Below are money saving tips for travel. Whether it be travel insurance or the best time to travel this guide will ensure you have smooth take off.

Pre-book – By booking in advance you can halve the cost of parking at the airport and decrease prices further by opting for an ‘off-airport’ car park.

Getting to the airport – If you need to travel at peak times, you could save money by travelling on a train or coach instead.

Insurance – If you travel abroad more than twice a year, you can easily save your hard earned cash by buying an annual insurance policy. Families too can save, when everyone is under one policy.

Buy before you fly – Most airlines now charge to check in bags and also charge to check in at the airport. A family of four with one checked-in bag could pay as much as £128 extra on return flights. If you travel light, pay online in advance as the charges usually double if you leave it to paying at the airport.

Don’t buy currency at the airport – Airport bureau de change offer some of the highest rates. So save money by pre-ordering your currency and picking it up at an airport bureau. Or you can book through an online currency buyer and have the money delivered to your home.

Taking a mobile –Try to find out if your operator could offer you an international package with lower rates in return for an upfront fee.

Excursions – A family of four on a day long tour is expensive, so think about making your way to the desired location yourself. It works out cheaper to hire a car and pay for the petrol and parking than joining a guide group.

When to travel – Try not to travel at weekends. If you go midweek or at less popular times such as early in the morning, you could find yourself getting a better deal. Also find out when the school holidays are in the country you are visiting, that way you can avoid higher prices. It is also important to understand what type of financial options there are to use whilst on holiday.

Credit and debit cards – Hefty commission charges, adding from 2.75 % to the bill or cash withdrawal will increase the cost. Therefore, use the local currency. Cash points, shops, hotels and restaurants are now offering customers the option of converting debit or credit card transactions into sterling. Try not to be tempted as these could be terrible, it is always best to pay in the local currency instead.

Pre paid cards – These do exactly what they suggest, you put cash onto one, and then it can be used in shops and restaurants just like a debit or credit card. This is a good option as the vast majority are accepted by most shops both in the UK and abroad. However they’re currently only available in Euros or Dollars. The big advantage over cash is that if you lose your card for a fee of around £10, it can be replaced with all the funds intact, once cash is lost, it cannot be replaced. This is a bad option because it is not quite as cheap at the specialist credit or debit cards and they have a variety of different charges.

Cash Passport – If you need money quick get a Cash Passport. This also charges no fee for spending abroad and can be topped up by a simple bank transfer, either by the phone or online. You will also receive the prevailing exchange rate when you top up. This is a good option as it is available in most travel agents, which means you can get one quick if you are going on holiday soon. However if you pay for the cash passport at travel agents then you can’t top up online, only in branches, and you will be charged that shop’s normal commission rate. It also charges a slightly higher rate of £2.50 for withdrawing from an ATM and a £2 monthly charge if the card goes unused for 12 months.

Now you are money savvy! You can get off that plane fresh and ready to take on any problems. All you need to worry about is the bugs!