If you want to keep costs but still enjoy an exciting holiday this year, try these smart, simple tips for maximising your budget...
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Words: Emma Lundin, Pictures: Getty Images, Rex Features and Amanda de Mendonça & Anna Lara'''
Book smart
Getting a good airline deal is harder than ever, but there are some tricks you should keep in mind when you book your flight to keep prices down. One is the famous algorithm that ensures that flights are at their cheapest on the Tuesday afternoon eight weeks before departure – great in theory but not terribly helpful in reality. Instead, we recommend you set your sights on a few different destinations and sign up to the emails of the carriers who fly there well in advance of going. Pay extra attention to any airlines that might do a stopover in your destination on long-haul flights elsewhere: Air New Zealand, for example, regularly offers reduced prices on flights to Hong Kong and Los Angeles on the way to Auckland.
Go to Iceland
Reykjavik used to be prohibitively expensive but in the aftermath of the recession that followed Iceland's near-bankruptcy in 2008, prices have dropped considerably. Last year saw the opening of KEX, a design hostel owned by Eidur Gudjohnsen, Hermann Hreidarsson and Pétur Marteinsson – three former Premier League footballers who have converted an old biscuit factory in the the city centre into the hippest place to stay on the island. You'll get a bed in the 16-bed dorm for just 2,200 Icelandic krónur (about £12) per night, but it's worth paying a bit extra for comfort and privacy: a double room with a private bathroom, bedlinen, towels and breakfast is still just 13,6000kr (about £72).
Book it now: kexhostel.is
More bang for your buck
While the British Pound has taken a bit of beating against the Euro in recent years, the US remains relatively reasonable for those of us who want to do style on a budget. The Ace Hotel group, which has opened places to stay in Portland, Seattle, New York and Palm Springs (pictured) so far, combines hip designs and great atmospheres, and is consistently one of our favourite places to stay for under £100/night.
Book it now: acehotel.com
DIY
Self-catering is one of the best ways of keeping prices down when you're on holiday and Airbnb, which allows owners to rent out their properties room-by-room or as a whole unit, has revolutionised the lettings market over the past couple of years by making it easy and hassle-free to find stylish places to stay. Look for flats or houses that have lots of reviews (the more the better): a quick search for flats in Paris unveiled this former bakery in the Marais, a one-bedroom place for £76/night.
Book it now: airbnb.com
