• Why a caravan holiday?
• Where to begin and how much it will cost
• Buying your own caravan
• Buy second hand
• Insuring you caravan 

Why a CHEAP caravan holiday?

Renting a caravan is often much cheaper than staying in a hotel or even renting a cottage.

You may envisage a caravan holiday being very basic and not providing you will all the comforts and amenities that you are used to. However most caravans are equipped with modern up-to-date fittings and, depending on where you stay, may also be fully kitted out with everything you need including kitchen utensils, a cooker and a fridge. Haven’s range of caravans begin at the Standard level which offer features such as a 32″ TV in the lounge, double glazing and central heating!

On top of this, caravan holidays provide a form of flexibility that many other getaways do not. Many caravan owners are happy for you to bring your pets along so you don’t have to worry about getting someone to look after them. Most parks accept up to two dogs per caravan and often have fantastic walking routes to explore.

Plus there are caravan parks not just all over the UK, but all over Europe, so there is plenty of scope as to where you can go. Although, of course, you will have to bear in mind the travel costs if you’re thinking of going somewhere distant.

Where to begin and how much it will cost

There are many big name holiday park websites that you can search to find a good deal such as Haven and Parkdean Resorts. If you’re looking to go somewhere a little different or have a specific area you would like to go to then you can search sites like UK Caravans 4 Hire and pitchup.com.

The cost of renting a caravan depends on the quality of the caravan, the location and the time of year you want to rent it. Middle of the Summer in Cornwall is going to be a lot more expensive than Scotland in February.

Even during high season, during the busiest period, most caravans rarely cost over £700 a week and most tend to be between £400-£600. While caravans are self-catered and many parks boast facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and play areas, you will have to remember that the cost of eating, travel and entertainment must be considered on top of the price of accommodation.

Buying your own static caravan

Rather than renting a caravan there is always the possibility of buying one of your own. You might think it would make sense to have your own caravan which you can use at any time and rent out the rest of the year. However, whilst it might be tempting to get yourself a new caravan if you can afford one, we would recommend against it.

The additional costs soon rack up, though. As the owner of the caravan you would be responsible for pitch fees that range from £3,000 a year to over £12,000 a year, depending on the location. You also need to take water rates,  gas and electricity and Caravan Holiday Home insurance into account, which could add thousands onto your bill.

If you are thinking about paying for a new caravan (which can easily cost upwards of £35,000-£65,000) then be aware that static caravans depreciate in value extremely quickly. It could easily be losing thousands of pounds a year, although exactly how fast it will depreciate depends on the model.

As a caravan owner you will also be at the mercy of the park owners so make sure you research carefully before signing any contracts.

• You will have to pay their pitching fee
• you may well only be allowed to have a caravan under a certain age in the park
• and, when the time comes to sell, the park owner may want to sell the caravan for you and receive some commission. Whilst you can refuse this arrangement, the park owner can refuse to keep the caravan on their park site which will make it considerably more difficult to sell as other park sites may not accept it either.
• You will need to pay for caravan insurance as well and it is worth using a comparison site to find the best deal available.

There is the possibility to get some of your money back by renting out your caravan but there are a lot of other caravan owners doing the same thing, which is why caravan holidays are so cheap. Some park sites are also closed at some points of the year and you won’t be able to rent it out at that time (which also rubs salt in the wound when you consider the costs you are paying).

If you buy a tourer caravan (one you can drive around) you’ll have more flexibility where you can leave it and you likely won’t run up the same costs that you would at a holiday park site. You will, however, need somewhere to store it and some local councils won’t allow you to leave it on your driveway.

Buy a second hand caravan

If you are going to buy a caravan we recommend you buy second hand (£4,000+ for a touring caravan, more for a static). The caravan won’t depreciate so much in value once you’ve bought it and there will be less of a loss if you find out caravan holidays aren’t for you.

To search for a caravan to buy you could begin by browsing the caravan Autotrader website. Remember, some park sites won’t allow older caravans (usually caravans older than 10 years).

Again, research thoroughly before buying to make sure you are getting the used caravan at a fair price.

Make sure you take into consideration all the potential costs before you splash out because renting once a year may well be a lot easier and less costly than having your own caravan.

ENSURE YOU INSURE IT

While it is not a legal requirement that you get your caravan insured, sometimes even the best planned holiday can throw up unexpected problems.

For static caravans, insurance protects the vehicle itself, as well as its parking lot. It is important to ensure that you have transit insurance so that when you move your caravan, it is also then covered against accident, damage or theft.

For touring caravans, while you car insurance may cover you for towing, it is unlikely to protect you in the event of a problem. The rules on towing are different depending on when you passed your driving test. For example, if you passed your test before 1 January 1997, you are able to tow up to 8.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM). However, if you passed your test after that, the amount that you are legally allowed to tow is smaller.

Regardless of the type of caravan that you have, it is important to ensure that its contents are insured. However, be careful not to double up on insurance as it can make claiming difficult and cause extra stress.

Some insurance companies offer discounts on their packages if you improve the security of your caravan. Some simple measures include keeping your valuables out of view, but others such as the installation of a Thatcham-approved alarm are valuable investments. Another way to sneak a discount is to join clubs such as The Camping and Caravanning Club as members get exclusive benefits such as Arrival breakdown cover and access to a forum of likeminded holidaymakers.

For more help with your caravan insurance, get a quote here.

The post How To Have A Cheap Caravan Holiday appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

There are lots of places to get ebooks for free. This helps with avid readers saving money and is a great way to encourage your children to read more, as they can read on their chosen device. However, it’s a wild world out there and some people are out to scam you for your love of reading. Make sure you check out how to spot the legitimate free ebook websites and how to spot book pirates.

Why eBooks?

A List of Legitimate Free EBook Websites

Become an ARC Reader

Try Free Audiobooks

Why Pirated eBooks are Bad for Everyone

Piracy Red Flags to Watch Out For

Why eBooks?

Readers recently reported that they are constantly distracted. In fact, the Reading Agency’s State of the Nation report revealed that an average 46% of people feel distracted when reading, rising to a huge 55% for those aged 16-44 years old. One of the main reasons cited for reading less is lack of time (24%), too.

Ebooks provide a great way to manage the distracted reading problem, as you can more easily access them on whichever device is easiest for you to regularly access, such as a phone or tablet. With some apps, they can also sync with either the equivalent audiobook (such as with Kindle Unlimited) or at least have a text-to-speech readaloud function. This means people can choose to continue reading their book by listening to it if they are unable to sit down and focus on the words.

Ebooks are versatile

EBooks also suit people for various reasons: you can adjust the font size, access from different devices, and use screen readers if you have a visual impairment. They don’t weigh anything to carry around with you, nor do they take up physical space at home – you can store thousands on your device!

EBooks are also useful because they’re cheaper, when they aren’t free. The cost of paperback books has risen in recent years, due to the ongoing rises in printing and publishing costs. What used to be around £6.99 regularly reaches £10 or more – and hardbacks are easily over £20. EBooks don’t have the printing costs behind them, which means they can be distributed at scale without any change in the production price. This makes them more affordable to sell – and cheaper.

But we’re here for free eBooks, right? Right!

A List of Places for Legitimate Free eBooks

There is never any good reason to pirate eBooks (more on that below). The biggest reason? It’s easy to get hold of free eBooks from a number of legitimate websites! Try these to build your eBook collection.

Hoopla, BorrowBox, and Libby

These are library-linked borrowing apps. So, even if you can’t get to your local library to borrow a physical book, you can still borrow eBooks entirely free. If they don’t have it, you can request it – just like with a physical book! Your library will let you know which linked app or apps they use – and you usually don’t need to visit the library in person to get your library card to get started, either. Check out Hoopla, BorrowBox, and Libby for more details.

Kindle Unlimited and Kobo Plus Free Trials

If you’re a new eBook reader, make the most of free trials. Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s online bookstore, with hundreds of thousands of free books available to read via the Kindle app. You don’t need a Kindle device to read them. Sign up for a free month to try out the platform and read the titles that take your fancy – remember to cancel the trial before it ends if you want to avoid being charged the monthly £7.99 subscription price (which can be cancelled any time). The standard trial is thirty days, but keep an eye out as they often run deals up to three months’ free reading.

Kobo Plus is the leading competitor of Kindle. Again, you don’t need a Kobo e-reader to read their books. You can get the 30-day free trial just by signing up, and choose whether you want just eBooks (£8.99 a month), audiobooks only (£8.99 a month) or both (£11.99). This is significantly cheaper for avid combo-reader-listeners than other options such as Audible.

