In fact recent research by First Choice, conducted with the Centre of Economic and Business Research (CEBR), shows that more than half of holidaymakers overspent on holiday last year, costing consumers £403m in total.

So to help you make the most of your hard-earned cash here is the top 25 holiday moneysaving tips for before you go, when you’re there and when you get back home. Happy saving!

Before you go

1. The early bird

For families who want to book in advance make sure you’re browsing up to 11 months ahead of when you want to go. This is when flights are typically first released by airlines so there will be plenty of cheaper seats available.

2. Time on your side

If you can avoid flying on Fridays or Saturdays as these tend to be the busiest and most expensive times. If you fly on a weekday you can save a lot of money, so make sure you shop around before booking.

3. Sign up for special offers by email or Twitter

Almost every company in the travel industry will have some special offers that they email or tweet out to subscribers. Sign up to a few providers that you know and like and keep checking what they’ve got on offer.

4. Book airport car parking in advance

If you require parking at airports such as Heathrow  then it pays to look online, check the best deals and book in advance. You could save up to 60% on parking charges this way. It also means that you’ll have less to worry about on the day you travel and you won’t be stung by exorbitant parking fees at the airport.

5. Learn to haggle for your hotel

Don’t just accept the first price you’re quoted. Check online for availability and then check again a week or two later. If they still have availability then chances are they’ll want to get rid of those spare rooms and will be more open to you haggling the price. Make sure you have a few options in case they sell out!

6. Check the latest exchange rates

If you’re flexible as to where you travel then it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on the value of the pound. It fluctuates constantly and, with some clever research, you could end up in a country where your money stretches much further.

7. Plan ahead and shop around for travel money

If you leave holiday money until the last minute then you’ll be exchanging into foreign currency at the airport bureau which will always cost more so make sure you shop around. Whether you go to your bank, the post office or a bureau de change be wary of ‘commission free’ offers because the money will be recouped somewhere along the line. Generally in you being offered a worse exchange rate!

8. Check baggage allowances

Make sure you don’t miss hidden baggage charges. You may think you’re getting a great deal by opting for the cheapest flight but once all the extra charges add up it might not be such a great deal after all. If you are going on a golf or ski holiday for example and are taking your own equipment then airline charges will differ. Check these golf and ski baggage allowances as an example of how you could save money.

9. What insurance do you really need?

If you book your holiday by credit card then make sure you check if your card provider will cover you abroad automatically for doing so. You don’t want to spend unnecessary money on insurance if you’re already covered! If you’re not already covered then you might want to look into joint travel insurance if you’re in a couple. It tends to work out cheaper in much the same way as it does for two named drivers on a car insurance policy. If you’re travelling in Europe then you’ll want to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA).

10. Check your passport

Many people get caught out by not checking their passport well in advance. If it’s expired then you’ll need to pay far more to rush your renewal application through at the last minute. Currently a normal renewal costs £77.50 but the one-day premium service is £129.50 – a £52 price hike that’s easily avoided.

11. Take your own lunch

If you’re flying with a low-cost airline where food isn’t included with the price of your ticket then you’ll have to pay inflated fees for a pretty basic sandwich and a drink onboard. It’s worth remembering that while liquid can’t go through security food can, so why not take your own? You’ll make something far nicer and start your holiday with a great saving.

12. Check your mobile phone use

Call and text charges abroad, both sending and receiving, can be monstrously high abroad. Many phone companies offer bundles that you can purchase before you go away or you could keep your phone purely for emergencies. You are on holiday after all!

13. Play your cards right

Do you know how much your card provider charges for using it abroad? It can be quite a significant amount per transaction so make sure you’re aware of what you’ll be paying for each transaction and try not to make too many withdrawals.

When you’re there

14. Set a budget for each day

None of us want to be penny pinching when we’re on holiday but setting a budget for each day is simple common sense and will ensure that costs don’t escalate out of control. Make it realistic and not only will you avoid overspending but the treats you enjoy will be all the better for it!

15. When in Rome

The big tourist areas in any given town or city are easy to find and so we often flock there in great numbers. However, restaurants and bars in the area raise their prices to capitalise. Why not seek out the places the locals go? They’ll be cheaper and generally better quality plus you’ll experience what your destination is really like.

