Eating out on holiday on a Budget
One of the costs guaranteed to nibble away (excuse the pun) at your money when on holiday, apart from travel and accommodation, is food. Eating out for every meal whilst holidaying isn’t prudent and of course your carefully planned budget may not allow for it. Even the most generous budget will start to eat (pun intended) its way into the other fun you have planned.
Eating on a budget doesn’t mean that food has to be boring. You don’t have to live off cheese sandwiches either. No matter where you happen to be, you can always find low-cost, appetising alternatives – with a bit of pre-planning and some imagination.
Lunch with the locals
Want money-saving tip as well as recommendations for tasty food? My advice is, pay careful attention to where the local population eat and go to the same places. Make things even simpler for yourself and ask the locals the best places to eat. Wherever the local people frequent, you are likely to find tasty food a great cultural atmosphere as well as reasonable and affordable prices. Every country and region has its favourite cuisine, most cities and towns have a few charming and appealing family restaurants catering to locals who enjoy a good meal for a reasonable price. Make it your mission to seek out these places.
Research is the key
When you decide on a destination, carry out research in advance to find the restaurants and types of food that appeal to you. Google (or Bing) the name of the city you’re visiting to find reviews and blogs that offer more information and special offers.
Choose an All-Inclusive Holiday Package
All inclusive packages are popular these days, when you way up what you are getting for your money, any extra outlay on an all-inclusive package deal may well be worth it. Refreshing drinks and three meals a day, as well as snacks, is an option well worth considering. However, be aware of exactly what is considered all-inclusive and what is outside any terms and conditions before you make a decision. Nonetheless, being able to help yourself to as many cooling drinks and as much food as you want is nothing to be sniffed at, especially when you have a lot of big eaters in your family.
When considering all-inclusive holidays, don’t limit your thinking. Cruises can be great value. They normally include a lot of services and facilities. Not only can you eat just about anything you want, just about any time day or night, most cruises include free activities for kids of all ages, free entertainment for adults, and transportation to exhilarating ports of call. You’ll also receive, free of charge, wonderful guides to help you choose your excursions, big or small.
Keep an eye out for local food festivals
Local fruit, vegetables, flowers, meat, fish, or historical events can be enough to spark a festival in many communities. When holidaying in a region that hosts a festival, you are in for a treat. Festivals are a great way to get great food at very little cost. You’ll be enjoying the best of the local cuisine at a very reasonable price, whilst experiencing the local ambiance.
Local family-run B&Bs
A bed-and-breakfast or similar lodging where a meal is included in the price may be a great option for your holiday stay. Having a nice breakfast can set you up for a good day of sightseeing, and you won’t waste time, or money, stopping for something to eat right in the middle of your fun.
Another option is to stay in a place with its own kitchen and cooking facilities. You can save money (and time) self catering by stocking the refrigerator and pantry with breakfast items, sandwich making foods, drinks, and lots of snacks. When you do eat out you can ask for a doggie-bag from meals you have at restaurants.
Start Out With a Full Tum
When travelling, you need to start out well fed, have plenty of food to sustain you on your travels. Travelling by car means you can have a cooler-bag on hand packed with food stuff, snacks, and drinks. Then you won’t have to stop off on the journey to eat, and you can save some money by not having to eat at a roadside restaurant; moreover when you arrive at your destination, you won’t have to start looking for a place to eat before you even get settled.
Tips for saving money on food when on holiday:
- order from the kids menus
- eat out at lunch instead of dinner
- order from the ‘bar’ menu
- share an assortment of hors d’oeuvres for a meal
When you’re on holiday you want to enjoy not only the sun, sea, sand, sights and events, you also want to experience the food. Planning ahead and budgeting for meals will help you enjoy a lot of good food as well as a few special restaurants, making your holiday as memorable, inexpensive and as enjoyable as possible.
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8 Travel insurance tips to help your holiday run smooth
You’ve finally got enough money to go on that dream holiday you’ve been planning for so long. Now you’re pondering on whether or not you should buy travel insurance. Do you really need to spend the extra money? After all, the worst thing that can happen is that you lose your luggage right?