Prime Reading

We’ve already mentioned Kindle Unlimited, but did you know that if you have an Amazon Prime membership, thousands of books are already included for you to read for free? With Prime Reading, you’ll have access to a selection of Kindle Unlimited books, magazines, and audiobooks but without any extra subscription. The selection is far smaller than Kindle Unlimited, but there is still a LOT to choose from. Sign up for a free Amazon Prime trial of 30 days (or hunt around online for an extended trial offer!) to try it out.

Free Romance eBooks with Harlequin

Harlequin is a very established name in romance, and there’s a huge list of free romance eBooks available on their website. It’s updated regularly, so check back each month to find new titles.

Free eBooks for Teens

Big Five Publisher Simon and Schuster have a dedicated website for young readers! Even better, it includes up to four free young adult and teen books every month – perfect for getting your teenager into reading more. Sign up on the dedicated Simon Teen website to get started.

Free Childrens eBooks

Oxford Owl is a free eBook resource run by Oxford University Press for children between 3 to 11 years old. All the publications are tablet friendly, making them easy to access and for your child to read with you.

Project Gutenberg

One of the largest online public domain libraries, Project Gutenberg is a reliable and extensive resource for anyone looking for free ebooks online. It focuses mainly on books out of copyright in the US, which means you’ll find older titles – perfect if you want to catch up on some classics or find some hidden gems.

BookBub

BookBub is a huge marketplace for authors and they run a daily deal for free eBooks. Sign up to get them!

Radish

Radish is an online platform mostly used by self published (independent) authors and small presses for serialised fiction. This means that rather than free eBooks, you can get free chapters – and complete a serial by reading each chapter or section.

Google Books Free eBooks

Did you know that Google Books has over ten million free titles on their store? Visit the web page to search for a title, or browse the most popular downloads. You’ll find a lot of public domain titles but also loads of free ebooks available on promotions from publishers and indie authors to help spread the word about their books.

Free eBooks with Apple

You don’t need an Apple device to access their Apple bookstore, you can browse online or download the app. And they have tons and tons of free ebooks every month – including popular titles, brand new big releases and more.

Free Magazines with Readly

If you don’t have the attention span to read a whole free eBook, try magazines to get back into the reading habit. Readly has thousands of titles available – and currently has a one-month free trial available (£12.99 a month thereafter, cancel anytime). However, they frequently have two- or three-month free trials, so keep an eye out for offers! If you decide you like the platform, try getting a gift card rather than a rolling subscription as there are usually money-saving options to go via this route.

Become an ARC Reader

If you are desperate to get your hands on free ebooks before they’re published, you can apply to be an Advanced Reader Copy reader. This is when publishers and independently published authors send out digital or physical copies of their book before publication, to generate interest. In return, they ask you to review their book on websites like Goodreads, Storygraph, or Amazon – but you aren’t obliged to. However, if you’re getting a free eBook it doesn’t take much to leave a few lines on a review which will really help the author sell their book!

NetGalley is the leading marketplaces to become an ARC reader. You can also search on social media platforms like Threads to find independent authors and small publishers who have opened calls for ARC readers to go to them directly. You’re not guaranteed to receive an ARC when you apply, but the more reviews you leave, the more likely you are to be accepted regularly for free eBooks.

Try Free Audiobooks

If you want to get into reading but think audiobooks are more your thing, you’re in luck!

BookBeat Extended Free Trial

BookBeat is a streaming service for audiobooks. You can get a thirty-day free trial – or use the MoneyMagpie exclusive to sign up to 75 days free (40 hours’ listening time) for thousands of titles with the code TRY75.

Spotify Premium Free Trial

Spotify recently launched their audiobooks scheme and you can try it out with a free Spotify Premium Trial (have a Google around for a free trial offer as they change frequently). They work it out by hours listened per month, so make sure you choose a book under the 15 hours’ listening time if you want to finish it!

LibriVox

LibriVox is a phenomenal project with thousands of volunteer-read public domain titles that give you endless free audiobook listening. Don’t let ‘volunteer read’ put you off: this is where many professional audiobook narrators start out, and often continue to donate their time to support the project.

Why Pirated Books Are Bad for Everyone

You may have heard of pirate book sites that list ebooks for free online. However, these are terrible – don’t do it! There are so many ways to get ebooks for free legitimately, that piracy isn’t worth it. Not only do you open yourself up to scams like downloading malware or signing up to subscriptions you can’t cancel, it hurts the author, too.

Did you know that even when you borrow an ebook or physical book from the library, the author gets paid a small amount? This means it doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps them maintain their job! Authors are paid so little, every penny counts.

Piracy is also bad for you as a reader, because there is no guarantee you’re getting the book you think you are. Whether you’re reading an earlier leaked version with errors, or a completely scam version that’s made with AI to rip off the author, the reading experience will be ruined for you.

Piracy Scams to Look Out For

There are so many ebook piracy sites out there, it’s hard to list them all. But it’s easy to spot them. Protect yourself and run away if you see any of these red flags:

• Every book is free (most legitimate free eBook sites have free and paid sections)
• You can only read an excerpt before signing up (often to a paid subscription)
• The book title is available before it is officially published
• The books are only PDF files – legit sites will offer different formats such as ePub
• It’s an ‘online library’ without a real lending system (you never have to return the book)
• You’re asked to read on their specific app that needs to be downloaded (and isn’t one of the ones listed above)

There’s no need to pirate when there are so many ways to get free eBooks online, so try the many ways above to find your favourite way to read for free!

The post Free Ebooks: The Legitimate Sites and the Scams to Watch Out For appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Supermarket and In-Store Cafés

Asda Cafés

• Kids’ meals available for just £1 
• Includes vegan and healthy options.
• Comes with a free piece of fruit.
• Available all day, every day, with no minimum adult spend required. Check out the menu online.

Morrisons Cafés

• Kids eat free at Morrisons cafes with the purchase of an adult meal (£4.50 or more).
• Offer applies to children under 16.

Dunelm Pausa Cafés

• Kids eat free when an adult spends at least £4 at a Pausa cafe. Includes a main, drink, and two snacks.

IKEA Restaurants

• Ikea can always be relied upon to have affordable options, such as kids’ pasta with tomato sauce and a drink for 95p.
• Other kids’ meals available for £1.50.
• Offer available daily from 11 AM.

Family-Friendly Pubs

Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table & Whitbread Inns

• Unlimited breakfast: Up to two kids eat free with every adult breakfast (£10.99).
• Offer available daily.

Hungry Horse

• Kids’ meals for £1 every Monday.
• Larger kids’ meals for £1.50.
• Two children can dine per full-paying adult.

Sizzling Pubs

• Kids’ main meals for £1 Monday–Friday (3 PM – 7 PM).
• Offer extends to 12 PM – 7 PM during school holidays.

SA Brains Pubs

• Kids eat for £1 every Wednesday.
• Applies to children up to 12 years old.
• Offer valid with a full-priced adult main meal.

Restaurants Offering Kids’ Deals

Bella Italia

• Kids eat for £1 Sunday–Wednesday (4 PM – 6 PM).
• Kids eat free all day on Thursdays.
• Includes a three-course meal and a drink (for ages 2-11).

The Real Greek

• Free kids’ meal on Sundays with a £10 adult meal purchase.
• Includes a main, drink, and dessert (ice cream or sorbet).
• Applies to children under 12.

YO! Sushi

• Kids eat free during school holidays.
• Requires a £10 minimum adult spend.
• Offer includes a free Bento Box.

TGI Fridays

• Kids eat free all day every day for Stripes Rewards members.
• Available with an adult main meal purchase.
• Includes dishes like chicken burgers, hot dogs, and pasta.

Pizza Hut

• Free kids’ buffet (unlimited pizza, pasta, and salad) daily until 3 PM during summer.
• Requires a £10 adult spend.

Travel-Related Dining Deals

Heathrow Airport Restaurants

• Kids eat free at selected restaurants during school holidays.
• Requires an adult main menu item purchase.

Premier Inn

• Up to two kids eat breakfast free with a full-paying adult.

Travelodge

• Two kids (15 and under) eat breakfast free per full-paying adult.
• Excludes the ‘Breakfast To Go’ option.

