The how to book, book

The secret travel expert

It’s the age-old question: Should you book your next holiday now or leave it late? We’ve all heard the saying, “the early bird catches the worm” and that applies when it comes to booking a holiday, too. Booking early means better deals, great perks, more choice, and crucially, after the last couple of years, something to look forward to. Make no mistake: Autumn, when nights become darker and longer, is challenging enough – so having a holiday already in the diary makes the new season feel that little bit brighter, lighter, and gives you something to look forward to. Dreaming of a getaway? Check out our travel expert’s guide to planning and booking your next holiday.

How to book a getaway

Here’s everything you need to know to ensure a happy holiday

Know your goal

Don’t choose a destination, choose what you want to do. Are you looking to relax and recharge, connect with nature, cram in some culture, dance until dawn, fulfil a dream – it could be learning to scuba dive or embarking on a safari – tick off multiple countries in just one trip, or bond with your family? Once you work out how you want to spend your time off, you can decide where to go.

Book now

Book now for the most choice, best prices – and to have something to look forward to. Winter will be much more bearable when you’re counting down the days to a dream getaway. There are some great value offers presently available – and you can secure your holiday with a low deposit or a direct debit option with no deposit to set up monthly payments and spread the cost.

Look ahead

Having more time to get hyped about your holiday can give you a boost of happiness, even before you take off.  Talk to those who have been to your intended holiday spot and turn to social media for travel inspiration and information. You could also build anticipation by watching movies set in your destination, or downloading free language apps like Duolingo (duolingo.com) and learning a little of the language.

How to book your summer holiday

Your three-point plan starts here

Timing is everything

If you don’t have children or they aren’t yet of school age, try to get away during term time. This allows you to beat both the crowds and the school holiday price increases. Why choose to go on holiday when everyone else is when you are free to go at any time? Restricted to school holidays? The most affordable travel date tends to be the last week of August. If you can’t wait until then, consider flying mid-week rather than the weekend – Tuesday or Wednesday is usually the cheapest day for scheduled flights.

Act now

School holidays are typically the first dates to book up so if you already know where and when you want to go next summer, book ASAP to get your pick of the dates. Wait too late and you could be left with limited choice, higher rates, and less flexible cancellation policies. Not sure where to go on your next summer holiday? Check out TUI’s incredible range of summer 2023 deals. Whether you’re sticking to short-haul or taking the family on a far-flung adventure, trusted travel company TUI has you covered.

Sort the serious stuff

If it’s your first time travelling in a while, check that all passports are up to date – many holiday hotspots require you to have at least six months left on your passport – and have enough space for visas and entry and exit stamps. And if you’re travelling to Europe, there are extra steps to take now that the UK has left the EU.  Don’t let your passport ruin your summer holiday. Finally, don’t forget to take out travel insurance – the last thing you think about but the first thing you need should, heaven forbid, something go wrong.

How to book a family experience

Make booking and planning your next holiday, child’s play

Do your homework

We all have different ideas of the perfect holiday so get the whole family involved. Ask your children for their input – involving them in the planning process will make their holiday much more memorable. However, as a rule of thumb, remember that beach holidays work for all ages, theme parks are best for kids aged three and up owing to height restrictions – and a Marella cruise suits families with tweens and teens thanks to the line’s free onboard kids’ club, M Club, and teens-only space, Hideout.

Travel smart

If you don’t want to hear the dreaded: “Are we nearly there yet?” consider places that are within a four-five hour flight until your children are a little older. What’s more, closer-to-home destinations cost less too. And be sure to take advantage of TUI’s thousands of free child places – available in school holidays as well as term time for families with younger kids – in tonnes of different holiday destinations including Spain, Italy, and Greece. One caveat: You’ll need to be quick. Leave it until January to book, and these will have run out…

Manage your money

Holidays are back on the agenda but the cost-of-living crisis will have many families wondering whether they’ll be able to afford to go away at all. There’s no escaping the fact that holidays can be an expensive outlay – particularly if you have to pay upfront. The solution? Look for holiday deals with no or low deposits that allow you to spread the cost into manageable monthly chunks by paying by direct debit. And consider booking an all-inclusive package deal – everything is included in the price meaning there will be no nasty surprises come check-out time.

How to book excursions

Enjoy fun-filled days out with our top tips

A family affair

What makes a fantastic family day out? Ask each member of your family and, chances are, you’ll get a different answer. Mum and Dad may love a museum, stately home, or coastal cycle ride, while little ones would prefer an adventure (climbing or zip wiring say), a theme park, or anything involving ice cream. Pick an excursion that suits your entire clan and remember: Less is always more. After a morning of structured activity and sightseeing, spend the afternoon by the pool or in a park. The message? Don’t try to pack too much into your day.

Never pay full price

Pre-booking, something we all became far more used to in the pandemic era, pays off. Case in point? A family of four would save over £50 on entry to Alton Towers by booking at least five days in advance. Elsewhere enjoy 2-for-1 deals simply by keeping an eye out for deals on websites like Groupon, or by collecting coupons on chocolate bars and breakfast cereal. You can also cash in your supermarket loyalty points – here’s looking at the likes of Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar – for a day out to a museum, zoo, or theme park.

Pack well

Make sure you take refillable water bottles with you – this will save you a small fortune on buying bottled water while simultaneously reducing your single-use plastic AND keeping your and your children’s hydration levels topped up. It’s also a good idea to pack a small bag of essentials – think antiseptic wipes, sun cream, plasters, waterproofs,  snacks, inexpensive toys, and some games – in case of long queues, tired children, and/or bad weather. No matter how much you plan or prepare,  you’re likely to encounter a few bumps along the way.

How to book theme parks

Skip the line and save money by following this expert advice

Pick the right parks

Visiting a theme park is always a popular pick – who doesn’t love a day out – but how do you decide which one is the right choice for you and your family? By checking the park’s websites and making sure there are rides suitable for every age in your party. Once you have picked your park, ramp up the excitement level by planning what rides to go on and shows to see as well as familiarising yourself with the park opening hours – get in early to enjoy even more fun without the crowds.

Book tickets in advance

Spontaneity is all well and good but if you want to nab a theme park ticket for less, you’ll need to book online in advance: Tickets are always dearer on the day, on the door. Pre-booking also avoids potentially missing out, too. If you’re planning to visit the theme park for more than one day, a multi-day pass is the way to go. Walt Disney offers a 14-day Ultimate Ticket giving you unlimited entry to Orlando’s eight main theme parks for around £469 while daily entrance to each park costs circa (£65). Now, do you see what we’re talking about?

Arrange a meeting place

Most of us can remember getting briefly lost as children. Hopefully, this won’t happen to your group but there is always the risk that someone will become separated – especially when visiting unfamiliar attractions. Establishing a meeting place in case of separation (and no phone signal) will help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety. Another tip: Write your name and accommodation contact details on a piece of paper and tuck it into your child’s pocket, so they can share it with a safe adult should  they get separated from you.

Book with confidence

TUI knows just how tough things continue to be, which is why they’ve taken the worry out of booking your next holiday through their holiday promise policy – designed to give you total peace of mind. Part of the TUI holiday promise includes flexible payment options; a package holiday refund guarantee; the chance to change your holiday should you need; and round-the-clock support, seven days a week. All told, whether you’re eyeing up the Algarve or Orlando, the Balearic Islands or Barbados, it’s time to get booking – goodness knows we all need something to look forward to. As ever, a holiday is always the solution.