It's come to that time when everyone wants to spend their time abroad in the sun. You're ready to relax, eat great food, see the sites and do nothing all day.

If this is your first or you’re taking over the planning, then let’s help you out with a few key things to consider before you make the payment:

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Pre-Planning

• Start a holiday savings fund - This could be a sinking fund or a whole separate account and you don’t need to have a holiday booked to start the saving. If you’re a fan of a getaway or love to travel, then maybe you could incorporate a holiday fund into your monthly budget - that way, you’re always prepared to say yes to a vacation!
• Boost your savings - This could be done in many ways so you do whatever is best for you. Some examples could include taking on overtime at your job or starting a side hustle (selling clothes, profit off of your skills, cashback apps) and all of those extra pennies go straight into savings. 
• Look out for deals and discounts - If you’re still unsure of a destination or a date, that doesn’t mean you can’t start looking. Deals and discounts pop up constantly for summer holidays and they may give you some inspiration and ideas of how much your future holiday could cost. 

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Booking

• Choose your dates wisely - Leaving and returning on weekdays can be a huge help to the overall cost of your getaway, so if you’re able to travel midweek then you should definitely consider doing so. Even for a long weekend, Saturday to Monday tends to be much cheaper than Friday to Sunday as Sunday night stays are often available at a lower price, as that’s when most people are heading home. 
• Be open minded with your destination - This is a great one for people who simply want to travel or just get away for a while. If you have dates in mind, but no destination, go down the route of looking at the cheapest flights available on those dates, or look at deals on package websites and go for whatever sounds the most exciting. 

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Before You Go

• Clothes - Do you have a wardrobe suitable for your destination? You’ll need to consider the temperature, events, activities, and rules in that specific country. This may be quite a big cost, so it’s something to factor in before you go. 
• Exchange rates - This is something to consider as it may surprise you the cost of things in other countries, so you may want to do your research before you commit to a holiday that breaks the bank when you arrive. 

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While You’re There

• Transportation - Hiring a car? Taking the train? Relying on Ubers? Research is crucial when it comes to transport. It may seem like a simple system but buying tickets in advance could be a good idea. 
• Tipping - Depending on your destination, tipping rules may be very different to what you’re used to and it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into and be respectful.