May Half Term 2025 Special Offers

Cote Brasserie Kids Eat Free

• Kids under 12 eat free from 23rd May – 1st June
• Minimum adult spend £20
• Sign up to Cote club before booking

Marco Pierre White Restaurants

• Kids eat free during school holidays
• Excludes Saturdays after 6pm
• One free kids’ meal (starter + main or main + dessert) with every adult ordering from the à la carte menu.

Prezzo Italian Restaurants

• Kids eat free during Easter.
• Includes a three-course meal.
• Offer 26th May – 1st June.

BrewDog

• Kids under 13 eat free with an adult meal from 24th May – 1st June.
• Pre-book online using code: KIDS EAT FREE.

Bill’s

• Up to two kids eat free with one adult main purchase.
• Valid May 26th – 6th June (excludes weekends).

The Coconut Tree

• Kids eat free from May 25th – June 1st
• One child (under 10) per paying adult.

Burger King

• Kids eat free with an adult meal purchase.
• Offer valid via Burger King app (May 26th – June 1st).

Las Iguanas

• Free meal with drink for kids under 12 26th May – 1st June.
• No app or booking necessary.
• Adult meal purchase required.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants

• Kids under 8 eat free all day, every day.
• Applies with an adult à la carte meal purchase.

Purezza

• Free pizza for kids under 10 with an adult meal.
• Offer valid all day, every day.

These offers provide great opportunities for families to dine out without stretching their budget. Availability and terms may vary, so it’s best to check with individual establishments before visiting. Enjoy your meals and happy savings!

If you or any know of any other places you would like us to add then pop them in the comments and we will check them out, or alternatively, if you are a business then email us at vicky.parry@moneymagpie.com.

The post Where Kids Can Eat Free or Cheap in the UK (2025 Guide) appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

It’s coming up to half-term for UK schools, and that means extra costs for parents as they find ways to entertain their kids. Worry not – we’ve got loads of ways to pack your half-term with fun things to do for free or cheap!

DINE OUT FOR £1! 

The school holidays can be an exciting time for many. Children are excited at the prospect time away from the confines of school and families can spend some quality time together. Some may even have a nice holiday booked or finally have the time to visit family who live far away. 

But the school holidays are not all sunshine and rainbows. For many, school holidays induce a sense of anxiety. Financial worry clouds the minds of many, as many household costs increase during this period. 

Time off school means many parents are spending more time at home with their children. This leads to increased energy use due to more electronics being used, food being cooked and the use of radiators as the days get chillier. Similarly, more food is being eaten at home, with the break not only on education but the provision of free school meals. Many people rely on these meals to feed their children one full, hot meal per day. 

Check out our EATING FOR £1 FEATURE to see where you can take your kids this half term for cheap. 

Leeds Royal Armouries

Leeds Royal Armouries always goes all-out for school holidays and May is no exception. This half term, go to a free jousting show and learn about the medieval sport; visit exhibits about gladiators, and take part in free workshops. Entry to the museum and jousting is entirely free; there are some extra paid activities such as learning to shoot a crossbow and an escape room experience (school holiday time only). Parking is plentiful and it is easy to get to by bus or train, too.

Story Explorers at The British Library, London

A new exhibition running from May 2025 – January 2026, Story Explorers at the British Library is an interactive exhibition exploring a collection of items related to important books and parts of literature, with lots of different areas to get stuck into. It’s free, but you need to book a ticket online to choose your time slot. Sessions are kept to 30 people maximum to allow plenty of space for everyone to take their time to enjoy the exhibit.

Greenwich Dog Show, Sunday 25th May 2025

A free event for all canine lovers, this popular dog show at the Old Royal Naval College grounds has plenty to keep the family (and pooches) entertained for the entire day. You can enter your dog into several different categories, from waggiest tail to best rescue dog to best golden oldie and even best Bridgerton dog! It’s free to attend the event, and tickets to enter dogs into the contest are £10. More activity and booking details are available on the website.

Brockwell Bounce, Wednesday 28th May 2025

A family friendly festival in Brockwell Park, Brockwell Bounce is a free event with music, entertainment, workshops, food and drink, and more. It’s only 0.3 miles from Herne Hill station and 1 mile from Brixton. Book tickets and find out more on the website.

THEATRE TREATS 

For older children, you could nab £10 theatre tickets for the National Theatre this half term with their 16-25 scheme. Your local theatres may also offer special discounts or there may even be free shows by your local theatre groups in half term, so take a look at your regional theatres to see if you could bag some cheap tickets.

Many theatres offer special discounted rates during half term – book fast, as tickets get snapped up quickly! Check out London Theatre Direct for London shows, or look at your local theatre for discounts and offers.

Some theatres offer discounted tickets for people in receipt of Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Pension Credit and other income-tested benefits. For example, Opera North offers £10 tickets and National Theatre of Scotland offers £5 tickets – check your local theatre’s website for details.

CINEMA for £2.49 

And there are also heaps of kid-friendly offerings from Vue, with both adult and child tickets from only £2.49 per ticket. Vue’s Mighty Morning sessions for kids aged 4-11 give both adults and kids the chance to experience big screen entertainment for a very small price, and run every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10am, plus every day in the school holidays (with availability likely to change depending on when your child’s holidays occur).  

Picturehouse cinemas offer £3.30 kids tickets on Saturday mornings, while their family ticket for other showings saves a lot overall as adults pay a child’s fee, too! If you’re a frequent cinema goer, it’s also worth looking at investing in an annual membership. Picturehouse, for example, starts from £100 a year for an adult which includes ten ‘free’ tickets, access to £1-only screenings, and booking discounts plus more.

Make sure to check out more cinema deals on our dedicated page.

GO TO THE ZOO for only £3 

London Zoo offers £3 tickets for anyone currently receiving Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.  

• The £3 tickets are available for the whole family and under 3’s go free.  
• Tickets can be purchased from the admissions kiosk on the day, from 11am, every day of the week.  
• Just bring proof of benefit letter (electronic or paper). 
• Check offer details at www.zsl.org/CAS

Here’s a list compiled by TripAdvisor on some of the best zoos and aquariums in the UK. 

 If you regularly go for days out to your local Sea Life, as well as want to participate in other adventures like LegoLand, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Alton Towers and more, it could be worth investing in a Merlin pass, which gives you unlimited access to tons of places across the UK for a year.

Whipsnade Zoo and other zoos may also offer Universal Credit and means-tested benefit reduced ticket prices, check their websites before you visit.

VISIT MUSEUMS

Most local museums are free to enter, donation required, or have a small entry fee that can be minimised with a family ticket. They are a great way to entertain the kids in the May half term, and you’ll often find your local museum runs free activities during the school holidays to help further your child’s education and get them engaged in history.

Outdoor museums are also a great way to make the most of May sunshine while exhausting the kids as you go around!

If you’re in or near London, free museums can each take a whole day to explore, filling your May half term week! The British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert museum are all free, as are the Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

Don’t fret if you’re not in London either – there are literally hundreds of free museums in the UK. The CBeebies website has a brilliant free museum finding tool.

SWIM FOR FREE 

Check your local authority for their free swimming lessons opportunities, as well as the pools in your area. Wandsworth Council, for example, offers free swimming lessons for 5-7 year olds during half term and kids under 8 can always swim for free at their pools.

ENGLISH HERITAGE 

250 of the 400 sites run by English Heritage are free to visit. From remote stone circles to ruined abbeys, and Norman castles to Roman temples, you can explore thousands of years of history for absolutely nothing. 

The Neolithic Woodhenge is just over three miles from Stonehenge. Built around 2300BC, we know that six concentric rings of timber pillars once stood here, but no one is quite sure why. The timber posts may have supported a building, or they may have been painted and carved like totem poles. Today the holes where the timber would have been are marked with concrete blocks, but you can still get a sense of the size and atmosphere of this mysterious place. 

Intriguing and important moments in English history from the Roman period right up to the Cold War have left their mark on Dover Castle. It’s a fascinating site to visit. 

The beautiful gardens and woodlands at Wrest Park showcase three centuries of garden design influenced by French, Dutch, Italian and English styles. There are activity packs and audio trails for families as well as a play area by the cafe. 

The remains of Titchfield Abbey are impressive. After the Suppression of the Monasteries it was converted into a grand country house but you can still see some of the medieval remains. Look out for the elaborate chimneys. 

Netley Abbey is the most complete surviving Cistercian abbey in southern England. John Constable once came to paint here, and it’s rumoured to have inspired Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It’s been a popular place to visit since at least the 1840s, when some visitors complained that the abbey’s atmosphere was being spoilt by ‘the popping of ginger beer’! 