16. Perfect the art of haggling

In Britain we struggle to haggle as it’s just not in our DNA. However, in some countries it’s rude not to and can make a holiday purchase much more fun. Make sure you do you research on where and when it’s appropriate though as you don’t want to cause offence or pay over the odds.

17. Carry a bottle of drink around with you

Especially if you’re in a hot country it’s important to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid spending more than you need to on drinks from cafes and bars by buying a bottle of water at the start of the day and sipping from it regularly as you see the sites. Investing in a good water bottle carrier will ensure that this doesn’t weigh you down.

18. Look for special discount tickets

Many towns and cities have special deals on public transport where you can buy a discounted book of tickets for the underground in advance rather than one at a time.  If you know you’re going to use public transport a lot this can be really useful.  Also keep an eye in your hotel lobby or ask your tour operator for any discounted tickets for the main attractions.

19. The best laid plans

Not everyone will want to plan out their day in its entirety but if you want to save money it’s easy to save on travel if you know where you want to go in advance. It will mean you don’t have to spend money on buses, cabs or petrol constantly backtracking to your hotel or things you’ve missed along the way.

Back home

20. Ditch the car

Not possible for everyone of course but if you can walk or cycle to work when you get back from holiday rather than drive or take the bus you’ll save money and burn off some of those holiday calories!

21. Embrace the potluck dinner

Hopefully you’ve had a great holiday and your friends will be longing to hear your traveller’s tales. Instead of going out on the town invite them round for a ‘pot luck’ dinner where each person brings a different dish for everyone else to try.

22. What’s down the back of the sofa?

Ok, don’t literally look down the back of your sofa (unless you really want to) but do check your wallet for any unused gift vouchers, or any loyalty cards you have for unused loyalty points that could shave welcome pennies off your shopping bill when you need it most.

23. Cut the coffee

This will be a challenge as you may well feel the urge for caffeine to help you get back into the swing of things but try to avoid popping out for a cappuccino or latte if you can. An average coffee will work out at about £3, if you have 5 of those a week then you’ll spend £15 which is £60 a month! A pretty significant (and relatively easy) saving to make when you’re back home.

24. I’ve lost interest

You’ve paid for your dream holiday on the credit card and you don’t want to think about it when you get back. We’ve all been there. However the sooner you pay it off the less you’ll pay in interest charges so work out how much you can realistically pay back each month as soon as you get back and stick to it.

25. Supply and demand

Every destination has its own unique trinkets or goods that can be bought cheaper than back home. You could exploit this to your advantage by bringing some back with you to sell when you get home via eBay for example or you could use them as unique birthday or Christmas gifts. Of course this depends on the space in your suitcase!

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Almost all first time travellers dreadfully over pack for a hundred things their heavy travel guide tells them will go wrong. Most of what you will need you’ll be able to find on the road, plus you’ll be helping the local economy as well as your baggage weight if you pick up cough medicine when you need it, not if you need it.

From a well-travelled traveller who has learnt about packing the hard way, here are 5 packing essentials you shouldn’t leave home without.

eBook reader

The wonders of technology have advanced so much that we can carry 100+ books in one tiny, practically weightless piece of machinery. Don’t be fooled by the shiny, expensive versions that are sprawled across our television screens, there are many cheaper options that are slightly more travel friendly.

Use an eBook reader for not only reading material whilst killing time on the back of a truck trundling across Asia’s pot-holed roads, but for city guides and phrase books. Carry the world in your pocket at less than 300g.

Silk sleeping bag liner

A silk sleeping bag liner will keep you cool in the heat and warm in the cold, as well as protect you from the stains of the age-old mattress that probably hasn’t been changed since Emma and Richard made the world known to their night of passion on the bed post in 1987.

If a silk liner is a little out of your price range, an old bed sheet will protect you from the varying levels of hostel filth the world over, but will offer little comfort on nights of extreme humidity.

Memory Cards

Photos, photos, photos. You won’t take enough of them even if you take 50,000 and losing them will be sure to ruin a day or two of good travel. Take as many memory cards as you can so that you always have enough storage space.

