In this, our 1st in a series of collaboration pieces with Travel Counsellor Dona Kirkham, we look at holiday value by comparing the costs of self catering versus options which include food and drinks.
One of the first things to consider when booking a holiday is whether you want it to be:
Self-catering – where your meals aren’t included in the cost of the holiday
Bed and Breakfast – where your breakfast is included in the price of your hotel/accommodation
Half-board – where breakfast and one other meal is included in the price of your accommodation
All-inclusive – where an unlimited amount of meals, drinks and snacks are included in the price of your stay
Let’s imagine your budget sits at, say, £3,000 for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children under age 12 at the time of travel). With this budget, you may feel that this would only allow a certain type of meal plan but it’s best to look further into your options. A self-catering option may well just sit under budget, so you may assume that adding meals to this would cost the earth, but this is not always the case… and this is where the expertise of a travel professional comes in! A travel professional can help to maximise your holiday, giving you more value for money.
There is no right answer of which to book- it’s completely dependent on what’s right for you! If you prefer to browse local supermarkets and try out a range of local restaurants, self-catering may be better suited for you. If you want to sip unlimited drinks and have your dinner plans sorted each night without worrying about sticking to a budget, you might want to check out all-inclusive. Whatever you choose, Dona Kirkham – Travel Counsellors can help you come to that decision and discuss all the different options available.
For example…
If we look at a 7 night holiday in Tenerife (a family of four, 2 adults and 2 children ages 9 and 11) departing on the 1st of June from Manchester, let’s see what you can get for your money…
| Accommodation | Room Type | Self Catering | B&B | Half Board | All inclusive | Notes |
| Sunwing Fanabe | Studio | £2,796.00 | £2,812.00 | Just £4.00pp for breakfast for 7 nights! | ||
| Best Jacaranda | Family Room | £2,940.00 | £3,308.00 | Just £13.00pp per day for an evening meal | ||
| Landmar Costa Los Gigantes | Suite with Ocean View | £2,972.00 | £3,068.00 | £3,260.00 | Only £3.43pp for an evening meal every night or £10.29pp for lunch, an evening meal and drinks! |
Keeping Your Money Secure
When going abroad, it can be a good idea to keep your money for holiday spending in a separate account. This means that if your card is ever cloned, stolen or lost, and you haven’t had a chance to cancel your card before money is withdrawn from it, only a small amount of money can be taken from you. Otherwise, you risk scammers and thieves being able to access all of your money.
Additionally, if your debit or credit card is lost or stolen and this is your only access to withdrawing your money, it can make your holiday very stressful. Therefore, it’s also worth considering bringing more than one payment card when travelling abroad.
It’s worth taking these measures when going on holiday as you want to be putting your feet up and letting your hair down, not worrying about coming home penniless!
Checking Conversions
If you choose to pay on card for transactions made abroad, make sure to check the card machines when the currency rate has been carried out. If you agree on a price with a store owner in the local currency, you don’t want to check out your online banking only to see a bigger charge than you expected due to a poor exchange rate. The conversion charges that come with using a credit or debit card abroad can sometimes make it more expensive than paying in the local currency!
If you decide to take out money in the local currency, make sure you check the conversion rate here too, as well as counting the cash that is given to you whilst you’re at the till or ATM machine.
It does tend to be more expensive to withdraw money abroad than at home. However, certain banks give you the mid-market exchange rate and don’t charge a fee for withdrawals abroad. You can head to Which? for more information on the best banks for spending abroad.
Dona Kirkham is a highly experienced travel professional, who has been with Travel Counsellors for 16 years and in the travel industry itself for more than 33. She takes a warm and friendly approach to help you find your perfect holiday without all the stress! As well as Dona being there with you through every part of the booking process, everything booked carries complete financial assurance with your money covered under an ATOL license or unique travel trust.