Bishop’s Waltham Palace was once the grand home of the wealthy Bishops of Winchester. A three storey tower still stands, as do the palace’s high walls and some of the windows of its great hall.

Universal Credit Reduced Admission Fees

If you’re in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and sometimes also Housing Benefit or other income-related benefits, you could go to activities and attractions for a significantly reduced entry price if you have proof of receipt of the benefit. Always check the website for details as they are subject to change especially during popular times of year such as summer holiday season.

Examples include:

• Annual Royal Transport Museum Pass for just £1
• Chatsworth House – £3
• Westminster Abbey – £1 per adult, free child tickets
• RHS Gardens – £1 for six at some RHS venues
• Historic Royal Palaces – £1 at major attractions like the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace
• Kew Gardens – £1 Entry
• York Castle Museum – FREE
• Eden Project – £5 adult, £1 child up to 15 years old
• The King’s Galleries – £1
• St. Paul’s Cathedral – £1
• Roald Dahl Museum – £1
• Canterbury Cathedral – FREE
• London Wetland Centre – £3
• Blaenafon Ironworks – £1
• Castell Caernarfon – £1
• Chepstow Castle – £1
• HMS Belfast – £3
• Cutty Sark – £2
• Royal Greenwich Pirates – £2
• Royal Observatory – £2
• Manchester Jewish Museum – FREE
• York Art Gallery – FREE
• Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere – FREE
• Lightroom London – £5 Tues and Thurs after 1pm
• Castle Howard – £3
• Harewood House – £2
• Westonbirt, National Arboretum – £1

The post Cheap and Free Things To Do This Half Term appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

From budget flights to free accommodation swaps, this expert-backed guide shows you exactly how to book a holiday for less, with realistic lowest prices included so you know what kind of deals are possible.

Flights & Travel Hacks

1. Book Flights 6–8 Weeks in Advance

Experts at Skyscanner say this window gives you the best shot at low fares.
Example: London to Rome return – from £29 with Ryanair.

Skyscanner Cheap Flights

2. Use Flight Comparison Sites

Use platforms to find the cheapest carrier.
Example: London to Barcelona – from £24 return on Kayak.

• Kayak

• Momondo

3. Be Flexible with Travel Dates

Midweek flights (Tues/Weds) are usually cheapest.
Example: Manchester to Dublin on a Tuesday – £16 return.

4. Try Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” Tool

Find the cheapest destinations available.
Example: London to Milan – from £18 return.

5. Use Incognito Mode

Prevent price hikes from repeat searches.

6. Set Flight Alerts

Get notified when prices drop.
Example: Jack’s Flight Club once listed London to NYC return – £259.

Jack’s Flight Club

7. Redeem Points & Miles

Convert Clubcard or Nectar into flights.
Example: £5 Clubcard = £15 in Avios points.

Accommodation Deals

8. Use Trivago or HotelsCombined

Compare hotel prices.
Example: 3-star hotel in Prague – from £22 per night.

9. Airbnb Alternatives

Find better deals on Vrbo or Booking.com.
Example: Lisbon apartment – from £30 per night on Booking.

• Vrbo

• Booking.com

10. Use Cashback Sites

Get money back on bookings.
Example: 10% cashback on Expedia via TopCashback.

11. Ask Hotels Direct for Discounts

Direct booking can cut 10–20% off your bill.

12. Stay in University Dorms (Summer)

Budget-friendly student accommodation.
Example: Edinburgh room – from £35 per night at UniversityRooms.

Package Holidays & Tours

13. Use Package Holiday Sites

Great for all-inclusive savings.
Example: Jet2Holidays: 7 nights in Costa del Sol incl. flights – from £289pp.

Jet2Holidays

14. Deal Aggregators

Find curated deals.
Example: Icelolly 3-night Malta break – from £99pp incl. flights.

Icelolly.com

15. Book Last-Minute

Discounts for unsold spots. You can even use a site like Lastminute.com
Example: Secret Escapes city break – from £79pp including 4-star hotel.

16. Travel Off-Peak

Avoid school holidays.
Example: Shift your trip by a week and save £150–£300.

Budget UK Holidays

17. Use National Trust/English Heritage Memberships

Free access to attractions.
Example: A £6.50/month family membership saves you up to £100+ per trip.

National Trust

18. Camping/Glamping

Nature escapes for less.
Example: Pitchup tent site in Devon – from £10 per night.

Pitchup.com

19. Holiday Park Discounts

Great for families.
Example: Haven 3-night stay for 4 – from £69 in early spring.

Haven Holidays

20. Use Coach Travel

Advance bookings are very cheap.
Example: London to Bristol on Megabus – from £3.

Megabus

Budget Abroad

21. Travel to Cheaper Countries

Skip expensive hotspots.
Example: Albania beach hotel – from £18/night.

22. Leverage Currency Advantage

Use Post Office Travel Money to find strong exchange destinations.
Example: Turkish Lira means meals for under £5.

23. Use Local Transport Apps

Avoid overpriced taxis.
Example: Airport ride with Bolt in Budapest – £4 vs £20 standard cab.

Smart Travel Habits

24. Use Revolut or Monzo

Avoid card fees abroad.
Example: Save £10–£30 per week on conversion charges.

25. Travel with Hand Luggage Only

Airlines charge for full-size cabin bags now.
Example: Save £40+ per person round-trip.

26. Download Offline Maps

Free, data-free navigation with Maps.me.

27. Join Free Walking Tours

Pay what you like tours in most cities.
Example: Berlin walking tour – from £0 (tip £5–£10 suggested).

28. Use a Refillable Bottle

Avoid buying £2+ bottles repeatedly.

Budget Tools & Planning

29. Use Hopper or Kayak Alerts

Get notified of price drops.
Example: Hopper flagged price drop: London to Reykjavik – £42 return.

30. Use Rome2Rio

Find cheapest route combinations.
Example: Paris to Amsterdam by Flixbus – £12.

31. Track Travel Deals on Reddit

Subreddits like r/Shoestring or r/UKTravelDeals have up-to-date tips.

32. AI-Powered Travel Planning

Use ChatGPT or Utrip for customised itineraries with budget filters.

‍‍ Family Travel Tips

33. Look for “Kids Go Free” Deals

Example: TUI – 7-night family holiday with child free – from £399pp.

TUI Kids Deals

34. Clubcard Vouchers for Travel

Exchange for Legoland or Eurotunnel.
Example: £50 in vouchers = £150 in travel savings.

35. Free Family Attractions

UK museums and beaches are free.
Example: Natural History Museum – free entry all year.

Best Travel Apps

36. Too Good To Go

Get leftover restaurant food for a few quid.
Example: £12 meal for £3.50.

37. Splitwise

Track shared expenses on group trips easily.

38. Google Translate

Free translation and menu scanning in real time.

Creative & Alternative Travel

39. House Sitting

Stay free in return for pet sitting.
Example: TrustedHousesitters annual fee – £99, then unlimited stays.

40. Home Swaps

No accommodation costs.
Example: Paris home swap – £0 for 1 week stay.

41. Volunteer Travel

Work for room and board.
Example: WWOOF farm stay in France – £0 + meals.

42. Overnight Travel

Save a hotel night.
Example: Flixbus overnight route – Berlin to Krakow – £14.

Insider Tricks

43. Facebook Groups for Deals

Search: “Cheap Travel UK” or “Travel Freebies”.

44. Loyalty Schemes = Freebies

Frequent flyer schemes can earn lounge access or upgrades.

45. Avoid Airport Currency Exchanges

Exchange in advance or use cards with no fees.

46. Book Free Cancellation Options

Then rebook if price drops. Often saves £50–£100.

47. Sign Up to Deal Newsletters

Get exclusive or early-bird prices.

MoneyMagpie Newsletter

48. Eat Where Locals Eat

Move two streets away from tourist traps — save £15–£30 per meal.

49. Bring Your Own Snacks

Airport snacks cost 2–3x more.

50. Budget Before You Book

Apps like Emma or YNAB help you stay on track.

Final Thoughts

Getting a great holiday deal in 2025 is absolutely possible — it just takes smart planning and knowing where to look. With these 50 expert-backed ideas and pricing insights, you can enjoy your break without breaking the bank.

Ready to pack your bags? Sign up for the MoneyMagpie newsletter for even more travel deals, savings tips and giveaways — straight to your inbox.