If you’re one of these who insists on taking their beloved Toshiba laptop with them to the other side of the world, back the photos up on here too, just in case a memory card goes missing somewhere along the way.

Keep your pants with your passport

There’s nothing worse than landing at the airport, losing your luggage, and having to leave the problem in the not-so-capable hands of someone in New York while you fly to L.A. You’ll either never see your luggage again or it’ll end up back in Cornwall. It probably won’t happen to you, but it might, and it did happen to the traveller writing this short guide.

Maybe a full change of clothes in your hand luggage is not necessary, but some clean underwear and a t-shirt will be your friend in the event that you find yourself in a dorm room with a bunch of strangers. If you don’t pack prepared for the worst, you may soon become very friendly with the bunk below if you’re not willing to sleep in the same clothes again. Then again, if public nudity doesn’t bother you…

Flip flops

It cannot be stressed enough how grateful you’ll be for packing your old pair of flops when slipping and sliding across grim hostel bathroom floors. You’ll be spared from trying to scrape slimy drain-hair from between your toes as well as keeping your feet cool in the Australian heat.

Mastering the art of the flip-flop-hurl is something every traveller must and will perfect after three weeks of sharing dorms with nightmare snorers (there’s always one). Give your flop enough wellie to make the noise-polluter roll over, not enough to wake them and enough to bounce your footwear back to your bed vicinity. If you do wake them, however, roll over and pretend to snore yourself.

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1. Planning your travel in time for the Olympics and Paralympics

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A colossal cheer rang out from Trafalgar Square marking the start of ecstatic, flag-waving celebrations. It was 6 July 2005 and the International Olympics Committee had just announced that the 2012 Olympic Games would be held in London.

Back then it seemed little more than a fantastic prize; an amazing opportunity to change the face of British sport.

Nearly seven years on and the dream is about to become a reality.

Next summer, all eyes will turn to London and the UK as we host the world’s biggest sporting event: the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Thousands of visitors will travel to this country and still more will travel from their homes across the UK because watching the Olympics in your home country is a once in a lifetime experience.

Official advice to ticket holders is to start planning how you will get to your event venue as soon as you can. The transport system will be busy and organisers are encouraging people to use public transport such as trains, buses and coaches to travel to the 2012 games.

Most of the venues for the London 2012 Games are being held at the Olympic Park or in other parts of the capital. But there are other venues located the length and breadth of Britain from Glasgow in the north for the preliminary rounds of the women’s football to Weymouth and Portland on the south coast where the sailing events will be held.

In addition, there will be a massive programme of cultural events taking place during the Games and, if you want to be part of the action but aren’t lucky enough to have a ticket, you can head off to one of many urban “Live Sites” which will give live information, video, news and community events on big screens.

However you plan to get involved, it’s clear that your travel arrangements must be a key part of your advance planning.

There is no spectator parking at any of the event venues, except for a small number of disabled spaces.

National Express has already set up a special timetable of coaches that will drop you right outside the Olympic Park. There are also special services running across the country to meet the demand of the Games which run from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

Coaches can also drop passengers at Victoria Coach Station, a short walk from Victoria Underground Station where you can get a tube to Stratford Regional station. Use the one day travel card that comes with your event ticket to get free travel on London’s tubes and buses.

And if you hold a Family or Young Persons Coachcard, you’ll also benefit from cheaper travel when you travel by National Express.

National Express is the largest scheduled coach service provider in Europe. In the UK the distinctive white National Express coaches travel to 1000 destinations and carry over 18 million passengers a year. Eurolines coaches operate to more than 500 destinations in Europe and Ireland.

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Research conducted by travelsupermarket.com shows that prices can rise dramatically in the summer months, whilst it was also found that it’s worth being as flexible as possible when it comes to the category of car you book.

There are a number of ways in which you can reduce the cost of your car hire, such as:

• Book alongside flights or a hotel (or both), a package deal may include a discount for car hire – call the tour operator to negotiate a discount.

• Book it as early as possible; prices rise in the summer by 60% in popular European destinations

• Look for online vouchers/discount codes

• Don’t pay extra for a Sat Nav – most mobile phones now include Sat Nav software or an application can be downloaded which can be used for more than just a week or two’s holiday.

