For a happy holiday, it pays to plan ahead

THERE’S still time for a late summer getaway, but with recent falls to the pound, some holiday budgets may be feeling the strain.

And, according to comparison website TravelSupermarket, as well as the weaker pound to contend with, many holidaymakers are pushing their costs up by not prioritising properly.

It found many families are leaving key pre-holiday tasks until the last minute – potentially making their trips hundreds of pounds more expensive.

Rather than keeping a close eye on the movements of the pound and trying to exchange currency when they might get a better rate, one in six (15%) holidaymakers don’t buy their currency until the day they are due to depart.

When it comes to preparing for their trip, many holidaymakers prefer to prioritise what they enjoy rather than more practical jobs, the research found.

One in 20 make their holiday driving playlists before booking their hire car.

And for many, perfecting their glam look for their trip takes priority. Some 46% of people buy new clothes for their trip before purchasing currency.

While clothes may get you in the holiday mood – and perhaps you can visualise yourself sipping sangrias while wearing those palm print shorts hanging on the sale rail in the shop – will you actually wear them?

The survey suggests maybe not. One in four (25%) holidaymakers don’t get round to wearing all of their new clothes or swimwear.

On average, nearly one in five items in travellers’ suitcases end up going home unworn or unused.

Bob Atkinson, a travel expert at TravelSupermarket, says: “Brexit has seen the pound weaken considerably, so it is more important than ever before to plan ahead so your holiday budget goes as far as it can.

“Planning ahead can ensure you have more money to spend on holiday essentials like sun cream, meals out and excursions.”

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