The post 50 Ways to Get a Good Deal or Cheap Holiday in 2025 appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Why Ticket Prices Rocket

Use a Verified Retailer

Consider Cashback Sites to Save

Look for Companion Tickets

Save Money on Concert Tickets

How to Avoid Ticket Scams

Volunteer Instead

Why Ticket Prices Rocket

There was a huge hoo-haa when Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and bands like BlackPink were revealed to use something called ‘dynamic pricing’. This means that the more people that are trying to buy the tickets, the higher the price would rise. While some artists denied allowing this strategy was their choice, using verified ticket retailers that do this (like Ticketmaster) can be seen as implicit agreement to using dynamic pricing in ticket sales.

What this means for you, the customer, is that you might have budgeted around £300 for a pair of concert tickets for your loved one’s special birthday. You sit in the ticket queue waiting for them to be released… and then those tickets now cost £600! And, because live music has die-hard fans, there are many who will take the hit on the higher price because the experience is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for them.

There are no rules against dynamic pricing in the UK. And while it is supposed to be a strategy to ‘stop touts and give more back to artists’, what it is actually doing is pushing second-hand ticket sales through the roof at even higher prices. And the people who can afford to buy these tickets to resell? They’re often the ticket touts this strategy is designed to stop.

Use a Verified Retailer

So, how can you make sure you’re not a victim of ticket scams? Well, unfortunately, some venues and some artists will only use a single ticket sales outlet like Ticketmaster. This means you can only officially buy a ticket through them. While it gives you some buyer protection, for example if the concert is cancelled you can claim a refund, it does limit your options.

However, using a verified retailer is much safer than buying tickets second-hand from auction sites or your local Facebook Marketplace. Many tickets are not transferable to others, and need to be sold back to the original ticket seller agency if the buyer can no longer attend. This means that the ticket you’ve bought from Mr. Mysterious down the local pub might not let you inside the venue, and you won’t have any recourse for a refund from him either.

While using a verified retailer means you have to pay the price they set, you do get buyer protections. They also have resale platforms which are official, so if you need to resell your ticket you can do so properly without risking losing your money or getting scammed.

Common Ticket Scams : The Last Minute One

Ticket scams also come in the form of ‘last minute’ sales – someone says they can’t make it at the last minute, but you can meet them at the venue to get the ticket off them if you send them cash to ‘reserve’ it first.

Again, tickets are usually for the buyer only – but even if they aren’t, meeting a stranger to get a ticket isn’t going to end well (and they usually won’t even turn up). If they do turn up, they might demand more cash from you before handing the (dud) ticket over.

Common ticket websites include TicketMaster, LiveNation, See Tickets and StubHub. TicketSwap and ViaGoGo are verified ticket reseller websites. TicketSwap caps resale prices at 20% above face value to avoid ticket scams.

Get Cashback on Tickets

We talk about cashback sites a lot on Moneymagpie – and for good reason! It’s a great way to essentially get a discount on anything you can buy through them. When you’re buying a gig or festival ticket, that could amount to a nice chunk of change back in your pocket, for doing nothing!

All you need to do is sign up to a cashback site and find the ticket sales website through it. So, if you use TopCashBack, you’d log in and search ‘TicketMaster’ or look at the ‘Tickets and Events’ category to find a ticket sales retailer that will give you cashback. Click the link and buy as usual – just remember to select ‘allow all cookies’ when you get to the ticket website, as this means your purchase will be tracked by the cashback site. It needs to do this so it can pay you the right amount of cashback.

Going through a cashback site is another way to avoid tickets scams as you’ll be assured to only visit a verified ticket retailer.

Common Ticket Scams: The Cash Only Offer

If you think you’re on a verified retailer site, but you have to pay by bank transfer or collect with cash in person, STOP!

Paying for your tickets on a credit or debit card gives you consumer protections if something goes wrong – whether that is because you’ve been scammed, or because the concert has been cancelled, or similar. Your bank or card provider has a duty to you under these protection laws to ensure a refund is processed – but if you pay by bank transfer or cash, you don’t get this security.

Look for Companion Tickets

If you have a disability, you could be entitled to a free companion ticket for events. The Cinema Companion Card is a nationally-recognised scheme, for example. Theatre venues will also often offer companion seats, though you need to buy through the venue directly to book.

For stadium events, some ticket sites will have disabled seats with companion seats, but be aware: sometimes, this means an empty space next to a seat, because the assumption is that the disabled person needs space for a wheelchair. While this feels very inclusive, it obviously excludes a lot of disabled people (such as those who require mobility aids but need to sit down for long periods of time). Check in advance with a venue about their disabled seating arrangements, and whether they offer free or discounted companion tickets.

Common Ticket Scams: Scattered Seats

You might think you’ve found an amazing group ticket deal with a huge discount on seats for the theatre or a gig… but when you get the tickets, you realise they’re single seats throughout the venue and you’re not going to be sitting with your friends.

Scammers that do this offer enticing group discounts, often using social media posts that link to what looks like an official website, because single seats at venues are always reduced. So, they buy all the single seats up in a show and sell them to you as a group package. If you want to go with a group that is larger than the maximum ticket allowance on the verified ticket retailer, contact the venue directly to arrange discounts.

Save Money on Concert Tickets

There are a few more ways you can try to save money on buying a ticket for your favourite artist’s world tour or one of the big music festivals this summer.

Sign Up to Mailing Lists

Look for the event mailing list AND the artist mailing lists. Set up a new email address just for these, if you don’t want to get a lot of extra spam. These newsletters will tell you how you can save money with group discounts, give you the chance to win tickets and VIP experiences, and also make sure you’re the first to know when tickets will go on sale.

Check Your Phone Provider

It sounds strange, but some mobile phone providers offer you the chance to save money on concert and festival tickets, as well as entertainment like the theatre, for their customers. O2 Priority is a well-known example, making sure customers get exclusive access to some presales and other offers.

Use Loyalty Scheme Points

Did you know that you could earn loyalty points to spend on your dream festival or concert ticket year-round? Loyalty schemes like Virgin Red allow you to do just that.

American Express customers could do something similar, with exclusive access to specially-reserved seats at all kinds of experiences and entertainment nights.

Getting to and from festivals and concerts also often involves a lot of travel. Make sure you’re using your Tesco Clubcard or your Nectar points to save money on the travel and accommodation for your gig weekend.

Check out LNER Perks App

Even if you don’t use LNER trains to travel, you can still sign up for the LNER perks app. Why would you do that? Because until July 2024, you can get 30% off an annual ATG membership, starting from £35. If you’re a frequent gig or theatre goer, this membership will give you advance access to tickets and special prices, so the annual fee could easily pay for itself within a couple of events.

And if you do use LNER to travel by train, you can also take advantage of the free £5 credit to spend on an LNER journey just by joining the app!

How to Avoid Ticket Scams

There are a few steps you can take to protect yourself from ticket scams, both saving yourself a lot of money and frustration – and not being disappointed when you get turned away from that concert of a lifetime you’ve been looking forward to.

1. Use a verified retailer – if you’re not sure where it is safe to buy a ticket, the venue will always have this information, so use their website. You can also check the Secure Tickets from Authorised Retailers website or the Association of Secondary Ticket Agents to see if a website or reseller is on the list.
2. Don’t use social media – don’t buy tickets from someone online in a forum, local selling group, or even a website that advertises too-good-to-be-true resale prices.
3. Use your debit or credit card – never pay cash or bank transfer for your ticket.
4. Check your ticket Ts & Cs – legitimate tickets will have resale or refund instructions
5. Check the ticket Ts & Cs BEFORE you buy – look at tickets from the ticket retailer to see if they have a resale policy, buyer-specific QR codes, or anything that identifies the ticket buyer as this could mean you are buying a dud ticket (for example, a QR code ticket can be sold to multiple people as a scam, but only one person will be able to get inside the venue with it).
6. Look for dodgy links before you click – always hover over a website link before you click it and if the URL showing is not the website you want to go to, don’t click!
7. If an online payment fails, DO NOT pay again – contact the ticket sales website to confirm if your transaction went through. A scam website will not have customer service you can talk to, and could take several ‘failed’ payments from you.

Volunteer Instead

Tickets for any kind of entertainment are expensive, even when you can find ways to save money on them while avoiding ticket scams. However, there is one route to getting into your desired festival: volunteering.

