Wednesday, July 16, 2025
According to research, almost two fifths of Brits are looking for smarter ways to save cash and get more out of their travel experiences in life. In the face of increasing travel costs, travelers are coming up with creative ways to make the most of their getaways without spending a fortune. Brits are also finding ways to make sure they don’t spend even a penny more than they need to, from booking flights on week days and using rewards for upgrades. These backpackers are not merely tightening their belts – they are doing so in the quest for smart travel; in order to ensure they are travelling in the most sensible manner- from the way they book their travels to the ways they pack and prepare for their travels.
How Brits are becoming ‘Travel Hackers’ to get cheaper holidays – Maximise Your Holiday
With the price of travel on the rise, smart holidaymakers are looking for “hacks” to ensure they’re maximising their experience while away. Four in ten Brits say they are “travel hackers” who use a host of methods to get the best deals on holidays, a recent poll has shown. Commissioned by Virgin Red, the research teamed with Race Across The World winner, Alfie Watts to spill the beans on the travel hacking world.
1) Proven Methods for Lower Priced Fares and Lodging
When it comes to booking flights, the nation knows timing is everything, with Brits being far more flight savvy than they’re given credit for, deemed a nation of ‘holiday bargain hunters’ according to the findings. The popular advice is to make reservations for flights that leave on the weekdays, since they are usually more affordable than weekend flights. If you are willing to save even more, booking your hotel and transportation together as a single package will be cheaper. And it’s a tactic that many are already using to save money.
Another favorite travel hack is using loyalty schemes. Close to half of respondents are already redeeming points earned through what they were already doing anyway — shopping, commuting, dining out — for upgrades or free nights at hotels. You should never underestimate the power of a loyalty program that can convert your everyday spending into travel for free or reduced rates. And for people trying to book flights, leaning on airline loyalty points can also have a large effect on reducing the cost of a trip, especially for someone who is making the jump to business or first class.
5.) And some smart travelers are also taking matters into their own hands and utilizing incognito mode when searching for flights online. It is a simple hack that prevents flight prices from skyrocketing amid repeated searches for a good deal, and means tourists can be confident they are getting the best prices, without being conned.
Accumulating and Cashing in Points for a Long-Term Savings Goal
And as travelers become more sophisticated about leveraging the perks of loyalty programs, ever more of us are devising new ways to earn points for future trips. Alfie Watts, who covered a remarkable 9,000 miles in the Race Across The World journey, was able to fund his stay on points. These points can be accrued with day-to-day activities, such as regular commuting or grocery shopping.
The real points gain, the truth could be in how often holidaymakers are spending their loyalty points on holiday bookings. Nearly half of those surveyed said they wished they had used loyalty points on a previous trip. Everything adds up over time to help those travelers save on flights and hotels, and turn the vacation of their dreams into reality.
Packing Tips for Better Travel
Once the flights have been booked and the accommodation is sorted, a traveler can employ a few hacks to save money and space as well. Rolling, as opposed to folding, clothes is a packing conceptual whose popularity continues to grow, and for good reason: it saves space in your suitcase. Using this type of packing travellers can pack and fit more into the case and it keeps clothing more wrinkle-free.
Bring Snacks This is another great travel hack. Airport prices are usually ridiculous, but having some healthy snacks in tow will save you a lot of cash. Avoiding the overpriced airport food options, travelers can bring their own food, and save that extra energy for the trip and its budget.
Last but not least, a power bank is crucial to keep all your gadgets running throughout the trip. Because we use our cell phones as navigation, entertainment, and booking devices more than ever, a portable charger can be a life savior on a long day of travel, keeping your gadgets running without the need to hunt down an outlet.
Travel hacks are becoming the new standard for almost 40% of Brits as they look to cut costs and make the most of their holidays. From scheduling flights during the week to deploying loyalty points, these smart tips can reduce costs and add benefits to your vacation.
The Regret of Missed Opportunities
Even with all the tricks and tips to save, there are times when travelers still feel stung by missed opportunities. According to the poll, many respondents have regrets about the loyalty programs of yesteryear. Many travelers are just now starting to learn how to leverage points and rewards systems, often finding only after they have already taken their trip that they could have saved more, or scored an upgrade, by using their points.
So in summary, rising travel costs have lead to Brits embracing travel hacks more and more in order to make their holiday better value and more enjoyable. So travelers, taking advantage of bargain flights, credit card loyalty points and smart packing strategies, have been finding ways to stretch their dollars without skimping on experience. For those of us wanting to make their next holiday something more, these travel hacks are a quick and easy way to supercharge their trip whilst spending a fraction of what it possibly would.(Buddy, it’s not you, it’s your strategy!
