5 tips on bagging a bargain holiday cottage for summer 2016

5 tips on bagging a bargain holiday cottage for summer 2016

Looking for a holiday cottage or self-catering apartment for 2016? We have five great tips on how to make your money go further when booking your next summer holiday:

1. Book ahead

Take advantage of early bird discounts as they can sometimes offer real savings – as well as the relief of knowing that your perfect holiday is booked well in advance - saving you from that last minute scramble to find ‘anything, anywhere!’
 

2. Look up school summer holiday dates

School term dates can vary by as much as a week or two within the UK, as well as from county to county.

Scotland, for example, often has different term dates to England and Wales, breaking up for the summer earlier than the rest of the UK and therefore also going back to school earlier.

And so, if you’re lucky, some holiday cottages owners and agents may offer correspondingly cheaper prices if you are able to take a holiday right at the start or end of the summer period.
 

3. Stay further inland

Holiday cottages with a sea view or those right on the beach come at a premium and understandably, let very easily. 

However, those just a little further inland may offer you much more for your money as well as being within easy access of the coast. They can often come with better parking too!

So, for example, instead of staying in popular places such as Padstow or Port Isaac in Cornwall, you might want to consider somewhere like Camelford or Wadebridge – both of which offer easy access to a huge swathe of coastline and little beaches, without the hefty seafront price tag.
 

4. Holiday with another family

Large holiday cottages, sleeping 8 or more people, often come with many more facilities such as games rooms, swimming pools, hot tubs and tennis courts as well as large outdoor spaces and communal BBQ areas - all of which can be perfect for keeping the young and old entertained - especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse!

So why not consider booking a cottage that will easily accommodate two families and may well be significantly cheaper than hiring two separate properties?  We even have a holiday cottage sleeping 59 people – in case you want a really huge get-together!
 

5. Compare short break prices

Whilst many holiday cottages offer short break options, the way in which the cost of these is calculated can vary enormously from property to property.

Our advice would always be not to assume that 3 nights is necessarily more expensive than two – sometimes they can be the same!

The same can also apply to 4 night breaks, where some owners and agents charge the same for seven nights.

One of the benefits of comparing all options is that you may well find a cottage for 7 nights that is cheaper than a different cottage for 4 nights.

Better still, if you only want to stay for 4 of the 7 nights, you may also be able to be more flexible with your arrival and departure times – especially important if you’re trying to get kids packed up and out for 10 am!

Need more help? Contact Holiday Cottage Compare

 Still stuck for ideas? Give us a shout and we’ll help you find your perfect holiday cottage.