Around 20million of us are holidaying here in the UK this year, according to research from travelsupermarket.com.
The fact many households are tightening their belts because of the recession and credit crunch, coupled with the recent weakness of sterling, are major influencers which have increased the popularity of the 'staycation'.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at travelsupermarket.com, said: "The ability to cut down on transport and accommodation costs as well as knowing the average price of a coffee, beer or restaurant meal is a budgeting blessing for UK holidaymakers at a time when people are watching their money. Understanding the language and culture of the UK is also a comforting factor for many travellers."
However, just because you're avoiding the hassles of currency exchanges, airport baggage checks and immigration forms it doesn't mean you can afford to be under prepared for your holiday.
We've put together a checklist to ensure you're covered before you hit the road:
Don't forget travel insurance
A survey by moneysupermarket.com revealed that almost 50% of people wouldn't think about insuring themselves for a holiday here in the UK. Medical cover may not be as important as it is for a foreign holiday but travel insurance is still worthwhile - what about if you have to cancel for some reason? With policies starting from as little as £9 with Insurewithease for a family of four holidaying for a week in the UK, you needn't break the bank either. Our travel insurance comparison tool can help you find an affordable policy.
That said, there may be elements of cover, such as personal possessions, that you already have as part of your home insurance policy, so it's worth checking the small print as there's no point in paying for something you don't need.
Get on your bike
Don't forget to check if your family's bikes are insured if they'll be going on holiday with you. Bikes may be covered under your home insurance policy but it's worth a call to your insurer to check and if not it shouldn't cost much to add it on.
Prepare for a breakdown
If you're heading off on holiday in your car give it a health check before you leave - check tyre pressures and oil levels; and don't forget breakdown cover. Comprehensive cover is so inexpensive nowadays that it's not worth taking the risk of being stranded on the hard-shoulder and having to pay a fortune to be relayed home.
Policies start from as little as £30 a year. When comparing products look for things such as whether it covers you if you breakdown at home; and if onward travel or emergency accommodation included. It's also worth looking at the average call-out times. Our breakdown cover comparison tool enables you to do all this in a matter of minutes and you can apply online.
One thing to bear in mind is the fact that most policies don't kick-in for at least 14 days so you won't be covered if you breakdown during this period.
Take out caravan insurance
If you are going to use a caravan, don't forget to take out suitable insurance - some breakdown policies will automatically include a caravan as standard but they are unlikely to include cover for your personal effects if they are stolen, cover for awnings, gas bottles and other specialist equipment. Moneysupermarket.com's new caravan insurance channel will help you find the best value cover.
Be a happy camper
Some of the specialist items that are unlikely to be included on a typical home insurance policy include camping equipment such as the tent itself, portable cooking gear, lanterns and gas burners. However, standalone camping insurance is available from as little as £16 a year with E&L Insurance and covers equipment up to a value of £10,000.
Where are the last-minute bargains?
Whatever type of holiday you're looking for in the UK, be it a holiday cottage, holiday park, city break or B&B you can find loads of late offers on travelsupermarket.com. And don't forget to check if there are any discount vouchers available for days out. Current offers include two-for-one entry at Chessington World of Adventures; after six discounted ticket prices at Madame Tussauds; and two for one entry at Alton Towers. Why pay full price when you don't have to?
You may even find a bargain overseas and ditch your plans to stay here in Britain in favour of some guaranteed sun abroad. For example, you can get seven nights in Corfu for just £191 per person or a week in Egypt for just £359 per person.
Disclaimer: Please note that any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing.
Rate This Article
Click on a star to rate this article.