Festival volunteers work a shift (usually 4-6 hours each day) and can be anything from traffic wardens to crowd control. In return for their work, they get free tickets to the festival (usually including camping tickets in a special staff area, too). It does mean you might have to compromise on which acts you get to see, if your shift is scheduled for a particular time, but it’s a good way to see things for free. Festival volunteering is physically demanding, however, so you’ll need to be in top condition to do it!

The post Save Money This Summer: Avoid Ticket Scams appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

If you’re a parent trying to save money (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), there’s a little-known gem that could unlock hundreds of pounds worth of free days out for your kids — and it’s been around for decades. We’re talking about the good old Blue Peter badge.

I had one myself when I was a child, and let me tell you — it felt like having a VIP pass to the best bits of Britain. I remember proudly showing it off at museums and gardens, convinced I was basically royalty. Now, seeing it still going strong (and still saving parents a small fortune) makes me a bit nostalgic — and very excited for today’s badge holders.

In 2025, a Blue Peter badge can get your child free entry to over 200 UK attractions — from wildlife parks and science centres to castles and theme parks. All they need to do is earn it and show their badge and ID at the gate. It’s that simple.

Let’s break down how it works, where you can use it, and how your child can bag one of their own.

What is a Blue Peter Badge?

Awarded to children aged 5–15, a Blue Peter badge is a reward for sending something creative to the Blue Peter team — think drawings, poems, short stories or ideas for the show. If successful, they’ll receive the badge in the post, along with a Blue Peter badge ID card.

Top Tip: The badge alone isn’t enough — they’ll need to show their personalised ID card too.

The badge and card give children free access to attractions until their 16th birthday.

Apply for a badge on the BBC site here

Where Can You Use the Blue Peter Badge in 2025?

Here are some standout destinations where your child gets in for free with a Blue Peter badge and valid ID:

Zoos & Wildlife Parks

• ZSL London Zoo – Home to over 750 species.

• ZSL Whipsnade Zoo – A huge safari-style zoo in Bedfordshire.

• Edinburgh Zoo – Famous for its pandas and penguins.

• Africa Alive! – An immersive wildlife park in Suffolk.

• Twycross Zoo – Offers badge holders free entry with a full-paying adult.

Museums, Science & Discovery

• Magna Science Adventure Centre – Industrial science meets hands-on fun in South Yorkshire.

• The Eden Project – Biodomes and interactive exhibits on sustainability.

• The Science and Industry Museum, Manchester – Engaging for all ages.

Castles, History & Culture

• Hever Castle – Childhood home of Anne Boleyn with stunning gardens.

• Jorvik Viking Centre – A ride through Viking York — smells included!

• Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – Get on board HMS Victory and explore maritime history.

Theme Parks & Outdoor Fun

• Adventure Island, Southend – Wristband deals available for badge holders.

• Wookey Hole Caves – Explore magical caves and dinosaurs!

• Heights of Abraham – Cable cars, caverns, and countryside views in the Peak District.

How to Get a Blue Peter Badge

Here’s the simple process:

1. Get Creative: Encourage your child to draw something, write a story, or create a poem.

2. Submit via Post or Online: You can apply for a badge on the BBC website.

3. Wait for the Badge & ID Card: If successful, they’ll receive the badge and later the all-important ID card.

It can take up to 10 weeks, so plan ahead if you’re thinking about summer holidays or half-term trips.

Tips for Using Your Badge

• Bring the badge AND the ID card – No card, no entry!

• Double-check in advance – Always visit the attraction’s website or call to confirm they still participate.

• One paying adult – The child gets in free, but they must be with a full-paying adult.

• Use it often – There’s no limit to how many times you use the badge — so milk it!

Final Thoughts from Vicky

Honestly, this is one of the best budget-saving tips I know for families — and it’s got a bit of nostalgic sparkle too. I remember being so proud of my badge as a kid, and now it’s lovely to see it still going strong, helping families make memories without the price tag.

So if your child’s even a little bit arty, story-loving or creative, encourage them to go for it. It’s a brilliant reward system — and a passport to free adventure.

SEO Title:

Free UK Attractions With a Blue Peter Badge in 2025 – Full List & How to Apply

Meta Description:

Discover how your child can get free entry to 200+ UK attractions in 2025 with a Blue Peter badge. Includes full list, how to apply, and money-saving tips.

The post How to Use a Blue Peter Badge to Get Free Days Out in 2025 appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Spoiler alert: it’s excellent.

The New Method Luggage Range

Why Could It Save You Money?

Putting It Through Its Paces

MoneyMagpie Exclusive Gomatic Discount

The New Method Luggage Range

You might not have heard of Gomatic until now, but you should. They already specialise in high quality bags, such as sling bags and camera-specific backpacks. The new Method luggage range just extends their experience in high-quality bags and accessories.

Available in two sizes – Carry-On and Check-In – the luggage is available in black, grey, and navy and made from an ultra-light polycarbonate. The engineering of the design means you have 20% more packing space in a standard cabin size, allowing you to take more without taking up any extra room. The bag itself has an expandable option, to allow for more internal space if you need it.

Why Could Gomatic Luggage Save You Money?

The Gomatic Method luggage isn’t cheap. We admit that. But have you ever heard the phrase, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’? When it comes to luggage, it’s more likely ‘buy cheap, buy many more times again’. Poorly made luggage breaks, is not durable, or adds extra unnecessary weight to bags that could cost you in fines at the airport gate. Our product tester recalled one particularly disastrous trip involving three flights, watching their underwear go around on the carousel one by one after the first flight. It was a long, long journey that involved bungee cords, embarrassment, and losing some items on the way to the destination. Quality, durable luggage will last a lifetime – and prevent awkward moments.

The engineered design with 20% extra space also means you don’t need to worry about a second bag: one will be plenty, whether you’re using the cabin bag for a week away or a check-in bag for a fortnight or more. So, you’ll save on extra bag costs. too. You could pack even more in with some extra help too, with the compression packing cubes also by Gomatic (although, to note, MoneyMagpie did not test these – however, if the quality of other Gomatic products tested is equal, they will be durable and high quality).

Putting a Gomatic Cabin Bag Through Its Paces

MoneyMagpie tested the Gomatic Method Carry-On bag size in two situations. The first, a tester took it for a long weekend away on a short haul flight with British Airways. The bag fitted in the cabin sizing and the tester was impressed at how easy it was to move through the airport, and lift overhead into the airplane storage. They liked the square shape that made it fit easily amongst other people’s bags.

Our tester went away with their partner, and the majority of both people’s luggage fitted in the one cabin bag. Only one further small backpack was needed (and that only because they needed a day bag at their city break destination). So, that’s enough clothes and paraphernalia for two people over four days in one cabin-size bag. Not bad!

The second trip, another tester took the cabin bag on the train from York to London for a five-day work trip. The bag fitted on the overhead space on an LNER train, although our tester kept it in the luggage rack as that was easier for them to manage (nothing to do with the bag, all to do with a clumsy person worrying about dropping a suitcase on someone’s head). Our tester was tall, at 6’2″ and was very impressed with the height of the adjustable handle. Most cabin bag sized cases don’t have a particularly tall handle, but this one has a great height without losing stability. The four glide wheels coped quite well, although as with any bag struggled with some wonky pavements – however, it fared much better than other bags our tester has tried in the same situation.

Both testers were impressed with the internal space and organisation with an inner removable mesh panel to keep each side of the case separate, the different mesh pockets for bits and bobs, and the hidden airtag pocket to help track the case if stolen or lost. The polycarbonate outer shell might have felt a bit flimsy at first, but proved to be very durable and did not suffer any scratches at all. The wheels held up to some serious testing, too!

Any downsides?

We always write honest reviews, which includes things we reckon could be improved upon. It seems nitpicky, but we’d love to see this range in more colours – perhaps some brighter options, to help them stand out on the baggage claim. And the only other thing we’d change is the lining inside the case. To save on space and give more packing room, there is no fabric lining – which is great! – but the interior is a pale cream colour, which did get a scuff when rummaging. (Although, using packing cubes and shoe bags could have avoided this). The pale colour looks great, but doesn’t feel as practical as a darker one.

The bag also has an integrated TSA-approved combination lock, which is great for keeping your items secure. However, one of our testers has limited hand mobility and found that the zip tags that secure into the lock were quite fiddly to handle.

So yes, our only issues are with the colours and the lock size. Which, in the grand scheme of possible luggage nitpicks, is very minor.

