Budget Holidays to the UK
I’ve been doing this since January but I just want to make it “official” by writing it down. Given that I’m a lifestyle blogger and have no specific niche to focus on, I’ve come up with a way to still organize my entries. I will focus on one central theme per month. For example, November (2012) was focused on design, February (2013) for my Happiness Project, and August (2013) for beauty. This September, will focus on travel and my Big Blog Exchange experience.
This is my introduction. This entry will give you an idea how to travel UK without hurting your budget. Enjoy. :)
Looking to travel to the United Kingdom? This amazing country has plenty to offer, from the thrills of London to the beautiful mountains of Scotland and the stunning beaches of Devon and Cornwall. But with the cost of flights, accommodation and eating out, it’s not a cheap trip to make. However, by following these simple tips on saving money, you can enjoy a visit to the UK without breaking the bank.
While hotels in the UK can be expensive, hostels are not only cheap but often more fun too. You will meet people from lots of different nationalities, and many hostels in main cities like London and Edinburgh offer organised walks and tours to help you get to know the city. In contrast to the grimy, noisy cells that many people associate with the word ‘hostel’, most of the UK’s hostels are comfortable and modern. Away from the cities, bunkbarns and rural hostels offer great value accommodation for those looking to explore the beautiful walking and hiking routes of the UK.
The UK has a great public transport system, and you can easily travel the length and breadth of the country by bus or train. The cheapest way to travel is by using the Megabus, a company that offers great bargains on journeys booked in advance. They always have plenty of special offers on, sometimes letting you travel as far as London to Edinburgh for the equivalent of around $10! Trains can be expensive if booked on the day, but if you plan your journey in advance you can get great deals. You can also hire a car, but be aware that gas is much more expensive in the UK.
When you’re out and about, budget travellers will be pleased to discover that many of the UK’s museums, such as London’s Natural History Museum and the V&A, are free to explore. If you want to visit some of the country’s hundreds of stately homes, castles and gardens, a National Trust membership is a great idea. For just over £40 (about $60) you can enjoy free entry and parking at over 300 historic properties throughout the UK including famous houses like Greenway, home to Agatha Christie, and Charlecote Park, where William Shakespeare once poached deer. The UK’s beautiful countryside, moors, mountains and beaches are also mostly free to roam – check out websites like walkingbritain.co.uk and nationaltrail.co.uk for more details on walks and hikes across the country.
Like any country, eating out in the UK can be expensive but there are also some great bargains to be found. Even in capital cities like London and Edinburgh you can get great deals by visiting local markets and ethnic areas which serve delicious street food, while countryside areas are very proud of their home grown produce. Try visiting a local farmers’ market and packing a picnic for the day, or buying fish fresh from the fishermen as they land their catches in coastal areas.
Finally, it’s important to stay connected whilst you’re travelling. For keeping in contact with fellow travellers while in the UK, pick up a free pay as you go SIM card from a company like Lebara that offers free calls to other users on the same network. And for those all important calls back home you can get low cost calls to the USA with a speciality international network. These are networks dedicating to helping those in the UK make calls to other countries, and offer calls to the US from as little as 6p a minute.
A trip to the UK is one that everyone should make at least once in a lifetime – make sure it’s within your reach by following our easy tips for a bargain break.