• Read the small print online: beware of extra costs such as mileage excess, child seats, taxes etc. Check your booking includes excess insurance; some companies may try and sell you their insurance on top; which won’t be of any use to you if you already have this cover. Also check what exactly you are covered for.

• Replace any fuel used before returning the vehicle, many rental companies hire their cars out with a full tank of fuel and charge you for refilling the tank, often this is higher than the pump price and it’s hard to prove how much fuel was in the car when you picked it up.

• Check the car for any damage BEFORE you leave the rental office, and ask for a note of it to be made (or take pictures if you can) as you may be charged for damage to the car that was already there.

• Ensure you return your car within the agreed time period, otherwise you will incur the cost of another full day’s rental.

8 day’s car hire between 7-14 August from eight different destinations were priced up, below are some examples which show that booking earlier in the year will save a serious amount on the cost of your car hire:

A people carrier in Faro on 1^st February costs £311, whereas on 28^th June the same vehicle costs £523.66 – an increase of 68%.

An economy car in Murcia in the same time period increased from £133.48 to £205.15, a 54% increase.

A large family car in Palma rose from £233.75 to £384.90, a 65% increase in price.

Travel expert Bob Atkinson from Travelsupermarket.com said: “As was witnessed during the Easter Holidays, there is strong demand for car hire this summer, naturally leading to a pressure on supply and an increase in prices. Undoubtedly, holidaymakers will see prices continue to rise as we move towards the peak summer season.

“Key destinations in Spain, Portugal and the South of France are already seeing significant increases in prices, a firm indication that holidaymakers should book as soon as they can if they plan to hire a vehicle. Also ensure you look at prices of slightly larger or smaller cars if you are flexible, and of course, use a comparison site such as travelsupermarket.com to compare many suppliers at once”.

Low cost car hire is a must for everyone on holiday, however not doing your research can lead to being hit with a rather large bill on the day you return the vehicle.

Other things you should consider:

• Ensure breakdown/emergency numbers are provided before you leave the rental office, as many rental services don’t provide you with these numbers.

• Check Eurotest to see which companies scored the highest in their annual checks (and which companies to avoid!)

Finally, remember to ask for an upgrade, sometimes the car hire companies will offer a free upgrade to the next ‘class’ of cars available.

Written by Tony Haslam, part of the Car Hire team at Travelsupermarket.com

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This is due to the fact that many mobile companies charge huge roaming fees that are tacked onto any phone call that is made outside of the UK.  Although there are some consistencies between mobile phone charges from countries within the European Union, outside of the EU roaming charges are not regulated, and can get quickly out of hand.

The simple solution to reducing the cost of phoning home to the UK lies in dual sim card technology, due to the fact that many mobile phones can now support two sim cards and allow the user to switch phones and lines at will.

By taking advantage of this fact, while abroad a traveller can choose to purchase a monthly sim card only deal that is tailored to provide long distance calls at a low rate.  In this manner, you can pre-pay for all long distance phone calls at much lower rates than if you were signed into a tariff package, allowing for cheap phone calls home to the UK.

There are many sim only deals available through all of the major mobile providers as well as individual providers that have access to major network services.  The difference between these deals and a contract is the fact that when you purchase a sim only deal you can choose one that matches your needs perfectly, without any of the fuss or extras you do not need that normally you would be included in a regular contract.  However, with the ability to get free sim cards and monthly temporary service you can simply purchase long term phone time when you need it and drop it when you do not.

This means that while abroad on holiday or on a corporate trip you can choose to purchase a second sim card to call home so that your rates are much cheaper over calling home under your contract.  With the ability to place both sim cards into a mobile phone or switch them at will, you can swap between your temporary sim card and your usual contract sim card as needed, so that all calls home are enjoyable instead of stressful as the minutes add up to a big bill.

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Vibrant posters for the ‘Hooray for Holidays’ campaign featuring lilos, flip-flop tan lines and snorkels will be splashed across Gatwick and Heathrow airports from July 14.