WRONG! Anything number of things can go wrong during your travels or on holiday. I strongly advise, playing it safe and buy a good insurance policy.
Travel insurance can often be an afterthought when booking a trip but can be a god-send if things do go wrong – especially if you’re at the other side of the world when things go pear-shaped.
At the very least a good travel insurance policy gives you peace of mind. But can it be a false sense of security? Travel insurance companies estimate that up to 10% of claims are fraudulent, so with that in mind, how can you ensure that any true claim you make is taken seriously and paid out in full?
Check out these tips to give you peace of mind on holiday
1 . Check out lots of policies before you buy
You can be forgiven for thinking that there is little difference between most travel insurance policies. The reality is that, the quality of cover and excesses you’ll have to pay can differ substantially. This might not be a concern now but will be vital should you make a claim.
With insurance claims, many disputes arise because people think they’re covered but discover, when they come to make a claim, that they’re never were covered.
So prior to simply opting for the cheapest policy, make sure that you’re comparing like with like.
Pay special attention to:
*The excess: confirm how much of any claim you would have to pay. If the excess is £50 per item that means you have to pay the first £50 of any claim for each item you are claiming for.
*The maximum you can claim for individual items.
*What your policy will not cover, for example, pre-existing medical conditions.
*The level of cover for medical issues you may have, especially in countries like the USA where medical costs can be significantly higher.
*If you’re covered for lost or stolen cash and how much.
*If loss is covered as well as theft.
*If 24-hour emergency assistance is included or optional.
2. Take a copy of your policy document with you
Any good travel insurance policy document will confirm the protocols to follow in the event of having to make a claim, what you are covered for and who you should call in an emergency.
3. Disclose any pre-existing medical conditions
As with any other insurance policy, travel insurance is a contract between you and the insurer based upon “utmost good faith”. This requires you to tell your insurer anything that may affect the acceptance or terms of a policy, any exclusions or its policy cost.
When completing the application form, it is paramount that you be open and honest about your medical history and any activities you’re likely to take part in, whether you think they’re risky or not. If in doubt declare it anyway and where possible keep a copy of the proposal form that contains your disclosures.
4. Document your valuable possessions
Take photo’s and keep receipts for expensive items such as jewellery, cameras and designer clothing which you plan to take with you on holiday.
5. Report thefts or losses immediately
Any losses or thefts should be reported immediately to the local police. Get an incident report number or similar written proof that you’ve officially reported the loss and if you’re on a package holiday report the situation to the hotel or travel company rep as soon as practicable.
If your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged at the airport, report it straight away and get a written acknowledgment from the airline or baggage handler that the incident has occurred and has been reported.
6. Be prepared for medical claims
E111 forms have now been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card which entitles the holder to free medical treatment within Europe – comparable to that available on the UK NHS. Application forms for the card are available from Post Offices and should be completed and then submitted at least ten days before you travel.
Prior to departing on your holiday check your policy or contact your insurer to verify what precise actions your insurance company requires you to take in the event of a medical emergency.
7. Arriving home
If you need to make a claim against your policy, check the small print and contact your insurer. Gather and submit, to your insurer, all supporting documentation by way of recorded delivery (retain copies of everything for your own records) as evidence of your claim. Submit receipts, photographs and copies of any police or medical reports you have received.
Ensure that you keep copies all correspondence between you and your insurer and make detailed records of every phone call, including the name of the person you spoke to and also the time of your call.
8. Your claim is refused
Your claim could be rejected for a multitude of reasons. For example most policies won’t cover incidents where alcohol has been a contributing factor or if negligence is involved so you must take ‘reasonable’ care of yourself and your belongings.
The first step is to appeal against the decision giving detailed and specific reasons why you dispute the decision backed up by any extra evidence. If you feel you have been badly treated you can refer your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service who is independent and will assess your claim fairly.
If you follow these 8 tips they will give you peace of mind and put you in a better position to enjoy your dream holiday.
Buon Viaggio!
