Best Value Tips for Overseas Travel
Hi everyone,
As we start 2026, many of us are dreaming about our next overseas adventures. Whether it’s exploring new countries, revisiting favourite destinations, or ticking off bucket list experiences, one thing’s for sure—travelling smart and getting the best value is always a win!
We’ve put together some of our top tips for making the most of your travel budget for our members (see below), but we’d love to hear from you too. What are your go-to strategies for saving money, finding hidden gems, or making your trips more memorable without breaking the bank?
Our Top Tips for best value travel overseas
- Be flexible if you can with holiday dates to avoid peak school holiday dates.
- Book early to take advantage of Special Offers which often expire in January or February.
- Campsites: Early July & Late August are often cheaper than the peak summer dates.
- Crossings: Compare different routes. Shorter sea crossings are generally cheaper but daytime crossings on Harwich-Hook of Holland or Newhaven-Dieppe can be comparable to Dover routes.
- Crossings: Book early to get cheapest prices - all operators increase fares as the ships and trains fill up.
- Crossings: Mid-week sailings are generally cheaper than weekend sailings.
- Crossings: On longer crossings, daytime sailings are usually cheaper than overnight sailings.
- Our `combined deals`: if booking a crossing with a campsite stay or Overseas Site Night Vouchers members can access special rates not available to the public which are often much cheaper than booking each element separately.
- Our online booking journey: Compare prices of different routes/times plus `combined deals` options are highlighted.
Post your best tips below. 🌍
Comments
-
Would certainly agree to avoid school holidays if that is possible. Don't forget different countries don't have the same school holidays as the UK so best to check, particularly Germany. France probably offers the best value campsites, especially if you prefer the simpler campsite although even then you might get a pool or a restaurant. The ACSI book is worth the investment out of the main season. Sites in the popular hot spots like coastal South of France and Lake Garda have a much longer season than just school holidays. As for crossings, go for the one which is most convenient for your holiday destination rather than price. Some will worry that some foodstuffs can no longer be taken abroad so check that out before you go. (I have heard of little evidence ofit being enforced but rules are rules. The rules even have an advantage in that you have to use French supermarkets! Aldi and Lidl are not French so give them a miss for a week or two and experience the lovely French supermarkets.
David
0 -
Last minute flight bookings can be incredible bargains.
For anyone prepared to leave caravan and motorhome at home there are flights to the far south of Spain next Monday morning - that’s in two days time - for £18 . Or £22 if you want more civilised timing.
Those are one way direct non stop flights from Gatwick.
How to get back? Maybe a train to Seville or on into Portugal and research flights home from there.1 -
1 - Now we can holiday when we want we go out of high season and it looks like we will be using Brittany ferries on the Plymouth to Roscoff route as our norm. I found this webpage that shows the cheapest days for crossings, so it makes planning easier as shifting your holiday by a day or so each end can make a big difference. Brittany FerriesI
2 - I know Red pennant is on the way out, but will hopefully find a replacement. We have booked a late summer holiday one year followed by an early summer holiday the next. This enabled us to take out a years multi-trip RP policy, cheaper than the two yearly singles.
3 - Route planner: route calculation, detailed journey cost - ViaMichelin is excellent for the route planning with accurate on the road times. It allows you to add via points and avoid expensive tolls. The extra benefit is the out of town supermarket fuel you can also pick up and save a small fortune compared to the prices on the toll roads.
4 - The big one is the early booking of crossings. The club is not always cheapest, but on Harwich - Hook of Holland is a bargain. Eurotunnel for 2026 is also good. If over 60 then phone DFDS to get a deal on Newhaven - Dieppe that is neither advertised or available on-line. Brittany Ferries is best booked direct.
5 - Site bookings out of season are usually cheaper through ACSI, but occasionally through the club is cheaper, so look carefully at the hidden costs of Euro exchange rates and IBAN fees if paying direct to a site. Again, it pays to book early.
Colin
1 -
There are too many variables to offer tips without knowing destinations and type of outfit. Without knowing this the only one I will offer is - research, research. Do your research on the country or countries you intend to visit especially the laws you may have to adhere to otherwise you may find the visit expensive.
peedee
0