The marketing campaign will highlight British Airways July sale which includes more than 80 destinations with departure dates ranging from 15 July to 31 March 2011.

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The organizations believe that 30% of people who book their holiday break do not first look to see if the provider belongs to a recognized trade association before they enter their credit card number.

In addition, 22% do not check if the website is secure before they enter their information which can lead to fraudsters stealing the data.

Failure to pay attention to these details can result in paying large amounts to companies for great deals that in reality do not exist and are scams to get credit information.

Tony Neate, the Get Safe Online managing director, stated that criminals often strive to abuse people’s excitement when it comes to taking a summer break which makes them forget to be cautious.

Neate stated that when things do not add up you need to pay attention and do some research first. He also mentioned that some signs of fraud include websites that ask for full payment and travel online agencies that do not give out their contact details.

Statistics from Yorkshire and Clydesdale bank state that 60% of adults plan on their summer 2010 holiday plans even though one out of eight will not spend as much.

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The offer is running for:

Booking Dates: Until 31st March 2010
Redemption date: until 31 December 2010
Travel date: until 31st March 2011

Click on the banner below for full details and also the Terms and Conditions.

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Join in an online discussion at http://www.webchats.tv/chat/holidaymakers_advised_dont_bring_it_back 3pm on Monday 19^th October to iron out some of the confusion and tell us exactly which food items we can and can’t bring back to the UK are travel expert Simon Calder and UK Border Force officer Chris Pratt.

Click here to submit questions before the chat http://www.webchats.tv/chat/holidaymakers_advised_dont_bring_it_back

For more information visit www.direct.gov.uk/dontbringmeback

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A good way to stay focused on what you want is to refine your infinite choices into a clear criterion you want to match, whether that’s a cheap holiday in Benidorm or a luxury 5 star resort in the Maldives, you can then avoid the distraction of irrelevant offers and deals that may pop up. Many Online Travel Agents have newsletters that you can sign up to which will help you stay aware of all the special offers and particular destinations they are promoting on a regular basis. Of all the Online Travel Agents to keep your eye on, make sure whichever one you finally choose to book your bargain holidays with, has a Price Promise Guarantee. Websites that promote this are confident enough with their prices to offer it and many will come with a 100% no quibble, so ensure you bookmark these sites for future reference and possible bookings.

Another great way of ensuring you get all the latest deals and destination offers sent to you is to follow your favourite sites on Social Media networks. They are becoming increasingly popular with businesses to market their services and offers and by utilising sites like Twitter and Facebook it allows them to communicate all of their promotions in ‘real time’ to potential customers like you. Another key element when deciding which

One last element not to overlook whilst comparing sites is all the other potential hidden costs that can sting you. Insurance, resort transfers, car hire and airport parking all add up and can affect your budget so ensure the online travel agent you choose offers competitive prices on these.

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The key symptom of swine `flu is a fever (a temperature of at least 38˚C), in combination with other complaints which may include sore throat, cough, aches and chills. Nausea, sickness and diarrhoea have also been reported in some cases. Sufferers are most infectious as soon as symptoms develop, but cease to be a risk once the symptoms have disappeared. The incubation period can be as short as 48 hours.

In most cases, the swine `flu infection has been mild and there are no wide-ranging travel restrictions. However, the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has reported screening of international passengers introduced at several airports, including in China. Official advice is that those with symptoms of swine `flu should refrain from travelling from the UK until asymptomatic. Similarly, UK nationals who have contracted swine `flu abroad are advised to wait until the infectious period has passed before travelling. Carrying passengers exhibiting swine `flu symptoms has been placed at the discretion of airlines. UK nationals prevented from boarding homeward-bound flights should seek advice from the nearest Diplomatic mission.

Before leaving the UK, travellers are advised to check the FCO website or 24-hour advice line (0845 850 2829) for country-specific advice on the H1N1 virus at their holiday destination. Travellers to Europe should take a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles the holder to any medical treatment in another European Economic Area country. Applications for such cards may be made online, by ringing 0845 606 2030 or at main post offices. Sensible pre-travel precautions also include determining in advance where medical advice and / or treatment can be obtained. Packing over-the-counter treatments for `flu symptoms, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, is also a good idea.