Hotel Riu Belplaya, Torremolinos, Spain
I have stayed at this hotel three times with my family and every time we have stayed at the Belplaya we have enjoyed every minute of our holiday. The hotel food is great, the staff members are very friendly and know how to look after guests and the rooms are superb. The Hotel Riu Belplaya is situated in a quiet area, with only the seafront promenade to separate it from the beach of Torremolinos which slopes gently down to the sea. If you are not a great fan of the beach, the Hotel Riu Belplaya has a fabulously well maintained swimming pool. The hotel is only 2km from the centre of Torremolinos where there are a host of high-quality shops and boutiques.
Don’t believe anything negative that anyone tells you about Torremolinos. You have to actually visit Torremolinos to understand why it has become one of the biggest tourist resorts on the Costa del Sol: beaches that stretch for miles, superb Andalusian food, a sparkling nightlife and a host of local and regional attractions. In this town you will find everything you need to spend a remarkable and memorable holiday.
As I have already mentioned, the food at the Riu Belplaya is fantastic and there are all inclusive deals available. However, the dilemma is that there are so many high-quality restaurants in the resort you just have to try them. When I was there, all inclusive deals had not yet been introduced. We were half-board but the hotel allowed us to substitute our evening meal for lunch so we could eat out in one of the many quality restaurants. I recommend trying the Gambas pil pil (sizzling prawns in garlic, chilli and olive oil).
The hotel has activities and entertainment but there is also a load of things to do if you travel into the centre of Torremolinos – no chance of the kids getting bored here.
You can find out more information about the hotel, the resort and how to book when you log on to the RIU Hotels & Resorts website.
Flexible Holiday Plans – How to Find Great Last Minute Travel Deals
It is true that booking your holiday months in advance can be cheaper, but often, waiting until the last minute before booking can reap benefits. Typically, the availability of these last minute holiday deals is due to cancellations, resulting in travel companies heavily discounting holidays because they need to get them re-booked rather than wasted.
Searching for Last Minute Travel Deals
It is no surprise that searching the internet is the way to go to find last minute travel deals. Websites such as Cheap Flights UK, Direct Flights.com, Ebookers.com, Flightline.co.uk, and Jet2.com are famous for their awesome last minute travel discounts. Often if you book your flight, along with hotel, car rental, or all-inclusive holiday packages, you can save hundreds of pounds.
Comparing the Best Deals
If your concern is getting the best last minute deal, a great feature many of these websites have is the facility to compare prices all in one place. It is as simple as typing in your destination and the site will provide quotes from a number of different places that are offering deals. It is then a matter of reading through the whole package and comparing charges and fees to see which one is the best choice for you.
For example, if your holiday is ‘long-haul’ and you prefer not to have any stopovers when you are flying, research may uncover a preferable deal that enables you to fly direct with no extra stops, however, you may need to pay an additional cost per person for the convenience. If the extra cost is worth it for you and within your budget, then opting for that deal is the way to go. The good tour operators will try their level best to get you the best deal, offering packages that are discounted and very appealing. Sort through the offers and you’ll be able to adapt the holiday package to suit your needs.
Subscribe to Newsletters and Email Alerts
Subscribing to travel industry newsletters or email lists like mine can help you stay informed about last minute travel discounts that come up. The newsletters or emails will contain details about the holiday deals and if you see something you like, you click a web-link that has been provided in the email, to log onto one of the travel sites and check out the deals. This is often one of the best ways to find last minute travel deals because the alerts come to you, rather than you having to remember to check regularly.
If you decide to join a travel industry email list like mine, it’s a good idea to set up a separate email address – this way, your regular email won’t get clogged up with newsletters and alerts, and it will be easier for you to keep track of the emails.
Bear in mind that these last minute deals can be excellent, but only if you are prepared to fly at very short notice. This sort of holiday planning is not for the feint-hearted – you have to have your money and passport at the ready, or be prepared to be disappointed as a holiday deal doesn’t come to fruition. It is true that this sort of holiday planning is not for everyone; it is only for those who can be flexible and prepared to swing into action at very short notice.
How flexible are your travel plans? If you know you can travel during a certain period of time, and at short notice, you may be in the perfect position to take advantage of great last minute travel deals. So go get your money sorted, blow the dust off your passport, and get your luggage out of the attic… your dream holiday is there waiting – at a lot less cost than you might expect!
