Booking a holiday with friends is one of the most fun things to do, but can also be stressful getting the cash together, particularly in a cost of living crisis. In this article we take a look at some top tips to help you save money for a vacation and advice on how to make your friends trip away a success and ensure everyone not only is prepared before you go, but has the best time when you’re out there. Keep reading to find out more and get inspired.
Sell items from home to raise additional funds
The first thing you need to do when organising any type of group holiday is agree on a rough budget. Because let’s face it, the holiday just won’t work if one of you has thousands to spend and others only have a couple of hundred. To avoid this from being a problem further down the line, it’s a good idea to come up with a budget between you that seems fair. Once you’ve agreed on a budget, you might need to think of ways to make more money in order to afford it comfortably. If you have gold or silver at home, including gold bars or gold coins, you might find you’re sitting on a small fortune. You can head to the website of a reputable gold dealer where you can get an indicative price of what your coin might fetch. You then need to call to confirm this price, get instructions on the sale and how to send them, they will be verified and then you’ll receive the money straight into your account. This can be a fantastic way to raise some extra funds from items you already have. While on the site, you can also buy gold coins or bars if this is something you’re interested in. Other items you could sell
Including clothes on sites such as Vinted, or household items on Facebook Marketplace.
Find an accommodation that suits your budgets
Once you’ve decided on a budget you need to think about where you’re going to stay. There are so many accommodation types out there you need to choose between with pros and cons depending on what you’re looking for. Some of the most popular types of accommodation include a holiday rental such as those on Airbnb where you can have your own space to relax. These can be cheaper than a hotel as it’s one cost split between you all. They tend to offer plenty of room for you all and can include things such as a games room, your own private pool, a hot tub and BBQ area. Hotels are a very popular choice and while you don’t get the same level of privacy, you can enjoy someone doing everything for you, having your meals cooked and your room cleaned. Prices here can vary depending on how many people are in a room, the star of the hotel you choose and if you go all inclusive or not.
Consider the destination price
Another big thing to decide prior to your holiday is where you are going. There are a myriad of destinations to choose between and some are more expensive than others when you’re there. City break places such as Rome or Paris are known for being expensive, whereas smaller islands such as Tenerife can be more reasonable. It’s a good idea to research a destination before you go so you can check it has all the things you’re looking for. If you’re staying in self-catered accommodation for example, you want to make sure you’re near to restaurants and cocktail bars. Or if you want to indulge in water sports, you want to be near a beach.
Have a deadline for people to commit to going or not so you can work out costs
One of the worst parts about organising a group holiday is people not replying and you not knowing how many people you’re splitting the cost between. Too often, people take too long or won’t give a definitive answer and you end up not booking because you’re waiting around. To avoid this from being a problem, give a deadline where you need to have answers by and if people haven’t responded by this date, they can’t come. This is a good way to motivate those that are serious about coming and whittle out those that aren’t.
These are just a few financial tips that should help you have a great vacation.