Anyone experiencing `flu-like symptoms should keep away from public areas. While over-the-counter medications may be sufficient for mild cases of swine `flu, there are several high-risk groups who should be referred to medical professionals immediately. These include pregnant women, the elderly, diabetics, children under 5 and those suffering from chronic diseases. Recognising the signs of serious illness, namely breathing difficulty, chest pain, vomiting, dehydration, seizures and confusion is vital, as this requires emergency medical treatment.

The Department of Health Swine `flu Information line can be accessed from abroad by calling 00 44 207 928 1010. However, while cheap calls to Brazil represent excellent value, international calls can be very expensive and this number should only be used in emergencies.

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First, start organising the trip well in advance so that you have plenty of time to make a good choice among all the holiday possibilities you will find..

Once you know the destination, the next step would be to find flight tickets and accommodation. If you like traveling to a sunny place with good beaches and lots of activities to do with your children, Spain is the ideal choice. Doing a research in the Internet on holiday rentals in Spain will probably drive you to a list of holiday rental sites where you can book a nice holiday home with all kind of facilities cheaper than if you book a hotel.

After booking a holiday villa in Spain, you will probably need a car rental. Contact some agencies, get different prices and make your booking. Some holiday rental websites offer car rental as well, so that you can book both at the same time. If you have a GPS available for the country you travel it will probably be a good idea to bring it with you too.

Read about the place you will travel to, using travel forums or guide books could be a good help when traveling.

Check the weather forecast a few days before your trip. If you travel to Spain during the summer, don’t foreget protect your skin from the sun during the heat of the day, and wear plenty of sun screen.

Look at the exchange rates. Having a currency that makes you feel rich greatly increases your holiday fun.

Remember to bring all your travel documents. A successful holiday depends on planning and being organised. Sort out all your travel plans before actually going for it and know what you exactly you want from your holiday. Whit this in mind everyone can have a wonderful holiday rather than being stressed out before you arrive.

Happy Holidays!

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Until December 12th 2009, all bookings made with selected hotels in St. Kitts will qualify for Seven nights for the price of Five. The promotion is bookable from most tour operators or direct with hotels for travel from May 1st to December 19th 2009. http://www.stkittstourism.kn/FallinLove.asp

In addition to room night savings, selected participating hotels will also offer food and beverage credit and visitors will receive a special value card at hotel check-in with details of discounts offered on island activities, car rentals and shopping.

Hotels participating in the 2009 ‘Fall in Love’ promotion include the Royal St. Kitts Hotel, St. Kitts Marriott, Sugar Bay Club, Timothy Beach Resort, Frigate Bay Resort, Ocean Terrace Inn, Ottley’s Plantation Inn, Rawlins Plantation Inn and Rock Haven B&B.

With a host of historical and cultural attractions to experience and plenty of leisure activities on the island, visitors will find much to do in the extra two days. Riding the scenic sugar railway, exclusive to St. Kitts; touring the Brimstone Hill Fortress or taking a taxicab tour round the island are just some of the many ways to explore St. Kitts, while the island’s idyllic beaches, excellent range of restaurants and nightlife, and two casinos, are a fun way to relax.

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The offer is time limited, ending midnight Thursday 21st May – So Book now!

Here are some of destinations that bmibaby fly to.

Alicante
Almeria
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Belfast
Bordeaux
Cork
Edinburgh
Faro
Glasgow
Jersey
Lisbon
Mahon
Malaga
Murcia
Nice
Ireland West Knock
Newquay
Palma
Paris (CDG)
Perpignan
Prague
Toulouse

More information about this offer is available here.

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On 13th May at 8.30pm lastminute.com is launching their latest When It’s Gone It’s Gone (WIGIG) promotion: two hotels nights for the price of one in one of their Top Secret Hotels! Top Secret Hotels bring you up to an additional 50% off our already discounted rates but in order for us to bring you these exclusive deals, we are not allowed to tell you the name of the hotel, until you’ve completed your booking! So instead of paying full price for a weekend away as little as £51 could get you an indulgent break at some of the UK’s top hotels so harness that sense of adventure and join in because when the rooms are gone they’re gone…

To make sure you don’t miss out on any of lastminute.coms deals, we’re giving away an iPhone with internet access so you’ll always be the first to hear about WIGIG promotions!

