Are you dreaming of your next holiday? No matter what time of year you decide to go away, you’ll probably be looking for the best deals so you can make memories of a lifetime without breaking the bank.

To help you out, Manchester Airport has shared some tips to help your money stretch further when you book your next trip.

The airport gives passengers the opportunity to fly to more than 200 places across four continents and you can get the most out of your holiday savings right from deciding where to visit to the money you spend while on holiday.

5 ways to make your money stretch when booking your next holiday

Deciding where to go

Manchester Airport encourages holidaymakers to do some research and set a budget when they’re deciding where to go.

Passengers can find information such as costs for accommodation, food and drink, transport and entry fees for attractions online and you might find that cheaper day-to-day costs in some destinations offset a slightly higher air fare to get there, saving you money overall, the airport suggests.

In western Europe, Portugal and Spain tend to offer the best value for money, while on the other side of the continent, Turkey’s popularity has boomed in recent years due to the strength of the Pound against the Turkish Lira.

While Croatia and Greece are more expensive than they used to be, holidaymakers can still find deals.

Albania, Montenegro and Bulgaria are up-and-coming hotspots in eastern Europe where prices remain low.

Package holiday providers often have deals available in Latin American destinations like Mexico, Cuba or the Dominican Republic, or in North African countries like Morocco and Egypt, where the pound in your pocket will go a lot further, all with ATOL protections in place, according to Manchester Airport.

All the places mentioned above can be flown to via Manchester Airport.

Booking your trip

If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you could save money.

For example, if you’re travelling without school age children you’ll find better deals either side of the summer holidays (in June and September) and the weather will still be sunny.

Some days of the week are cheaper to fly than others with Manchester Airport suggesting that better value fares are available midweek rather than at the weekend.

The time of day that you fly can also make a difference as travelling at a more convenient time comes at a premium.

While package holidays can be great value, shopping around could help you save money and get more flexibility for your holiday.

Save up between now and summer

If you know you’d like to go on a summer holiday and haven’t opted for an all-inclusive trip away, Manchester Airport suggests putting a little bit of money away each month when you’ve booked your trip.

You could also set yourself a budget and make separate savings pots for different activities you’d like to do while on holiday.

If you’re in control of your finances, you might be able to relax and enjoy your break more.

Book in advance if you’re planning to drive to the airport or use one of the lounges so you can get the best deal.

There are a few options available to suit all budgets with the best deals in the airport’s official car parks generally being in JetParks which is a five-minute shuttle bus away from the terminals.

There are several different lounge products available too which cater for different clientele – the Escape lounge is suitable for families and is also the most economical option.

Some holiday package deals do include parking and lounge access so you can look out for this when booking.

Manchester Airport is a well-connected city when it comes to public transport so using the bus, train or coach links could be a cheaper way to get you to the airport.

Packing your bags

If you’re able to, try to stay within your allocated baggage allowance to avoid paying extra for your hold luggage.

You can save space by packing a small number of clothing items that are versatile for use with multiple outfits.

Rolling your clothes instead of folding them could also save you space and using space-saving travel items like an all-in-one travel adaptor or blow-up travel pillows that can be deflated.

Save your money while on holiday

Research the public transport links in your destination and use them – this could save a lot of money particularly if you can buy a weekly pass for the bus or train network.

Recommended reading:

Try to avoid eating out at restaurants every meal if you can and if you’ve got a kitchen in your accommodation, use it to save money.

If you’ve still got some foreign currency left when you come home, Manchester Airport advises that you put it towards your next trip, instead of spending it.

Euros can be used in nearly two dozen countries so even if you’re heading somewhere completely different in the future, you might be able to use up your leftover money.