THE best “shoulder season” destinations to save money have been revealed, including one spot in the UK.
Travel agent Langa Chinyoka listed her personal picks for the best holidays during the quieter seasons.
She said: “Summer is the worst time to travel.
“Every destination is crowded, which means hotels are expensive and reservations are nearly impossible to snag.”
By travelling in the shoulder season, the “sweet spot” between the busy time of the year and off-season, you can get “more bang for your buck”.
Shoulder season typically falls in either spring or autumn.
In the Northern Hemisphere its between September and November, while for the Southern Hemisphere its March until May.
By travelling in this period, she said, hotels and flights are often much cheaper.
On top of this, you don’t have to fight crowds to see the most popular sites.
Topping her list was Tokyo in Japan, closely followed by Paris, France.
Langa described the Japanese capital as one of the best for food and recommended autumn as the best time to avoid crowds.
Mexico City rounded off the top three while Scotland managed to sneak onto the list at number six.
She described autumnal Scotland as “gorgeously golden”, recommending its cultural events and exhibitions.
Of course, a visit would not be complete without a trip to the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the West Highlands.
The site of the famous train scene from the Harry Potter movies, it is a popular spot for tourists.
There are also countless other tips and tricks for your holidays that could save you money.
Charges for using your mobile on the Continent can add up, so if your provider charges for roaming, switch to one that does not.
Cheap sim only providers such as Lebara, Lycamobile and Talkmobile all offer free European roaming, while Lebara offers a similar deal in India as well.
Switching to a new mobile provider while keeping your number is simple and now takes only a day.
Getting a last-minute travel money card could give you a good deal.
Some, such as Chase Bank’s debit card and Halifax’s Clarity credit card, offer good rates for spending and withdrawing cash, while others do not.
If yours is not a top pick for spending abroad, you can apply for a Revolut card at the very last minute and benefit from a free prepaid virtual card with no charges Monday to Friday for currency exchange.
If you have time to get a card delivered, try Currensea, which also offers great rates but links to your current account so you don’t have to top it up.
Also, when paying with your card abroad, always choose the local currency.
This way you avoid any unfavourable exchange rate charges.