For more information on fantasticlastminute.com deals, log onto www.lastminute.com

To stand a chance of winning this amazing prize all you have to do is answer this question and sign up to our newsletter:

“What is the predominate colour on the lastminute.com website, other than black or white?”

Email your answer to lastminute@xec.co.uk and don’t forget to confirm your entry by signing up to the newsletter here.

Competition ends midnight, 27th May 2009.

Good Luck!

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Those lucky enough to get hold of one of these unique deals will be treated to two nights stay in a range of high end hotels for the price of one night.  Top secret hotels is a unique service offered by lastminute.com where the hotel remains a secret until the booking is finalised but you are still guaranteed to get the same great service and quality as if you knew the name.

So instead of paying full price for a weekend away a little could get you an indulgent two day break at some of the country’s top hotels so harness that sense of adventure and join in because when the rooms are gone they’re gone…

This giveaway marks the beginning of a series of high profile ‘When it’s gone it’s gone’ giveaways from lastminute.com.  These are set to continue throughout spring and early summer and are designed to help the nation make the most of their free time with new and creative ideas.

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Rome is a remarkably walkable city with extremely short distances between its multitude of attractions. Making it highly practical to spend a glorious afternoon strolling around one of the world’s most enticing cities.

Roman history is steeped in intrigue and huge stories that have thrilled generations. Of course, the symbol of this history and the world’s mental picture of Rome is the mighty Coliseum the scene of some of the goriest yet most enticing events in human history.

The gladiators of course were not the only famous inhabitants that left their mark on this thoroughly modern but truly ancient city. It seems you cannot turn a corner in this small compact metropolis without coming across an instantly recognisable ancient structure.

There are so many sites to see, such as the glorious and spellbinding, Trevi fountain, and the Forum Romanum, the stunning Piazza di Spagna and the commanding Arch of Constantine. One of the curiosities of Rome is the fact that many of the attractions such as St. Peter’s Basilica are actually not in Rome, they are in a separate country, the Vatican.

The Vatican is not only a must-see attraction for devout Catholics but there are also a stunning collection of buildings and streets that are a joy to discover, in this, smallest country in the world.

Rome does not just offer attractions from ancient history it is also one of the world’s great fashion centres and an ever popular shopping magnet for people from all walks of life.

The city’s famous sidewalk cafes and squares are an idyllic location to enjoy one of Rome’s favourite pastimes, people watching. This is also like many cities in Italy a major gastronomic center offering all kinds of exiting Italian dishes that step way beyond basic pasta and pizza to thrill any traveller’s taste buds.

There is also a wide range of accommodation available across the city from backpacker hostels to the best in five-star luxury hotel accommodation. It must be said however that even cheap accommodation in Rome does not come cheap.

Hotels are as expensive as they are in any major tourist city and probably significantly more so. One alternative is to make use of apartment accommodation. This alternative accommodation has become more popular over the last few years and apartments in Rome offer a degree of home comforts that can not be found in hotels.

The standards of this accommodation have also improved substantially as tourists standards have risen. Many apartments are ideally situated for reaching all of Rome’s fabulous attractions as well as restaurants and shopping facilities.

Not only are these accommodations well-placed they can also offer a financially viable alternative to somewhat overpriced hotel rooms. And of course, apartments offer a home away from home atmosphere as well as much more, especially for family visitors to the ancient city.

So when in Rome you should perhaps consider doing as the Romans do, and stay in a Rome apartment for rent where you can enjoy all the facilities offered at very reasonable rates.

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The good news is that travel insurance policies are easy to set up – many can be organised online the day before you travel out, and there are flexible pricing options and specialist cover options so that you can ensure you really are getting the right policy for your trip. For example, you could choose to take out a single trip policy (for the duration of your defined trip only) or an annual multi-trip policy. If you are likely to travel abroad twice or more in one year, an annual cover policy may work out to be best for you.

