Six tips to save big on summer holidays and daytrips - Tip number one, don't fly

In partnership with UK ferry industry body, Discover Ferries, Chelsea Dickenson, founder of Cheap Holiday Expert, has shared her top tips for saving money on your summer getaways.

Chelsea says, “Ferry travel offers great value and helps travellers avoid extra costs that come with other holidays such as seat reservations, baggage fees and car hire costs. There are a few tips that can help to reduce holiday costs even further, even when travelling in the height of the summer holidays.”

Chelsea’s tips for getting the cheapest travel

Book early. Take advantage of advance booking offers and saver tickets and access the best choice of cabins and crossing times.
Travel off-peak. Even when travelling in the summer season – the busiest time of the year – opt for mid-week or daytime sailings rather than overnight crossings to get the best priced tickets.
Minimise the cost of getting to and from the port. Look at Rail & Sail offers – tickets that combine your train and ferry journeys are often very competitively priced. If you are travelling to Northern Europe and driving through France, consider ports closer to your destination to avoid motorway toll fees. Taking your bike onboard is incredibly budget-friendly and in some cases free, helping to dramatically reduce onward transport costs.
Seek out deals on accommodation and attractions. Ferry operators offer discounts on popular attractions, sights and accommodation – from campsites and glamping to hotels and holiday cottages. Purchasing these with your ferry tickets can give you up to 25% off travel and / or holiday activities.
Make the most of duty-free. When travelling to continental Europe, the Channel Islands or Republic of Ireland stock up on your favourite beers, wines, cosmetics and confectionary on board the ferry – with savings of up to 50% off RRP, drinks at home could cut your bar bill when you reach your destination.

Holidays that offer ferry great value

A fortnight in France for less than £750

Famous for gastronomy, glamour and history, France is the most visited holiday destination on the planet, but it can still be enjoyed on a shoestring. Self-catering gives holidaymakers freedom and the option to save money, while experiencing the local delicacies. When dining out, opt for a lunchtime a la carte menu, which offers more value than an evening meal.

A two week break in Normandy for a family of four, including ferry crossings from Dover, fuel and motorway tolls and a pitch at a campsite near Honfleur could cost as little as £733*. Sail with DFDS, Irish Ferries or P&O Ferries. Don’t have a tent or campervan? Upgrade your stay with a Coco 2-bed suite in a permanent tent with terrace for £940 for a fortnight. Members of the Camping and Motorhome Club can benefit from a further discount.

If camping is not your thing and you like the comfort of a proper roof over your head, a soft bed and a private bathroom then opt for packages with Brittany Ferries, which include ferry crossings and a cottage that sleeps 6 in Swiss Normandy from £1,556.10 for two-weeks departing 17 August3.

Experience a road trip adventure in the British Isles

Ever fancied a big American-inspired family road trip that fit smaller budget constraints? Travelling by road and sea gives the feeling of adventure and means families can avoid long haul flights and expensive car or motorhome rental. Simply pack everything – even the dog! – and set off to explore Celtic culture.

Start your adventure sailing to the Isle of Man, which is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve and Dark Sky area so great for nature and stargazing. The island is influenced by Celtic and Norse culture and has a range of well-priced hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets as well as campsites. Sail onto Dublin for a true taste of Ireland, sinking a pint of Guinness and exploring EPIC, which details the history of Irish emigration. Head north to the Wicklow Mountains before crossing the border into Belfast, which has a thriving foodie culture and has been the backdrop for popular films and television series. From there, road trippers can either sail home to Liverpool or head to the North of Ireland and see the Giant’s Causeway before crossing to Cairnryan to explore the majesty of Scotland’s mountains. Complete this road trip with a visit to the remote Hebridean islands, including the Isle of Tiree, which is considered the Hawaii of the North thanks to its white sands and surfing culture.

Car crossings to Isle of Man start from £135.50 each way with Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Sailings from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are available with Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries and Stena Line and vehicle sailings start from £130 each way. Sail to Tiree with Caledonian MacBrayne from £24.90 return.

It’ll be more than all Wight

One sure fire way to get the most value out of your holiday is to embrace free activities. The Met Office has just declared the Isle of Wight is the sunniest place in Britain and with well-conserved beaches and nature reserves there are plenty of free activities including water sports, rock pooling and hiking.

The Isle of Wight has numerous holiday parks which provide lower cost accommodation and offer plenty of family-friendly facilities on site. Pitches at Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park start from £42.95 per night, and stays in static caravans start from £121 per night in August. For a touch of elegance, stay at Luccombe Hall Hotel and save up to 50% on car ferry travel when you book your hotel. Hotel guests can also enjoy free access to Shanklin Chine; the historic gorge is the Island’s oldest visitor attraction, which has been welcoming visitors for more than two centuries.

Rail & Sail tickets as well as foot passenger crossings can reduce travel costs further, with tickets starting from £17.40 each way per adult. Foot passengers can choose to travel with Hovertravel, Red Funnel or Wightlink. If you want to take your car, crossings with Red Funnel and Wightlink start from £42 each way, which includes a car and up to 4 passengers.

Reach some of the best beaches in the British Isles from only £7.60

Daytrips offer an affordable way to reach some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly is the perfect trip for people in the South West or Cornwall looking to experience Caribbean beaches closer to home. Day returns with Isles of Scilly Travel cost £35 per adult and £17.50 per child. Guernsey’s coastline, which look positively Mediterranean is also accessible for the day from just £38 return with Condor Ferries. Whilst the untouched beauty of the Isle of Bute – which boasts a resident seal colony on Scalpsie Bay – can be reached for as little as £7.60 return with Caledonian MacBrayne.

Day trip in the capital – Explore London on the Thames

One of the best value ways to explore the city is with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. From the Houses of Parliament to Tower Bridge and Battersea Power Station, there is lots to take in without having to pound the pavements or descend underground. Use your Oyster card or purchase a River Roamer unlimited day ticket, which costs from £22.10 per adult. With Family River Roamer Day tickets the kids travel for free. The £44.20 fare enables 2 adults and up to 3 children (Aged 5-15. Children under 5 travel free of charge) to hop on and off throughout the day.

Abby Penlington, Director of Discover Ferries, says: “There are so many opportunities for great value breaks within reach of our shorelines and, as Chelsea points out, still some fantastic bargains to be found for summer breaks. Not only does ferry travel offer great value but also offers a relaxing way to travel, with plenty to experience during the journey. Whether it is a first flight on a hovercraft or spotting whales and dolphins from deck during the journey to grabbing a drink at the bar or indulging in duty-free shopping, passengers will start their holiday well.”

*Ferry from Dover to Calais for a car and a family of 4 from £214 (With DFDS, Irish Ferries or P&O Ferries) OR £257 return from Newhaven to Dieppe. Camping Domaine de La Catinière, near Honfleur https://www.camping-honfleur.com/ Pitch for tent £430 (14 nights) or for a van with electricity, £616 (14 nights). Fuel and motorway tolls based on a hatchback family unleaded car £100 driving to Honfleur from Calais or only £46 from Dieppe.

Total: £744 via Calais / £733 via Dieppe

If you don’t have a tent or van, then you can upgrade your stay with a Coco 2-bed suite in a permanent tent with terrace for £940 for the two-weeks.

Total: £1,254 / £1,243 via Dieppe

Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen for a standard car and family of 4 departing 17 August, staying in a detached cottage in Swiss Normandy. https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/holidays/details/qn1153/le-theil-bocage

Total: £1,556.10