With the summer season approaching, people across the country will be planning to jet set off on a vacation abroad. However, with the continuing cost of living crisis, and inflation at 10.1%, many British holidaymakers are looking for ways to save money, with many turning to online platforms such as TikTok for inspiration.
As more travellers look to save on their holiday the TikTok hashtag #TravelHacks has surpassed a staggering 3.1 billion views and counting.
Sam Whillance, discount expert at Deal.Town has provided a round-up of some of the best travel hacks as seen on ‘travel TikTok’, as well as debunking some of the common travel myths.
Utilising Google Flights is a great way to bag the cheapest deals on airfare. A key benefit is that the platform has multiple different filtering options to really help savvy shoppers hone in on the best deals.
Also, the tool will allow you to search flights from multiple start destinations at once, allowing you to compare the cheapest route options for your holiday.
Does going in incognito mode while booking actually work?
When booking flights and accommodation, many TikTok travellers browse incognito to beat dynamic pricing of airfare. However, this TikTok hack has been heavily debunked, with airline companies highlighting how this does not impact the price you are displayed.
In fact, flight ticket prices are extremely volatile, and change constantly due to air fare class. Therefore, this popular ‘hack’ is little more than an urban myth, and won’t actually save you any money when booking this year’s summer holiday.
Book your flights on a Tuesday
Many TikTokers say booking your flights on a Tuesday will secure you a better deal. Most airlines will launch their weekly deals and discounts on a Monday night. By waiting till Tuesday to book, you may find that you get a much cheaper price than when booking over the weekend.
Fly midweek
Booking your trip to begin midweek will often save you money, as airfares are often cheaper when flying midweek compared to over the weekend.
Set up a price alert on the Skyscanner app
Rather than continuously checking for flights, many TikTok travellers bag cheap airfare by setting up price alerts in the SkyScanner app. Not only will this save you time, but will also keep you updated as flight prices fluctuate daily, meaning you can take advantage if prices drop.
Use the everywhere feature on Skyscanner
If you aren’t set on a particular destination, and are just looking for a cheap deal, use the ‘everywhere’ feature on Skyscanner which will display the best flight details from your chosen destination.
Book individually
Although it may require more effort, when travelling as a large group, booking flights individually can often help you secure a better deal and discount, according to many travel bloggers and TikTokers.
Book your transport to the airport as a group
However, if you are travelling to the airport as a group, this should be done using a group booking. The majority of train companies will offer discounts for groups travelling together.
In fact, groups of 3 – 9 adults travelling together can get ⅓ off the price of off-peak tickets.
Carry your excess luggage in a pillow case
TikTok travellers are utilising savvy methods to beat excess hand luggage charges. Many are promoting the pillow case hack – placing clothing inside of a pillowcase, as most airlines will not class a pillow as an extra piece of baggage.
Use vacuum sealed bags for your luggage
Vacuum sealed bags are being used far and wide to make the most of your baggage space, as they help to avoid incurring and additional fees from the airline. Not only will they save travellers space and money, but they are also an ideal way to keep your clothing safe from dust or spillages whilst travelling.
They are relatively low cost, with a pack of 5 large vacuum bags, plus a hand pump costing just £11.87 on Amazon – significantly more cost effective than paying additional baggage fees with an airline.
