Budgeting for 2015 travel

Whether you're planning an exotic break to far away shores in summer 2015 or a family holiday on the beach in Greece, it helps to plan ahead if you're looking to save money and budget for your adventures. Holidays can be expensive, particularly if you're taking the whole family, but there are ways to budget and get the best value for money - you just need to follow our handy tips.

Plan in advance

Whilst last-minute holidays can be fun and spontaneous, you'll often find you get better value for money if you plan your holiday a year or more in advance. Many holidays can be booked with only a small deposit (around 20-25%), with the remaining balance only due between four and eight weeks before you jet off. This means you can book your holiday now and have a goal to save towards. No matter where in the world you're headed, this not only gives you something to look forward to, it also ensures you'll have enough money when the time comes.

Stay protected

Just because you're travelling on a budget, doesn't mean you should scrimp on the necessities such as travel insurance. With insurefor, kids go free on all family travel insurance policies, and if you're planning on taking a few trips abroad over the next 12 months, you could save even more money with family annual multi-trip insurance, which covers you for as many holidays as you like within a 12 month period. So you can enjoy city breaks in Rome, Prague and Paris, a week on the beach in Greece and maybe even a trip to Thailand - all with just one travel insurance policy!

Shop around

Make sure you shop around when planning your holiday. A little time spent now searching for the most affordable flights and best value for money accommodation could knock hundreds of pounds off the cost of your holiday, leaving you with more money to play with when you arrive at your destination. It can often be cheaper to book your flight and hotel separately, but remember if you want to take advantage of booking your holiday with just a deposit now (and the balance due next year), you'll have to book a package deal. It really depends on how good you are at saving! A package deal makes it far easier to budget and spread the cost of your holiday over the next few months, so when summer 2015 rolls around, you'll be ready to enjoy the sun!

Holiday essentials

Don't forget that you can save money on purchasing holiday essentials by planning in advance too. Things like sunscreen and aftersun can be expensive on the high street - shop online and buy in bulk to make great savings on everything from sunscreen to beach towels. A little planning now ensures that when the time comes for your holiday, all you need to worry about is fitting everything into your suitcase!