The summer holidays are just around the corner, so you might be getting away for a few days or weeks. How do you do that as smartly as possible, without falling for all sorts of tricks from booking sites? Experts and readers share tips.
“It’s very difficult to defend yourself against those tempting offers,” says consumer psychologist Patrick Wessels. “These organizations often have a whole army of marketers in their service, who find out exactly how to seduce the consumer. The chance that you alone are smarter than such a team of people is not great.” In addition, people often overestimate how good they are at recognizing these kinds of tricks.
And not only that: often you are in a good mood when booking a holiday, he thinks. “Which may make you more likely to take things for granted. That is different from, for example, doing groceries as cheaply as possible. Then it is easier to be critical.”
The consumer psychologist thinks that booking sites therefore often offer rounded amounts. These are small things that can ensure that consumers stay in a jubilant mood for longer, says Wessels.
Although it can be difficult to see through these tricks, it can help if you have a better picture of what you might be dealing with. And in any case, it is good to check in advance with whom and what you are booking, advises Sanne Over. Over is a spokesperson for the ANWB.
Pay Close Attention to which Organization You Are Booking With
“Think of booking sites that only act as an intermediary and therefore do not help you if something goes wrong. But also check whether an organization is affiliated with The General Dutch Association of Travel Companies (ANVR).” If this is the case, you can also contact the Travel Disputes Committee if you have problems. This committee handles complaints from consumers against a travel organization or booking office.
Readers suggest going away outside of peak season and school holidays, if possible. Someone also advises looking at the area and not booking a specific place. “Because people often want to go to the usual places, they are expensive. But if you look a few kilometers away, it is often more affordable.”
Furthermore, readers share that it can help to book on weekdays and look at surrounding airports. It can also make a difference to book a flight and accommodation separately. This way you can choose the cheapest flight by comparing. Booking a hotel on the spot also saves money. Then you just shouldn’t care too much about where you sleep.
Booking Through the Hotel Itself is Cheaper
Skip the booking site from now on, says a reader. If you book through the hotel’s own site, it is often cheaper and you often get a discount. Discount codes from hotel chains can regularly be found online, another advises.
And if you book a plane ticket after 12 o’clock in the evening, you will often see lower prices. When searching for plane tickets, don’t enter a specific date at all, but rather tick a longer period. And turn off your cookies. You are completely cheap if you do a house swap or look after someone’s house.
Also pay close attention to who you are booking with, says a reader. “Recognized travel organizations should state all costs. Budget airlines don’t always.” Who and what kind of trip you book is important for your rights as a traveler, Over knows. “Therefore, check in advance who is responsible if something does not go as agreed,” she says.
Piggy Bank for Unexpected Costs
“A package tour, linked travel arrangement or separate travel services? It makes a difference to the conditions and rights you can invoke,” says Over. “If you book a package tour and something goes wrong, the travel organization must offer a solution. If you book separate travel services yourself, you have to do it yourself.”
Don’t forget to check the reviews, says Over. “And look at the location on Google Maps. Is the hotel really close to the beach or do you have to walk a long way?” Wessels thinks it is better not to be too critical. “That doesn’t make the process any more fun. And the anticipation is also worth a lot.”
If you are stressed because you would like to book a holiday as cheaply as possible, you will get a long way with these tips from experts and readers. Still, there is still a good chance that you will overlook something, says Wessels. He advises creating a piggy bank for possible unexpected costs. “That way you have already calculated these expenses and it doesn’t feel like something you also have to pay.”