:eek:Those prices are ridiculous! Surely there was another cafe/bar somewhere, EUR10 for a coke??? We'd aim to spend that for a meal!!

Almost as expensive as Norway :rotfl:

Myohmy

tabbycat wrote: »

Oh, and when the children were still quite young we would buy beach mats, a beach umbrella and buckets and spades on day one when we went abroad. We always left them behind for the next family to use when we left. It saved us quite a bit of money as to hire a sunshade and a couple of loungers on Spanish or Italian beaches over a fortnight was very expensive. It also meant we could nip down to the beach for just an hour or so after a day out without having to find an empty lounger/ umbrella to rent.

However, now that I am semi-retired (they keep moving my state pension further away), we did this again last year in Sardinia - they were charging between 25 and 40 euros per day for a sunshade and two loungers on our nearest beach. We bought a very posh beach umbrella for 15 euros and a couple of beach mats at 5 euros each at a local shop - we only had to use them twice to make them worthwhile.

BUT, they also did not provide any public toilets at any of the beaches we visited. You had to buy something from the cafe and then ask for the key to the one portaloo - 10 euros for a small can of Coke was the cheapest thing. Any one got a money saving way round that? :whistle:[Wee in the sea?!]

Myohmy

tabbycat wrote: »

Oh, and when the children were still quite young we would buy beach mats, a beach umbrella and buckets and spades on day one when we went abroad. We always left them behind for the next family to use when we left. It saved us quite a bit of money as to hire a sunshade and a couple of loungers on Spanish or Italian beaches over a fortnight was very expensive. It also meant we could nip down to the beach for just an hour or so after a day out without having to find an empty lounger/ umbrella to rent.

However, now that I am semi-retired (they keep moving my state pension further away), we did this again last year in Sardinia - they were charging between 25 and 40 euros per day for a sunshade and two loungers on our nearest beach. We bought a very posh beach umbrella for 15 euros and a couple of beach mats at 5 euros each at a local shop - we only had to use them twice to make them worthwhile.

BUT, they also did not provide any public toilets at any of the beaches we visited. You had to buy something from the cafe and then ask for the key to the one portaloo - 10 euros for a small can of Coke was the cheapest thing. Any one got a money saving way round that? :whistle:

Wee in the sea?!:rotfl:

torbrex

When travelling in America and crossing a state line, always visit the welcome centre and pick up a free state map and also get a book of coupons, they cover everything from food to local attractions and motels.

I never take good/new clothes on holiday with me, I only take clothes that are on their last legs and throw them away after wearing them once more, this leaves plenty of room in my case for buying new stuff to bring back, this goes for shoes as well.

Carriannelouise

tabbycat wrote: »

Oh, and when the children were still quite young we would buy beach mats, a beach umbrella and buckets and spades on day one when we went abroad. We always left them behind for the next family to use when we left. It saved us quite a bit of money as to hire a sunshade and a couple of loungers on Spanish or Italian beaches over a fortnight was very expensive. It also meant we could nip down to the beach for just an hour or so after a day out without having to find an empty lounger/ umbrella to rent.

However, now that I am semi-retired (they keep moving my state pension further away), we did this again last year in Sardinia - they were charging between 25 and 40 euros per day for a sunshade and two loungers on our nearest beach. We bought a very posh beach umbrella for 15 euros and a couple of beach mats at 5 euros each at a local shop - we only had to use them twice to make them worthwhile.

BUT, they also did not provide any public toilets at any of the beaches we visited. You had to buy something from the cafe and then ask for the key to the one portaloo - 10 euros for a small can of Coke was the cheapest thing. Any one got a money saving way round that? :whistle:

same happened when we went on holiday last week, i know its a little bit naughty but i was bursting and there was no way i was paying 5 euros for a coke so i just bobbed into a cafe/bar put my hand on my stomach did a little dance and asked where the toilet was, they thought i was poorly and let me straight in :rotfl: i also did the same in a hotel that i wasn't staying at. thankfully im not easily embarrassed but it does work and at 10 euros i would give it a go! x

laura_mac_2

Bob the saver you are a legend!

GrannyMo

I use an unlocked phone and get a local sim card on a payg or 1 month contract basis while I am abroad. For example, in Spain Simyo supports Skype and if you have this app on your mobile you can avoid expensive calls home. Look on the internet for similar products in the country you are visiting.:j

zaksmum

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Just say f*ck off, they'll understand
or shout POLICE that will usually shift them.

Why would you tell local people trying to scratch a living to f*ck off?

SaveTheEuro

zagfles wrote: »

Be very careful with mobile costs, especially if you have a smartphone!! Look for roaming packages, or even better get a local SIM if you're there for a while.

Switch off data roaming when you get on the plane. Try to stay in a hotel with free wifi or discover where free wifi is available locally. Make calls using Skype, FaceTime etc free or for a few pence. Keep in contact using email rather than text. Encourage friends to email or text you for you to call back when you are in a free wifi zone.

blindman

lexilex wrote: »

I have just posted about this in another topic, but I think it's a huge money saver and should be mentioned here too.

Do a lot of research before booking airport parking.

Holiday Extras and Essential Travel/Monarch offer a price guarantee. If you book with them, and then find it cheaper elsewhere (usually within 24 hours so you have to act quick) they will refund you the full amount. Simply take a screen shot of the website offering the same package cheaper and email it over.

The parking has to be like for like, exactly the same package, and it has to be cheaper without using an discount codes or loyalty discounts. It's also worth paying the extra few pence for cancellation incase they refuse it.

This was originally posted over on HUKD, although its posted on other forums too. People have saved hundreds of pounds doing this.

Holiday Extras don't refund until you arrive back from your holidays, Essential Travel refund straight away.

I've recently had a refund approved, and I am really pleased as it means I can put the money towards spending money.

Every little helps!

This also works on airport hotels and airport hotels with parking.

I posted this very MSE tip in the Cheap Airport Parking Discusion thread in Feb :cool:

Use Quidco and they actually pay you to park