Feeling the financial pinch but unwilling to give up your holiday? Joan Scaleshas 12 tips for tightening your belt while still having a great time
WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE about the way the economy is heading, Irish consumers appear not to be cutting back on their holidays. We still regard them as essential, not as luxuries.
Two-thirds of us are preparing for big financial cutbacks in our lives, according to research by Mintel Ireland. But the same study found that we can still find the money to go away.
"The summer holiday is sacred to Irish holidaymakers, regardless of economic conditions, and is an essential part of our busy lifestyles," says Damien Mooney, president of the Irish Tour Operators' Federation.
Here are a dozen ways to get away, enjoy yourself and feel you have saved some money at the same time.
1 BookingFamily holidays are expensive and need to be thought out carefully. The biggest issue is timing, with the price of family vacations increasing dramatically during school holidays - it's almost impossible to find a bargain in July, August or a midterm break. Families with children under school age can get the best deals by going away in May and early June.
The golden rule is to book early, even if it means booking this summer for next. Deposits have come down in recent years, and you can hold your holiday choice for as little as €50 per person. Watch out for free places for children or grandparents, free insurance, free transfers and anything else that will reduce your overall cost.
Tour operators have been putting out early brochures and previews around July and August for the past five years, so be ready to book your choice.
Late deals for families are rare, but watch the holiday column in Go and advertisements in the media. Sign up to e-mail newsletters on websites, as tour operators use these to market late deals.
2 Go to the USNow is the time, with holiday prices up to 20 per cent lower than last year because of the strength of the euro. This can mean savings of up to €400 on a family holiday. Tour America ( www.touramerica.ie) is reporting a 25 per cent increase in holiday bookings to the US, as people shop around for bargains. And lots of people are booking next year's holiday, too. Florida, in particular, has seen sharp price drops, with fewer British visiting and a glut of properties available. Rental properties, including plenty of lovely homes with swimming pools, are available for as little as €575 per week. You can book with the owners on www.ownersdirect.comand www.holiday-rentals.comor through agency websites, such as Selfcatering.ie.
3 New versus oldNew resorts tend to be a bit pricier than the old reliables, so going for the Algarve, in Portugal, ahead of Sunny Beach, in Bulgaria, for example, could be easier on the pocket. Places that are perceived to be old-fashioned or that haven't moved with the times can be great value. Take Club Praia da Rocha, a huge development on the Algarve. Its like will never be built again, but it is good value, beside the beach, near the local nightlife and with lots of little friends for children to play with.
4 Use websitesUsing a website for booking can also save money. Some tour operators offer discounts of, say, 5 per cent, others of €20 per person for web bookings. And you don't necessarily have to pay the full amount upfront. Again, tour operators also use their websites to release details of special offers and discounts.
5 Self-cater or swap housesThe huge advantage of holidaying at home is that you can throw all the gear in the car and be there in a few hours. Roads are much better than they used to be, and the quality of accommodation is often fantastic.
In real terms, the cost of self-catering accommodation has not increased significantly. Ten years ago friends of mine paid £700 a week for houses on the west coast. This summer you can expect to pay €700-€800, probably for a better standard of accommodation. Hundreds of lovely new houses are available to rent all over the country. Those inland tend to be less expensive than coastal properties.
Of course, you could always swap homes with another family, in which case your only costs would be getting to the destination and your living expenses, which can be lower abroad. Long-established agencies such as Home Exchange ( www.homeexchange.com) and Intervac ( www.intervac.com) provide a great way to have a holiday without breaking the bank.You can also swap holidays homes, if you have one.
6 Take a cruiseThe trick with cruises is to book early or late. Cruise companies give huge discounts - 50 per cent in some cases - for early bookers. You can also get as much as 50 per cent off for late bookings, but the advantage of early booking is that you get a choice of cabins. Sixteen ships will be picking up in Ireland this year, which means you won't have to pay to fly to a distant pickup point. Booking cruises in the country of origin can result in good savings, too - so, for example, book an American-originating cruise in the US.
7 Look into long haulThe best aspect of flying long haul is that you can get cheap fares if you shop around. Airlines that aren't national carriers tend to give the best discounts, and the more stops you have to make on the way to your destination, the cheaper the flight is likely to be. It is best to avoid flying long haul in high season, however, as tickets will always be expensive at this time. So try to avoid Australia and parts of Asia in December and January, for example. If you intend to visit a lot of places, round-the-world tickets are good value. They start at about €1,500 with www.austravel.iefor a seven-stop itinerary.
8 Book it yourselfPutting together your own package can be fun or frustrating, and it's not always cheaper. The important point is to pounce on cheap fares as soon as you see them, as these are harder to come by than accommodation. Hardly a week goes by without Aer Lingus or Ryanair having a sale. Last week Ryanair had fares to Malaga, in Spain, next month for €20 return, including taxes and charges. Also, when searching for flights use the flexibility option, which lets you see a week or so either side of your date.
Hotels generally have the best rates on their own websites, and, depending on the hotel group, you can find added value by choosing a deal that comes with breakfast. Five-star hotels may include airport transfers, and some hotels are ideal for families, with a good selection of family or interconnecting rooms.
9 Book outside IrelandThere can be great value to be found if you are prepared to do a bit more travelling to get to your destination, by going via another country. The most striking difference I have found is on Club Med holidays. If you book on the French or British site for Club Med, you could save an incredible €3,200 on a holiday for four. A week in July in Opio, in Provence, costs €5,134 for a family of four when booked on the French site, about €4,480 when booked on the British site and a whopping €7,774 when booked on the Irish site.
The price from Ireland does include flights, but you can buy tickets to London or Nice and still make a huge saving. See www.clubmedireland.ie, www.clubmed.co.ukand www.clubmed.fr.
Some websites won't let you access them from other countries, so it can require perseverance to find these deals. The best route is to go through a travel agent - if you are looking for a good-value cruise from Fort Lauderdale, say, find an American travel agent who specialises in cruises. It takes a bit of time to search, but the deals are there.
10 Keep an eye on Aertel and TeletextThis is where travel agents and tour operators will advertise late deals. The British sites are also worth checking out, even though it might mean flying from a UK airport. Virtually every airport in Britain is easily accessible from here.
11 Take a short break at homeKeep checking the national media and websites. Many short breaks are released late in the day. Check the back page of The Irish Times for offers the following weekend. Supermarket offers (such as SuperValu breaks and DID special offers) are great value, offering, for example, deals of €99 per person sharing for a two-night break, usually with dinner on one night. Bear in mind that these are for the low season. Short breaks with an activity included, where you can do or learn something for not much more than the price of a standard weekend away, can also be great fun.
12 Use an accommodation-booking agencyHotel- and hostel-booking agencies are places to look for accommodation. Great deals can be found on www.irelandhotels.com, www.1800hotels.ieand www.hotelsinone.com. For deals on hostels and budget hotels, see www.hostelworld.com.