As the school term begins and the peak summer holiday season winds down, almost half (45%) of UK holidaymakers are planning to save money by taking advantage of cut-price, off-peak getaways.

This trend reflects a growing desire to make holidays more affordable, according to a recent Opinium survey of 1,000 holidaymakers(1) commissioned by Multitrip.com, a specialist travel insurance provider.

The survey finds that nine in ten (91%) holidaymakers are taking steps to reduce their holiday costs, with many travelling off-peak as a money-saving hack (45%). More than half (51%) also say avoiding the extreme heat in Europe during July and August is a key benefit of travelling outside peak season.

The Top Ten Money Saving Holiday Hacks According to the Multitrip.com Survey

1. Book early (46%)
2. Travel outside of peak holiday seasons (45%)
3. Travel midweek (45%)
4. Book directly with holiday providers (36%)
5. Opt for unusual trip lengths [e.g., 6 or 9 days instead of 7, 10 or 14] (31%)
6. Go self-catering (30%)
7. Compare direct bookings with package deals (30%)
8. Fly at anti-social times (29%)
9. Take a “wonky weekend” – e.g. Saturday to Tuesday (28%)
10. Use loyalty points or reward programmes (27%) 

Other popular tactics include choosing destinations based only on the best flight and accommodation deals (25%), booking last minute (23%), and waiting for flight sales (22%). One in five (20%) also admit to making lunch from the hotel breakfast buffet to save money on eating out.

Older travellers (Gen X and Boomers) are more likely to embrace flexibility - travelling midweek or out of season - compared to Gen Z and Millennials, who often face stricter work or study commitments.

Christian Bennett of Multitrip.com said: “From wonky weekends to flying at anti-social times and travelling off peak, there are plenty of creative ways to stretch your holiday budget. But one area you shouldn’t cut corners is insurance. Travelling without it can be a risky gamble.”

To protect their holiday investment, Christian Bennett stresses the importance of purchasing travel insurance as soon as they book, or ‘ASAB’, to ensure coverage starts immediately. “If you wait until closer to your departure date to arrange travel insurance, you might find yourself unable to recover the cost of your trip if you need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances, for instance if you or your travel companion or a close relative is diagnosed with a serious illness. That’s why we’re urging UK holidaymakers to secure their cover as soon as they book their flight or holiday, especially since the cost doesn’t decrease if you leave it until the last minute as this ensures your holiday is protected right from the start."

However, the survey also reveals that many holidaymakers are not adequately protecting themselves. Almost a fifth (18%) opt for the cheapest travel insurance available, and only a quarter (27%) check that their policy’s cancellation limit would cover the cost of their holiday if they had to cancel. The same proportion also fails to check that their luggage coverage is enough to cover the costs of lost or damaged luggage and contents.

Christian Bennett adds: "It’s also crucial to thoroughly research travel insurance options to ensure you have the right coverage tailored to your needs. At Multitrip.com, we offer three levels of cover with optional add-ons, allowing customers to tailor their policy to suit their needs. It’s vital for customers to carefully review their chosen policy, paying attention to coverage limits, excesses, and essential add-ons such as Gadget Cover, Cruise Cover and Travel Disruption coverage.”

Multitrip.com offers three levels of protection, Essential, Premier, and Premier Plus. Multitrip.com policies automatically provide cover for over sixty sports and activities, such as cycling, hiking, running, water skiing and scuba diving (terms, conditions and exclusions apply). Other activities can be added with an additional premium. Holidaymakers can add extra cover for Travel Disruption, Gadgets, or Winter Sports to a travel insurance policy to provide coverage for more specific travel needs.

Multitrip.com Annual European travel insurance policies start from £19.99(2). Annual Worldwide incl. USA/Canada travel insurance starts from £44.69(3). Prices exclude £3.95 handling fee.

Sources

1. Opinium online survey conducted with 2,000 nationally representative UK adults from 7 – 11 March 2025, of which over 1,004 holiday abroad at least once a year. 
2. £19.99. Online price for Essential European Cover for person under 40 years. Price excludes £3.95 handling fee.
3. £44.68. Online price for 1 Year Worldwide incl. USA/Canada Essential cover for person under 40 years. Price excludes £3.95 handling fee.