Before the age of the internet, the majority of holidaymakers booked their trips through travel agents. Now, the best way to get cheaper deals is to shop around online. Make sure that your holiday is worth the money with these top cost-cutting tactics.

Flights

Finding cheap flights is becoming easier as the market gets more competitive – but you will find that prices vary enormously between airlines. The best way to get a good deal is to use a comparison site, such as the aptly named Cheap Flights .co.uk. This websites takes the hard work out of the budget flight search by comparing a whole range of providers and then coming up with the best deal for you. Remember, though, that no price comparison site sifts through every deal out there. It’s worth checking out a few of the more likely to providers yourself to ensure that you haven’t missed anything.

The cheapest flights will generally be available either far in advance or right at the last minute. If you’re prepared to be flexible about your destination then LastMinute.com offers some great deals. Meanwhile, Travelzoo is a website the compiles the best bargain holidays on its website – one particularly good feature is the ‘This Week’s Top 20 Email’ listing the biggest bargain finds for a week – just be prepared for some furious packing to get on the plane. Otherwise, think about booking early and avoiding peak season times and school holidays.

Accommodation

If you haven’t gone for a package holiday, then you can find cheap deals on accommodation by using a comparison site. Hotels.com reviews the prices of more than 30,000 hotels worldwide, while HotelsComparison.co.uk is also a good option for deal finding. For those who are prepared to forgo the luxury of a hotel, the best budget option is to book into a hostel. HostelBookers.com offers a whole range of hostels, as well as reviews by previous customers, so you can see what you’ll be getting.

Extras

Travel insurance is an important addition to any holiday package, particularly if you are planning to travel outside Europe. A comprehensive package will cover medical costs, loss or damage to your property and cancellations of your flights or accommodation. Use an accredited site such as AA Travel to find annual cover and travel insurance for single trips.

Lastly, there are now some low-cost options for those looking to park their car at the airport. Holiday Extras offer airport parking that can be up to 60 per cent cheaper than on the gate parking if you book in advance. For the best prices, reserve your space ahead of time and shop around to find the best deals available. Alternatively, it might be an idea to hire a car and drive to the airport, particularly if you’re taking a long trip abroad. Take a look at the range of car hire options available with Holiday Autos.