UK tourists advised to rethink traditional holiday bookings to Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy

UK holidaymakers planning to visit popular destinations such as Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy this summer have been advised to avoid booking week-long or 14-day stays. Travel expert at Eurocamp, Karen Williams, has urged tourists to consider alternative options, stating: "There are lots of holiday providers which don't have fixed departure or arrival days, so you can have complete flexibility over your travel dates."

She further suggested: "Have a play around with the length of your trip by a few nights either way and if you're flying, choose a duration that allows you to get the best flight prices."

Ms Williams also recommended exploring different modes of transport for potential savings, saying: "Whether it is putting the family in the car and hitting the motorways for a cross-country road trip, or opting for rail travel, looking for different modes of transport can get you some serious savings."

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Sharing accommodation costs with friends or family was another tip offered by Williams, who said: "A great tip is to split the cost of your accommodation with your mates or nearest and dearest as this can save you a fortune," adding that "Holiday homes are perfect for this, allowing you to book accommodation for a fixed price, not per person,".

Williams also suggested that less traditional stay durations could result in cheaper bookings, advising holidaymakers to steer clear from fortnights, seven days or ten days. This approach, she said, could lead to significant savings on flights and hotel bills, reports Birmingham Live.

"Looking at earlier or later in the season can help to keep costs down," she said. "For those travelling with children, look for the latter weeks of the school holidays running up to September which tend to be cheaper than the main part of the school holidays."

Williams suggested: "When travelling during these months, think carefully about the destinations. If you're looking for sunshine, southern Europe is slightly hotter than more northern regions so you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors even during off-peak months."

Ms Williams said: "You don't need to go out to enjoy a good, filling meal and instead taste some local delicacies from the comfort of your own holiday home. You can even pack and bring your own food to your holiday home to ensure that the kids have all their favourite snacks."

She went on: "For the super organised, many travel providers will be bringing out their 2024 holidays over the coming months, so keeping an eye out for these can also help you save for next year too."