As with all insurances, the cost of your policy depends on what you need insuring, and up to what amounts. Look for around £4000 for a trip cancellation, around £1500 minimum for theft of baggage and belongings, and financial assistance for hotels / food etc if flights are delayed. Your personal liability cover should typically protect you up to £12 million (if a claim for damages is made against you during your trip) and you`ll need around £25,000 legal expense cover in case of third party claims. The main part of your policy is of course the medical cover, and again a good policy will offer between £2-5 million of cover if the worst should happen.

Be sure to declare if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, because a claim will likely be rejected if you provide false or inaccurate information (and could leave you with hefty medical bills running into many thousands of pounds!) Some insurers offer specialist cover for those who have existing illnesses, such as Cancer. These include Medicover, Orbis and Free Spirit.

You should also look to get winter sports cover if you are skiing – it includes specialist options such as piste rescue services. Direct Travel and Insure and Go are good providers. Similarly, if you are planning to do extreme sports or water sports on your trip, make sure you clear it with your insurer first. Other specialist insurances are `gap year` or backpacker travel insurance (try STA travel or Columbus.)

Finally, when you are looking to compare policies for Insurance when travelling, then you may find online comparison sites useful, such as comparethemarket.com and moneysupermarket. These allow you to compare policies and work out which one is best for you, and the most value for money. As a final piece of advice, always keep receipts and take full details of accidents in case of claims – keep all crime reference no`s, witness statements etc to submit along with your claim

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Despite the cutbacks there are still deals to be made to bring the costs of certain holidays down, one category that seems surprising to be associated with a cheap deal is villa holidays. This category of holidays is often thought of as a more expensive option due to the added privacy and personal facilities such as your own swimming pool and full kitchen appliances.

This becomes a problem for larger families who rely on villa holidays as having several hotel rooms – potentially at opposite ends of a hotel block – is not practical. Armed with a few tactics then these families are able to still get reasonable deals for their holidays, despite the growing concern of rising prices.

Booking early is an obvious one, by booking before 31st January many early deals can be bagged in time for summer. Prices are also cheaper if you go away earlier in the year; by going during the May half term the prices for many villas are 25% less than in the usual high season of July and August. It’s important to note that when booking holidays for 2009 that you book them good and early as you never know if the financial climate worsens and by the time you try and bag a late deal the prices may have increased rather than drop.

There are benefits in booking villa holidays too, some independent villa owners will throw in extras that will be convenient like car hire, or pickups from the airport. This is mainly because a lot of Brits who have bought property abroad to rent out are trying to lure the package holiday crowd and so you may find that they are willing to go the extra distance for you.

The added advantage of going direct to the owner or the villa company is that you miss out on paying the middle man fees from travel agents. People have been able to save money over the past few years by booking online themselves and mix and matching a budget flights company with a separate hotels company. By arranging holidays yourself it may take a bit more time but there are definite savings to be made.

Overall the message to families is that you can still go on holidays this year and have a good time, by being prepared and booking early you can make the necessary savings and still have an enjoyable holiday.

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>Holidays in Turkey offer great value for money with affordable, large all-inclusive 4 and 5 Star resorts featuring great facilities such as watersports and spas, infinity pools and other little luxuries. It offers a fantastic alternative for those who like to enjoy the indulgence of the Caribbean, but with a shorter flight time of just four hours. By booking all-inclusive, you’ll have paid for all of your meals up front, but those preferring self catering will find the local restaurants offer more for your money, making Turkey a win-win destination.

Sizzling temperatures, Roman ruins, charming towns and a striking coastline, make Turkey a great alternative to Greece. Turkey is also very in vogue with the likes of Kate Moss who enjoyed a holiday there last summer. This year, families and couples alike will be able to grab a slice of the high life and enjoy the reasonably priced hotspot, even if their budget doesn’t match that of a celebrity’s.

Thomson offers a range of fantastic holidays in Turkey aimed at couples, or for a group of friends looking to get away from it all. A seven night holiday in Turkey, staying on a self catering basis at the 4T Club Candan, part of the Turkey collection, from £259 per person based on two people sharing, departing from Bristol to Dalaman on the 4th May 2009.

Visit www.thomson.co.uk

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