#greatholidays

We've had our holiday time at work allotted and it's fair to say the tendency to plan has hit us full force! The opening months of the year are a popular time for people across the world to start pencilling in just when and were their next escape will be. Whether you're solo or travelling with a partner or family you'll want to make sure that your efforts are focussed well and have you covered in a financial sense.

It's not rocket science, planning a suitably priced holiday. It does, as with many things in life, come down to being consistent with your budgeting skills and following a few key pointers that we'll happily list here for your benefit. Taking a stringent approach to your planning can seem to be a buzz kill when all you want to do is get jet-setting, but you'll feel the benefit when you come back home to your bank account and you're also guaranteed to have a much “cleaner”, more guilt free time of your trip abroad when you know you aren't cheating your future self in any way to do with money.

So let's cut right to it and lay out the best way forward.

The B word – don't avoid that budget!

We regularly and consistently recommend being in control of your finances at all times – we're all adults and we all need to do it.

Budgeting isn't too complicated a task by itself, but an important point we'd like to bring to your attention for your benefit is how easily accessible your budgeting information is.

It's well and good having a complicated Excel spreadsheet tucked away in a corner of your home PC, but what good is this really to you if you're out and about and need to make a snap decision should the opportunity arise?

This premise applies to general shopping but is also true as far as travel goes; the more in tune you are with your finances and the easier it is for you to access important financial details, the better your decision making will be.

It's a case of being clear and level headed with it – if you can instantly say “yes, I can afford to spend on this treat and still hit my other goals”, you'll enjoy every single moment of your travel all the greater. If, conversely, you aren't quite sure but need to make a call either way, the pressure of knowing you might have compromised the piggy bank can weigh you down and put a damper on an otherwise lovely excursion.

The take-home? Work on a budget, then keep your budgeting management close and easy to access. You'll thank us for the advice once you put it to practice!

Insurance

It's good to think about this if you're taking more than a bus down the road. Travel insurance is a big deal and you can sit happily knowing that you have some sensible and reasonably priced options available to you as a UK citizen. While many opt for the free government provided travel insurance EHIC option, it can also be worth considering other paid routes.

You'll want to view this as an investment and not just a cost – ask ten people who have been on travels recently and you'll be sure to get a few that have nightmare stories about luggage lost or illnesses suffered that can disrupt a lovely time away. We know – it's not nice paying for something you might use. We aren't disputing that! What we are saying is that it's simply necessary if you want to avoid trouble. Pony up, do your research and get yourself covered before you zip away on your adventure of choice. You'll feel better for doing it!

Use the web to go local with recommendation

You may or may not be aware of the phrase “tourist trap”. It means certain areas in travel hotspots where the locals know people from overseas will be there and with money in their pockets, ripe for being charged more than is fair compared to the local economy.

Tourist traps can be a nasty surprise, with many falling into the scam of ponying up more than they need to for goods and services.

We recommend taking a look at online review sites for areas that can be filled in by the local or the experienced traveller. It'll help keep your actual expenses in line with your expectations before you arrive.