MoneyMagpie’s Gomatic 10% Off Deal

If you want to try Gomatic Method Luggage for yourself, we’ve secured a 10% off discount for MoneyMagpie readers until the end of May 2025. Use the code MAGPIE10 at checkout to claim (not valid on existing discounts or bundles).

The post Gomatic Ultra Light Method Luggage Review appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

So take a deep breath, step back and think about your holiday of a lifetime. We have everything you need when it comes to smart spending for your holiday. With a bit of thought you won’t make false economies on holiday, particularly if you take up the tips below…

• • Saving on flights
  • Saving on hotels
  • Saving on insurance
  • Saving on currency

Saving on Flights

This is an area where you can make great savings if you time it right and do a bit of research. However, you can also get caught out with annoying extras and end up kicking yourself for being so cheap! In fact, a survey by Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Insurance found that 15% of people regretted buying cheap plane seats but then paying more for allocated seating. Men were more likely to regret this (17%) compared to women (14%) and 18-34 year olds more likely to regret this (23%) compared to 35-54 year olds (14%) or those aged 55+ (10%)

They also found that 11% of people regretted not buying enough baggage allowance for a flight and then paying for additional allowance at the airport. Men were more likely to regret this (13%) compared to women (8%) and 18-34 year olds more likely to regret this (20%) compared to 35-54 year olds (9%) or those aged 55+ (4%)

So here are tips for not paying extra:

1. Weigh and measure your luggage if you’re taking a low-cost airline. It’s boring but they do mean it when they give weight and size restrictions.
2. If you need a lot of luggage, pay the extra before or go with a non-budget airline. Quite often the ‘cheap’ airline with extra luggage and nice seating can end up being more expensive than the normal airline – particularly if you have to travel miles to get to their out-of-town airport too.
3. Get clever with your packing. There are lots of ways you can condense your packing. Think about the clothes you can mix and match. Also buying a few temporary bits of toiletries at your destination this can be the cheapest and lightest way to travel.
4. Take light luggage. You’d be amazed at how much wasted weight there is in many suitcases, especially those with wheels or expansion sides or fancy handles. Ultra-lightweight luggage like Gomatic Method, Samsonite, and Antler might be costly but will last a lifetime – and save you on excess luggage weight every time.

Book Direct With the Airline

We are all, rightly, excited by the flight comparison sites. There seem to be so many ways to get cheaper flights through them. Now that Google has got in on the act we have a huge choice of ways to compare.

However, these comparison sites don’t always give you the best deal.

You could be better off going direct to an airline’s own website. Feel free to use the comparison site to compare prices, but once you find a journey you like the look of, try checking out the airline’s own site to buy it. If your journey is complex you may be better doing it over the phone or in person in a travel agency.

Travel expert Simon Calder says: “I am constantly being contacted by people who have made false economies by going for what’s cheapest online. The number of complaints and requests for advice coming in to me would be halved if people didn’t book the cheapest flight they find on fare-comparison websites, only to discover they’re dealing with a firm in Sweden or Switzerland or Bangalore that really doesn’t have customer service at its heart.”

Save on Travel from the Airport

Don’t rely on finding a taxi when you arrive at the airport! While it seems like the easiest thing to do, it will almost guarantee a rip-off fare – and that’s if you can even get a taxi.

If you’re planning on a full-on sightseeing holiday, it could be more efficient to rent a car than get taxis everywhere. If your driving licence allows it, book a rental car (and if you’re going somewhere hot, make sure it has air con!). This will give you plenty of freedom while you’re away and means you know the set price of all travelling while you’re away.

If you don’t want to rent a car, book a taxi service in advance. Look online for good deals. Alternatively, you could look into train and bus routes from the airport. Booking in advance will slash your costs and guarantee you a seat, too. Remember that transport could be unreliable, so leave plenty of time when you’re returning to the airport at the end of your holiday! You could also ask your hotel if they have a recommended transfer service – some will even bundle in the price into your accommodation booking for an extra discount.

Saving on Hotels

You would think that using one of the many hotel comparison sites would get you the best deal around.

Not always so.

You may get a cheap deal but what regular travellers know is that when hotels see you’ve come through one of those sites, they can sometimes give you the worst rooms. You could find yourself overlooking the bins or with a room right next to the main reception. So your ‘deal’ isn’t nearly as good as you thought.

Having said that, it’s worth seeing what is available on these sites and then contacting hotels direct to see if you can get the same or a better price. If you book directly on the hotel’s website, or on the phone, you are likely to get a better room for your money.

Quite often you are also better off avoiding hotels altogether and using one of the peer-to-peer sites like Airbnb instead. However, be careful here. Airbnb can be good, particularly if you book well ahead, but in very busy and popular places like London and New York you can find yourself in a poky and noisy room with traffic, people, and even nightclubs right outside. Read the reviews very carefully before booking.

Saving on Insurance

Travelling abroad without insurance has to be the daftest of false economies, particularly if you’re in America. Smart spending on a holiday abroad certainly includes travel insurance.

Sadly, though, many of us still do it. Travel insurers do pay out, too. In 2023, there was an astonishing £511m in claims just from British travellers – with £291m of that being for medical expenses. The average non-medical claim was £518 (rising to £1830 for travellers aged 70-75), with medical expense claim averages of £1724, but this was as high as £25,000 for medical repatriation.

So, you can see how sensible it is to have some sort of travel insurance when you travel abroad.

Even if you are over 65 or you have pre-existing medical conditions you can still get reasonably-priced insurance.  If you travel abroad more than once a year you would be better off getting a well-priced annual multi-trip policy. Check whether your bank account or home insurance offers travel cover, too.

Saving on Currency

Smart spending is imperative for your holiday when it comes to currencies. There are a few mantras to remember when it comes to travel money:

• Consider a mix of cash and card. It can be helpful to have a bit of cash when you’re abroad. Some places don’t take cards so, if only for safety, it’s a good idea to have some cash with you.
• If you take money out of an ATM abroad, go for the ‘local currency’ option as it tends to be better value.
• Don’t exchange at the airport. The currency converters at airports always have expensive rates. You could book it beforehand online and then pick it up at the airport, but don’t leave it until the last minute and change your pounds into foreign money just before you get on the plane. You will lose out.
• Consider a prepaid card. These can be a good way of spending abroad as you lock in the exchange rate before you go and if you lose the card you can stop it immediately.
• Use a comparison site a few days before you leave so that you can have the money delivered if you need it.

Sainsbury’s Bank has a handy Online Rate Calculator to work out how much foreign currency you’ll get for your holiday spending money.  You can check rates and place your order in just a few, simple steps.

You can also use a multicurrency card, like Revolut. This is also a good way to protect your finances if your card is lost or stolen, because you can transfer cash to the card without leaving access wide open to your bank account.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence

The post Smart spending: how not to make false economies on holiday appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Nothing spoils that chilled-out mood more than when you’re ripped off, so we’ve put together 12 holiday rip-offs scams to look out for on your travels.

• The taxi trap: surprisingly overpriced trips
• Rental cars: cheap offers could result in expensive bills
• Tip trap: pay more for less service
• Credit card trap: dodgy devices that spy on your data
• Valuables can get stolen from your hotel room
• Internet: protect your data
• Change: big banknotes are sometimes worth less
• Cover charge: paying too much for a snack
• Watch out for pickpockets
• Tea-house rip-off: don’t get fleeced for a so-called tea ceremony
• Hotel Scam
• Fraudulent booking sites

1. The Taxi Trap

Taxis can be a cheap way of getting about when you’re on holiday. However you need to be careful that you don’t get taken for a ride in more ways than one: unnecessary detours, excessive prices and shady additional charges are the most common ways to raise the price for a taxi ride.

To avoid such rip-offs, settle the destination and a fixed price before departure. You should also ask the driver to show his licence and a taximeter. Prepare yourself for a journey by finding out the normal taxi prices of the region you’re travelling to. Use Google Maps to set the journey on your phone and follow along – if the driver appears to be going the long way around, speak up to ask why they aren’t taking the most direct route. There is sometimes a legitimate reason, such as roadworks, but it is always best to check.

If possible, pre-book a taxi using an app like Uber. This will set the price for you ahead of time and help you see the route that is planned.

2. Rental Car Rip-Offs

A rental car’s a decent alternative to taxi fares if you’ll be doing lots of moving around. It helps you stay in control of your trip and means you can take detours to explore less touristy places.

When renting a car, watch out for so-called ‘full-empty offers’. Here, you’re offered to rent a fully-fuelled car and return it with an empty tank.

