| With the price of holidays on the rise, more of us are | | | | immediately clear. You may be able to get a reduction |
| seeking out cheaper deals on flights, hotels and car | | | | in the cost of your room by making your own |
| hire. But thousands of out-of-pocket holiday makers | | | | arrangements of a morning; going to the local |
| are coming to the realisation that cheap doesn't | | | | café for breakfast will undoubtedly get you |
| always mean cheap. You can avoid paying more than | | | | nicer food for the same, if not less, than you'd pay in |
| you expected for your so-called 'cheap' hotel if you | | | | the hotel for coffee and a muffin. |
| know what to look for. | | | | Beware of hotels which offer a laundry service. While |
| The most obvious, and perhaps the best-known, is the | | | | not a bad thing in itself, you'll pay dearly for the |
| mini-bar. Having a fridge full of treats, snacks and | | | | convenience. Better to buy a cheap box of washing |
| alcohol in your hotel room might be tempting, but unless | | | | powder and wash your smalls in the bathroom sink, |
| you really want to pay upwards of £1 for a | | | | and use a local launderette for larger items. Using the |
| small chocolate bar, or £4+ for a tiny bottle of | | | | hotel service may end up costing you more than you |
| vodka, it's better to grab any snacks from the shop | | | | paid for your clothes brand new! |
| down the road. If you do decide to throw caution to | | | | Perhaps the most important thing to watch out for, |
| the wind and raid the mini-bar, make note of exactly | | | | before you book, is VAT. Currently set at 15% in |
| which items you consume, and their listed prices. It is | | | | Britain, different countries have different rates. The |
| not unheard of for tourists to be billed for items they | | | | Czech Republic, for example, sets a rate of 22%. |
| didn't take out, or overcharged. Keep all wrappers | | | | These amounts are not always included in the |
| cans/bottles if necessary, and check your bill | | | | advertised price of the holiday, as travel agents want |
| thoroughly before you leave. | | | | to make their prices look as low as possible. So look |
| On the subject of food, some hotels charge for | | | | out for the magic words 'including VAT' before you |
| breakfasts separately, yet don't always make this | | | | book. |