Use the web to cut travel costs

Recent findings from consumer investigators Which?, indicate that consumers are well justified in their confusion when it comes to booking a good train fare.

The company discovered that there are 70 different types of fares available on rail tickets, accompanied by a total of 760 conditions of use, making it difficult to select the cheapest option at the best of times.

Further complicating the issue is the fact that the rail staff are themselves ill- informed of how to make the most cost effective decision. Station staff and National Rail Enquiries (NRES) phone line operators were asked a standard set of questions and fared badly on the results.

For the best prices on trains, the best idea is to go to nationalrail.co.uk or thetrainline.com first.

Consumer website, moneysavingsexpert.com, worker Martin Lewis says: National Rail's website has a special promotion index page listing all the special discounted offers. Also note that on certain train routes, it's possible to get 'Megatrain' fares for £1 if you book early enough."

Other ways to save money when travelling by train include travelling during off-peak times and booking as far as nine to 12 weeks in advance. Those under the age of 26 or older than 60 can purchase a railcard, which discounts rail tickets throughout the year. It's also a good idea to check if the cost of two single trips is cheaper than a return journey. Sometimes it is.

Amanda Monroe of raileurope.co.uk says that the best way to get a cheap fare when travelling to Europe is simply by booking early. Those planning on multiple journeys to Europe should also look into the savings offered by the InterRail pass.

Any search for cheap flights should also start online. Websites like kayak.co.uk, travelsupermarket.com and sidestep.co.uk are the fastest way to compare flight prices as they bring up prices from airlines and from flight brokers like epedia.co.uk, opodo.co.uk and ebookers.co.uk.

The cheapest flights are often offered during off-peak travel times or in the middle of the week, never during holidays like Christmas. In addition, travelsupermarket.com employee Bob Atkins suggests searching for flights from alternative UK airports for good deals. Sometimes the best fare is available by being flexible on dates, other times a negotiated rate for a flight and accommodation can save you the most money.

You can even cut the cost of travelling by car in several ways. Websites like freewheelers.com and liftshare.org help you find other travellers to share your costs. Car clubs help car-less people pay for automobiles only when they need them, a practice that could save you between £1,000 and £1,500 a year.




Follow these links to find out more or to get a quote on Travel insurance, UK airport parking, UK airport hotels or UK airport lounges.



Jennifer Jones Editorial


28/09/2007


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