Of course, what normally happens is that you don’t use the full amount of fuel and return their car with an half-empty tank, leaving you out of pocket and the rental company laughing all the way to the bank. Always choose to return the car with a full tank – that way you’re only paying for the fuel you use.

You should also thoroughly check the car before driving away. Ask for a document noting any damage (dents, scratches, broken locks etc) if it isn’t offered. Take photos or a video of the car when you pick it up, before you drive it away.

Ask about breakdown cover and insurance, too. Sometimes the excess is ridiculous, or simple things aren’t covered. For example, in Iceland, car doors often aren’t covered because strong winds will commonly blow them so hard when they’re opened it can damage them. The same goes for windscreen cover.

Finally, check the deposit terms. Some places might seem like a cheap hire but insist on a £1500-or-more ‘holding deposit’ on your credit card. This is to cover the insurance excess if something happens. However, the amount will be deducted from your credit card before you leave. You then need to request the refund when the car is returned. It can take several weeks to get the refund processed.

3. Tip Trap

Know how much your bill ought to come to and make sure you check it before you pay. The ‘free’ bread basket often isn’t, and many places in Europe make you pay for tap water too. If a charge isn’t advertised on the menu, dispute it on the bill. Hidden service charges are the most common. Check how many drinks you ordered and were added to the bill – this is a common scam to add one or two extra glasses of wine or beer, as alcohol has the highest profit markup.

It’s also advisable to research the ‘tip rules’ of the country you plan to travel to so you know how much you’re expected to leave as a gratuity.

4. Credit Card Spies

If you don’t want to get into trouble by paying with cash in foreign currency then you can easily pay by debit card. Watch out, though. Rigged card readers may spy on your data and fraudsters could go shopping at your expense. And NEVER leave your credit card unattended! If the buttons on a card machine seem to be stiff to push, you struggle to get your card in or out, or it looks like there is something stuck over the card reader, go somewhere else or use cash.

When you’re standing at an ATM, make sure nobody is standing close behind you to see your PIN.

Most credit card companies offer a service notifying you of any transactions by text message. Ask for a receipt after every payment, check it and keep it.

Keep your card PIN and your phone unlock PIN different from each other. It is a known scam to watch tourists as they unlock their phone and then trail them until they can steal your wallet and use the PIN at the cash machine.

5. Hotel Room Thieves

Never leave valuables in your hotel room lying around; always use a safe for storage. We recommend you take a photo of the things you put in the safe.

If you don’t have a safe in your room, ask the receptionist for a hotel safe and get a receipt of the valuables you put in there. Keep copies of important documents like your passport and save these to a cloud server like Google Drive or iCloud, so that if you’re robbed you can still access them in an emergency.

When you’re in your room, use a handle lock to secure yourself. If you can’t find one, place your suitcase against the door. This will alert you if someone is trying to enter your room while you’re inside.

At check-in, don’t say your room number out loud enough for anyone standing nearby to hear it. This helps reduce the risk of someone clocking your designer luggage or diamond rings and knowing which room to find them in.

6. Internet Scams

It used to be that we’d go on holiday and leave our computers (and sometimes even phones) at home. These days, we’re all busy uploading our snaps to Insta and checking emails on our days off. But connecting to public internet can put you at risk.

Always check you’re on a secure connection and if you’re unsure, install an app like NordVPN to use a VPN service. You can also protect your passwords with two-factor authentication to make sure someone can’t steal your data.

If you suspect your data has been leaked, change your passwords IMMEDIATELY.

Many hotels now have Netflix and other services on smart TVs for you to log into. Always, ALWAYS log out if you’ve logged in at any point during your stay, as it’s an easy way for someone to get your personal data.

7. Check Your Change

Familiarise yourself with the local currency, including the coin value. Always check your change while you’re at the counter as it’s too late once you’ve left the shop.

Bureaux de change, though offering attractive exchange rates, also charge horrible fees. Don’t go into exchange offices as they offer attractive exchange rates but make their money with extremely high extra charges. Take your time to find a reliable exchange office. Also, be wary of requests for change from locals – as a tourist you’ll stand out a mile and be vulnerable to potential con tricks.

Most places now accept spending on debit or credit cards. Look for a travel-specific prepaid card to protect your data and money, while getting a good exchange rate. We like Revolut, which is an online account with fee-free currency conversion. You can transfer money in like a normal bank account, but this lets you limit how much can be accessed. It is also easy to freeze the card if you lose it or it’s stolen.

8. Cover Charge Catch-Out

After an extensive sightseeing tour you may be hungry and thirsty. However, some restaurants have sneaky ways to make a bit extra from you, so look out for well-hidden ‘information’ about cover charges on the menu.

Before ordering, check the menu and look for service surcharges. If you’re not happy, walk out.

A recent scam is to add an automatic tip to simple things like buying a bottle of water from a shop! Always check your receipt and refuse a tip if you don’t want to pay it.

9. Watch Out for Pickpockets!

Pickpockets are rife and so easy to miss. Keep your bag zipped closed at all times, and never walk around with your phone in your hand or back pocket. You can keep things close to your chest (literally) with an under-shirt belt that holds your passport, cards, and phone if you’re in a particularly risky area. Phone lanyards are also popular these days, which allow you to clip your phone to your belt loop to keep it safe in your pocket, or wrap it around your hand so it prevents someone snatching it from your hand while you’re using it.

Public transport and busy shopping streets are the most common places to lose something to a pickpocket. Be aware of anyone standing too close to you. They often operate in groups, so be wary of a group entering a train carriage and standing around you – they’ll appear to be talking but one will be trying to get into your bag. Keep eyes out for cyclists and scooters that are in pedestrian areas, too.

Here’s a pickpocket scam to be aware of: in tourist areas you might by approached by strangers asking you to buy souvenirs. After the transaction they then hug you, apparently to express their gratitude. But it’s really a cover to grab your purse or wallet. In any case, try to avoid such approaches, keep your distance and never leave valuables unattended!

Make sure you write down the information of your banks, bank account numbers (not passwords!), and have copies of your passport all uploaded to a cloud server. This will make it easier to contact your banks in an emergency to freeze your cards, and arrange for an emergency passport if that gets stolen.

10. Tea-House Tacky: Ceremony Charlatans

If you’re visiting China you might want to watch out for this hoax exploiting the country’s tea heritage. Fraudsters approach you and offer to take you on a city tour, which ends at an allegedly historical tea house. Often these ‘tea houses’ are just decorated back rooms! After tasting some tea, you’re asked to pay hefty bills, often more than 100 euros for only a few cups. Our advice: don’t go anywhere with strangers!

The same happens in other countries where you might stand out as a tourist. Tuk-tuk rides might take you via their ‘uncle’s shop’ and force you to buy some overpriced tat before they’ll finish your journey, for example. Always try to travel through reputable tours and services.

11. Hotel Credit Card Scam

When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave your credit card for charges to your room.

The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be a receptionist at the front desk. They’ll call you in your room and make up a plausible story that will go something like: “Our database has crashed and we need you to help us to reconfirm your credit card details.”

In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the early hours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused – it’s more likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to the front desk to sort any issues out.

People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is very believable as the con artist sounds so professional. They’re very apologetic and polite, acting sorry for the inconveniences caused.

Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because they’ve been able to break into the hotel’s phone system and contact guests directly. Never give your financial details over the phone – it might be an inconvenience, but tell them you’ll go to the front desk to sort it out. They will usually hang up or try to persuade you to stay on the line – but go downstairs and talk to reception about it. They will need to know that someone is doing this on their phone systems, too.

12. Fraudulent Holiday Booking Sites

Even before you’ve gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam – the actual booking site.

A report by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers were scammed out of £7m by fraudsters in 2015, with £2.2m of this being lost to fake online sites and reviews.

What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive services including flights, hotels, transfers and travel insurance.

These fraudulent sites look normal and they’re pretty easy to set up. As they use a credible domain name it’s even easier for them to sucker us in.

There’s also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor which can also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companies or websites.

How can you protect yourself?

1. Shop around – if one particular website, that isn’t one of the big travel companies, is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
2. Unless you have 100% verified who you are dealing with, do not pay for your holiday by bank transfer, Western Union or cash.  Use your credit or debit card that at least offers a level of consumer protection.
3. Only use websites that have a verified identity. If you are asked to hand over personal details or credit card numbers don’t do it unless you are in a website protected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of the web address). Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website at who.is – when was it registered? If it was only set up in the last year be suspicious. Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious!

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