Everyone deserves to have a holiday at least once a year. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a short city break in the autumn in one of the UK’s cheap hotels, or a two week sun-filled break in Europe – holidays are to be enjoyed and looked forward to.

However, as with most things that we enjoy in life, holidays can be expensive. Even a short break in London can cost a small fortune when you factor in all of the additional expenses, such as meals, travel, activities and, of course, your hotel room. When you collect Airmiles, however, you can save up miles to put towards your stay, allowing you to take advantage of cheap hotel rooms, and sometimes even free stays.

Airmiles can be collected in a variety of different ways, such as whenever you spend money on your Lloyds TSB Airmiles Duo Credit Card Account. Every time you use your Cards, whether it’s for your weekly grocery shop or to pay your bills, you’ll be collecting Airmiles that can be exchanged for cheap hotels, or even free flights within the UK and to other countries.

There are other ways to collect Airmiles as well, including exchanging your Tesco Clubcard vouchers.
The more Airmiles you collect, the further you could travel with your free flights. If you collect 10,000 Airmiles, you could even fly to Australia for the dream holiday of a lifetime, and your flight wouldn’t cost you a penny!

Over the years, camping holidays have become a traditional British family holiday. Even the traditional British weather has failed to dampen the spirits of campers enjoying their family holidays, although most would agree that glorious sunshine does make for better camping holidays than the usual downpour of rain.

Camping holidays are great for family holidays for a variety of reasons, not least of all the cost. Camping is one of the cheapest forms of holidays in the UK, and when you’re camping you’re able to venture further afield into Europe, to France for example, for very little increase in the expense of your family holidays.

Children love camping holidays because they appeal to their love of the great outdoors and offer them the chance to sleep under the stars, play with tents, outdoor toys and make new friends.

These holidays also offer you the chance to get back to basics; a roof over your head and a fire for warmth are all that you need to be happy, away from the stresses of everyday life. That is after all, what a holiday is all about.

One of the best ways to enjoy camping is with mobile home holidays. France, being such a large expansive country has countless holiday parks catering to mobile homes and campers alike, and its weather conditions make it a more hospitable country in which to go camping than the UK.

Camping is a perfect solution for cheap family holidays, and mobile home holidays to France are a great option that thousands of Brits choose every year.

Despite the average Briton’s love affair with holidaying abroad, there are many places in the UK that are ideal for a short break, offering beauty, culture, heritage and excitement.

There are often bargain hotel breaks in the UK available too, meaning your short break need not be expensive.

One of the most popular places to go for a short break, no matter where you’re from in the UK, is London, where you will find many hotel offers. There are well-known sights, like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The London Eye and other historic and spectacular landmarks. But London is also the place to head for a shopping short break in the UK, with stores such as Hamleys and Harrods being two of the most famous.

There are also many short break special offers at hotels across the rest of the UK, with cities like Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool and Edinburgh being some of the most popular for short breaks and weekend getaways.

Manchester, like London, is great for short breaks, with its nights out and shopping - with two big shopping centres (the Arndale and the Trafford Centre). Edinburgh is a popular spot for parties, stag dos, hen dos and couples looking for a romantic short break. Hotels can be found across the city of Edinburgh, which is beautiful and has welcoming locals.

Cardiff, one of the most thriving spots in Wales, is the spiritual home of its rugby and is surrounded by the green scenery and walking holiday country of Wales. All this makes it an ideal spot for a short break at the weekend.

In fact, wherever you choose to head in the UK, a short break is sure to please.

Most people experience the joys of staying in a hostel at some point in their life. If you are going travelling or for an extended stay abroad the cheap prices and flexibility mean you can stay longer and experience more. Hostels shouldn’t be overlooked for your normal holiday either as there are a huge range on offer and there is usually a hostel available to suit most people’s needs. If you don’t mind compromising on service and quality then a hostel is definitely a great option.

Take a look at this hostel survival guide to help you decide:

Price Comparison
It is important to research the hostel well seeing how the price compares to other types of accommodation on offer. A hostel is usually the best option for saving money. Try and book in advance to ensure availability.
Facilities
Make sure you check out the facilities, room size and people per room. Also, double check bathroom facilities to see how many people would be sharing one bathroom. It is a good idea to check out review sites but don’t be too put off by bad comments, people have different expectations and standards and even the nicest of places can still attract bad reviews.
Beds
Beds in hostels are usually lower in quality than hotels and cheap mattresses are often used. This shouldn’t put you off though as there are solutions. If you have room in your luggage you can always bring sheets and duvet covers with you for added comfort. If you are travelling light you can buy lightweight silk sleeping bag which are easily folded into a backpack but provide peace of mind if you are unsure of when the sheets were last washed.

Experience
Hostels usually provide a great holiday/travelling experience. If you are looking to meet new people then staying in a hostel is usually a good way to go about it. You can share stories and talking to your fellow hostel buddies is the best way to find out about the place you are visiting. Be open minded and stay there with the right attitude.

Don’t Forget…
Remember to pack earplugs and an eye mask to make your stay more peaceful.

Accommodation is one of the most important deciding factors when going on holiday. Getting a good night’s sleep is paramount for a relaxing and enjoyable break. There is a huge range of accommodation on offer but choosing to stay at a bed and breakfast is often overlooked.
Check out these Pros and Cons to help you decide:

Pros
1. Meeting New People
The smaller numbers and relaxed atmosphere often enable you to meet more people and discuss your holidays. You can even discuss your plans for the day with fellow guests over breakfast.

2. Comfy and Cosy Rooms
Rooms in bed and breakfasts are often less clinical and cosier reminding you of home. Bed and breakfasts usually provide a comfy home style mattress for their beds, which is another bonus.

3. Cost
Bed and breakfasts can in some circumstances be more economical. They’re definitely worth checking out as an option for your holiday accommodation, as they may well be cheaper than a hotel.

4. A More Unique Place to Stay
If you’re visiting a new area in the UK or abroad then staying at a B & B can also help to give you a better feel for a place than staying in a hotel where you are far removed from everyday life. You can also stay in some more unique buildings full of character. You could end up in a castle, a lighthouse, a former jailhouse, or even a treehouse.

Cons
1. Less Facilities
Although you will hopefully find yourself in a cosy room full of character it is unlikely you will have facilities like a fridge, kettle, trouser press and you may not even have a TV. However, if these are items you won’t require then there is no problem!

2. Slower Service
Although not the case for all B & Bs, service is likely to be slower than a hotel. There is unlikely to be a 24 hour reception and if you have a problem in the night you may either have to lump it or go and wake up the owner!

3. Privacy
You will probably have less anonymity in a bed and breakfast than a hotel. If you want to keep yourself to yourself and not interact with other travellers it might not be the best place to rest your head.

4. Food
Not all bed and breakfasts will have options for an evening meal/snacks etc. If your bed and breakfast is located in a remote area then you may have difficulty finding food and a hotel might be an easier choice where food is always readily available.