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How to Avoid Common Pitfalls When Booking Your Summer Holiday

Be mindful of misleading offers, hidden costs, and unexpected charges when planning your getaway.

As the cold, gloomy days of January set in, many people begin dreaming of summer vacations under the sun. However, while searching for the perfect holiday, consumers are being warned to steer clear of a few common mistakes that could result in overspending.

Consumer watchdog Which? has released a set of helpful tips to make sure holidaymakers don’t fall into traps when booking their next getaway. One key piece of advice is to be cautious of special sales and heavily discounted prices. Although these deals may seem enticing, they can often be misleading. For example, Which? discovered that some large hotel chains inflated the number of discounted offers, and in some instances, the sale price was non-existent.

Eurostar was recently criticised by the advertising regulator for falsely promoting £39 tickets, only to reveal that the number of seats available at that price was minimal, with a footnote indicating conditions applied. In such cases, If the price increases significantly at checkout, Which? advises walking away and searching for better deals elsewhere.

When using booking platforms like Expedia, holidaymakers may find that they are missing out on discounts by not using the right device. Which? recommends checking the same deal on both your phone and computer to see if there are any “mobile-exclusive” discounts available.

One other way to save is by bypassing the middleman. It may be cheaper to contact hotels directly to get a quote, rather than booking through a third-party website.

For those who have dismissed package holidays as old-fashioned, it may be worth reconsidering. Which? found that in seven out of ten popular destinations, package deals were cheaper than booking each component separately. For example, a package holiday to Cancun could be £500 less than creating the trip on your own. Furthermore, package deals often include meals, drinks, entertainment, and legal protection in case something goes wrong.

That said, it’s essential to research the reputation of the tour operator for reliability and customer service before committing.

Lastly, while online reviews can be a useful resource, it’s important to be aware of potentially fake ones. Which? revealed that Tripadvisor blocked two million misleading reviews last year, but many still make it through. Signs of suspicious reviews include a sudden spike in new reviews and repetitive phrases.

When comparing airlines, many budget carriers like EasyJet and Ryanair may appear to offer the best deals, but it’s worth checking the prices of more premium options like British Airways. Which? found that after factoring in the hidden costs of low-cost carriers, British Airways was cheaper in two out of three routes checked, with some budget carriers charging extortionate fees, such as £89 for overhead cabin luggage with WizzAir.

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