How to bag a bargain UK holiday this summer

The summer holidays are the perfect time to head out of London and spend a few nights along the British coast. Foreign holidays are certainly looking more tempting this year, but for simplicity you might decide to stick with a staycation at a UK holiday park or a resort with lodges.

UK holiday accommodation prices have increased somewhat in the last two or three years but there are still good deals to be had with a bit of searching, flexibility and shrewd booking.

Don’t leave it late

Most of the time, it is cheaper to book earlier rather than hanging on for a last minute deal. Genuine last minute bargains are few and far between at holiday parks, whereas the early bird gets the biggest choice of accommodation. 

Resorts and holidays parks offer a range of grades but you may end up paying for an unwanted upgrade if you leave it to the last minute. The grading of caravans at holiday parks is more often linked to facilities (e.g. dishwashers, full size freezers, an extra TV in the bedroom etc.) or the size of the caravan rather than how modern it is. You may also pay for an extra bedroom you don’t need if the smaller caravans are all booked up.

The difference in price between accommodation grades can be pretty significant during school holidays. In some cases you’ll pay well over £1000 over a week to jump from the cheapest caravan or lodge to the top grade. 

Play around with travel dates

Flexibility around arrival dates is vital if you want to get the very best deals. Big name holiday parks such as Haven and Away Resorts often charge less if you arrive on a Monday rather than a Saturday. The difference for a holiday in August is usually more than £100 and it can be hundreds of pounds difference for the most expensive accommodation. 

The week you arrive also affects the price you pay. Most parents prefer to travel during early August when the weather is better. However, the last week of the school holidays can be a time to bag a bargain. We’ve seen many instances of a week’s holiday in late August/early September costing £1000 less than a holiday two or three weeks earlier. You needn’t miss any school, but you may not like the inconvenience of unpacking and preparing for school on the same day! You might consider the Isle of Wight during this week as it’s ever so slightly warmer and sunnier than the rest of the UK. Scotland and the north of England can be quite chilly by early September.

Also remember that school term dates vary between local authorities. Occasionally this will work in your favour. For example, our Easter holiday dates were a week earlier than most schools, so some accommodation was available at the term time rate.

Pick a lower priced county or nation

Location is another important factor when you’re looking for a bargain UK holiday. Cornwall and Devon are lovely holiday spots but their holiday resort prices tend to be a little higher than comparable resorts in Northumberland, Yorkshire, Scotland and Wales. Of course, you’ll need to factor in the high fuel prices if you’re driving further but the savings can make the journey worthwhile. 

One other sneaky trick is to look for privately owned caravans on big name holiday parks. Popular resorts run by Parkdean Resorts, Haven and others sell off some of their caravans and charge owners a yearly fee. The owners are allowed to rent out the caravans and can pick their own prices. 

As a result, you’ll find some of these caravans offered at good prices on third party sites such as Airbnb or Booking.com. A big advantage is that you can see pictures of the actual caravan you’ll be staying in, rather than just the grade of caravan. Make sure you read the reviews and check what is included before you book. Some privately owned caravans don’t include an ‘entertainment pass’ so you will need to pay a bit extra to use the swimming pool or watch the evening shows.

Robbie Lane is a bargain hunter who runs websites including the Best Mattresses Guide