As schools return and the peak summer holiday season winds down, more than four in ten (41%) UK holidaymakers are planning to save money by travelling off-peak.
This trend reflects a growing desire to make holidays more affordable, according to an Opinium survey of over 1,000 holidaymakers1 commissioned by Multitrip.com, a specialist travel insurance provider.
Almost nine in ten (88%) holidaymakers surveyed are taking steps to reduce their holiday costs. Booking early is the most popular tactic, used by 43%, closely followed by travelling midweek or outside the peak season, at 41%.
Older travellers are particularly likely to embrace off-peak travel, with 49% of Gen X and 51% of Baby Boomers doing so, compared with 35% of Millennials and 29% of Gen Z.
Holidays nevertheless remain a priority, with 43% saying they are cutting back in other areas to make trips possible.
The nation's top 10 holiday money-saving hacks
1. Booking early - 43%
2. Travelling off-peak - 41%
3. Packing snacks from home to avoid airport prices - 33%
4. Taking a 'wonky weekend', such as a Thursday to Sunday or Saturday to Tuesday - 29%
5. Flying at anti-social times - 29%
6. Comparing package holidays with booking independently - 29%
7. Using loyalty schemes - 27%
8. Booking last minute in the hope of finding a bargain - 25%
9. Choosing self-catering accommodation - 25%
10. Travelling with hand luggage only, or taking ‘the carry-on challenge’ - 21%
Other popular tactics include making lunch from the hotel breakfast buffet to save money on eating out (19%), staying in cheaper accommodation (19%) and choosing a holiday destination based on the best flight and accommodation deals (16%).
Christian Bennett of Multitrip.com said: “With resorts becoming quieter and children back at school, early autumn can be a lovely time to visit Europe for those who are able to travel outside the peak season.”
“Taking other cost-saving steps, from booking a wonky weekend to flying at anti-social hours, can stretch the holiday budget further. But travel insurance is one area where holidaymakers shouldn’t cut corners. Travelling without it can be a costly gamble if something goes wrong.
“Travel insurance can provide valuable financial protection if something goes wrong, from medical emergencies and cancellations to lost baggage. A GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) is also worth carrying if you're travelling in Europe, but it doesn't replace travel insurance. It won’t cover costs such as trip cancellation, lost luggage, or getting you home if you become seriously ill or injured abroad.”
Multitrip.com is also encouraging travellers to arrange insurance as soon as they book their trip, or “ASAB”, so that they have cancellation cover in place from the outset, subject to the policy terms.
Christian Bennett continued: “If you wait until closer to departure to arrange travel insurance, you may be unable to recover the cost of your trip if you have to cancel before then. This could happen, for example, if you, a travelling companion or a close relative unexpectedly becomes seriously ill. That’s why we urge holidaymakers to arrange their insurance as soon as they book their flights or holiday.”
Source
1 Opinium online survey conducted with 2,000 nationally representative UK adults from 24-27 Feb 2026, of which 1,016 holiday abroad at least once a year.
