Expert’s five common pitfalls to avoid as Brits book summer holidays

With the arrival of the new year, many Brits have already started planning their holidays ahead for the summer season. 

As the sun shines bright, most of the holidaymakers begin looking for places to spend some time with their families.

However, the sheer excitement of going on a holiday may sometimes cause us to take reckless decisions.

To avoid some common pitfalls while booking the holidays, the experts from Which? have shared some tips to avoid overspending on the big getaway.

Experts at Which? observed that several hotel chains Travelodge, Accor, and Hilton were exaggerating the number of bargains in their promotions.

They said: “Not only does this cynical price practice frustrate and disappoint consumers, it can boost sales for retailers. It’s known as the ‘commitment and consistency’ principle: consumers are far more likely to buy – even at the higher price – if they’ve already invested time and effort in the purchase.”

The expert also cited how recently Eurostar got into hot water for advertising sales prices that didn’t exist in a reasonable quantity to satisfy demand. Consumers struggled to snap up fares ‘from £39’ as promised, prompting the Advertising Standards Agency to rule that the ad was misleading.

The low-cost carrier may advertise the lowest headline fares, but those prices can quickly escalate if you want to bring a cabin bag or select your seats. When extras were added, British Airways proved cheaper than Ryanair on two out of three routes we examined, the consumer expert team explained. 

For example, on a return flight from London to Malaga, Ryanair’s basic fare was £36 less than British Airways. However, after including a cabin bag for the overhead locker and seat selection with Ryanair, BA turned out to be £25 cheaper.

Which? explained that Wizz Air’s additional charges were even steeper. Adding an overhead cabin bag cost an eye-watering £89 for each return trip, while seat selection was the most expensive we found, at £24 for a return journey.

Experts suggested that one should always compare booking site deals on their computer and mobile phone (preferably with a loyalty account).

It stated: “You should also contact the hotel directly to ensure you’re getting the best-possible price before parting with your cash.

“If you regularly book hotels using your computer, you could be paying over the odds for your stay.

“It’s little-known that Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com offer mobile-only discounts on selected hotels—promising up to 40% off—but only if the booking is made on a smartphone. Using this trick, we slashed £270 off the price of an apartment in Amsterdam on Booking.com.”

Experts suggesting that opting for a packaged holiday may not be the worst deal. Sometimes making your own package may cost you a little extra as compared with the readymade deals.

Which? explained: “Cost isn’t the only consideration: package holidays also give you financial and legal protection. If something goes wrong, your travel company has to resolve the issue, offer an alternative or provide a refund. You’re also protected if the company goes bust.

“Make sure to do the sums before you decide what type of holiday is best for you.”

When planning a trip, many people rely on five-star reviews to make decisions about accommodations, restaurants, or attractions.

However, these glowing reviews aren’t always reliable, as some can be fake or misleading.

Which? said: “It’s a red flag if the majority of reviews are from people who’ve never posted anything else on the site. A flood of five-star reviews all at once is also cause for suspicion, along with repetitive language (as fakers are often given a template to follow).”