Book your flight at 1am, ask for an upgrade and check in as late as possible: How you could save almost 20% on the cost of your break (and get a few freebies, too)

• Research suggests Britons are not on the ball when it comes to saving
• Did you know some airlines offer free access to their airport lounges?
• Saying it's your honeymoon is one of the best ways to get upgraded

By John Hutchinson for MailOnline

Published: 02:17 EST, 3 October 2015 | Updated: 06:45 EST, 3 October 2015

We may be a nation of thrifty spenders and bargain hunters when it comes to supermarket and clothes shopping, but it seems that when it comes to holidays, we're not so savvy.

One well-known travel deals website has now found that almost half of British people are totally oblivious on how to make their money go further and enjoy perks, discounts and upgrades when travelling.

Here, MailOnline Travel shares the travel hacks that can ensure you get the best deal out of that special time abroad.

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There are many, some quite simple, ways you can ensure you get the most out of your holiday

Flights Hacks: Here’s how to wing it 

Early bird catches the worm: Flight systems are loaded first thing every morning so flights which were on hold overnight (usually from business customers) will be released. This happens at around 1am, so you can often get better prices the earlier you book: a hack four in five Brits have never heard of.

Airport lounge access: Seven percent of Brits think airport lounges are only for VIPs and frequent flyers. Think again. Some airlines grant access to their lounges for a fee to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, unlimited food and drink (including wine), free magazines and newspapers, free Wi-Fi, plus some even offer free massages to relax you ahead of your flight.

Fast food: If you don't want to wait for your food on the plane order special meals in advance: like vegetarian or low calorie. Those are the ones that get delivered to seats first so you’re guaranteed a hot dinner before most other passengers.

Secret meals: Sometimes the airlines have meals available that they don’t offer passengers initially; they keep these hidden away in the back. If you really don’t like any of the options, ask what else might be available: and there could be a delicious surprise.

Dress smart for an upgrade: To increase your chances of getting an upgrade, you need to look the part for business or first class. So ditch the tracksuits or jeans and dress more sophisticated.

It pays to do your research when booking holiday flights, from the searching through to sittng in your seat

Frequent flyer clubs: Sign up to frequent flyer programmes. Members of these stand the best chance of a 'cabin roll' on overbooked flights and bag an upgrade.

Some special occasions are a winner: While your 32nd birthday may be important to you, sadly airlines don’t recognise birthdays and anniversaries as such special occasions. Honeymoons however are a definite winner and the most likely occasion to get an upgrade.

Take off early: Morning flights are often cheaper, especially those at quite unsociable hours. Also, earlier flights are less likely to encounter delays (although this is never a guarantee) because you won't have a back log of flights. Departing earlier means landing earlier, so you can make the most of every minute of your trip.

Long haul stopover savers: Starting your long haul holiday from another European city can save you lots of money. You can extend your holiday by visiting interesting European cities and bag a bargain by starting your trip for example in Sofia or Oslo. You only need to add a low cost flight from your home to this city to take advantage of these amazing discounts and offers. For example you can bag a return flight from Sofia, Bulgaria to Dubai for under £150.

Airlines tend not to celebrate your birthday, but if it's a honeymoon, they might be more receptive and provide a nice upgrade

Avoid the suits: The best days to fly are Tuesday to Thursday so you avoid the Monday morning rush of business travellers and also the weekend escapers. These dates often have better availability too and the best availability means low fares.

Duty free discounts: It’s always worth trying to haggle on board to get duty free even cheaper.

Bad smells on board: You know that dreaded moment when you locate your seat and it’s right next to the toilet. Or even worse, you sit down for a long flight and realise the person next to you does not smell of roses. In either case, after giving it an hour, approach the air stewardess and kindly ask to be moved, they may have no choice but to bump you up.

Plane research: Some economy seats have more leg room than others e.g. next to emergency exits but these are often not advertised so it’s worth familiarising yourself with the plane layout to check in for a seat with more wiggle room. Seventy per cent of Britons don’t know about this, so have a go.

Carry on: Avoid checking in baggage if you possibly can, it saves so much time because you don’t need to be at the airport early or have to wait around the carousal. Plus there is no risk of lost luggage.

Black Friday and airline sales: The major airlines all have seat sales over the Christmas period, so this is the perfect time to book your next break at a great price. During Black Friday (at the end of November) and over Christmas is a great time to check for airline deals.

Hotel Hacks: Check out these suite tips

Book a weekend in the business district: Many cities which are popular for business travellers such as London, Brussels and Zurich, have fantastic room rates at the weekend once the ‘suits’ have left. You can sometimes find five star hotels for under £100 per night.

Sunday savers: Sunday nights are usually the cheapest night of the week to stay in a city hotel. This is the end of the week when weekend travellers have left and before corporate guests arrive so a great day to surprise your other half with a night away. You’re also more likely to bag an upgrade to a suite when the hotel is quieter on a Sunday.

Cheapest hotel months: Hotel costs are often lowest in December and January. And if the hotel is a corporate hotel then the last two weeks in December (excluding New Year’s Eve) and first two weeks in January are usually the quietest.

It pays to be friendly with hotel staff, and if you are celebrating a special occasion, you might get an upgrade

Share your story or special occasion: It’s always worth asking for an upgrade at check in. Special occasions work a treat but don’t go over the top and always be polite.

Hotel freebies: Take advantage of everything free that the hotel has to offer. For example free Wi-Fi, free shampoo, shower gel and moisturizers (which you can keep for future travels), free newspapers, free toothbrush, shoe shine, water and snacks. Sometimes they even let you keep the slippers.

Haggle for your grub: Hotels want to keep you there for every meal of the day if possible, so ask when you check in if they offer a discount on breakfast or dinner for guests of the hotel. Free ‘welcome’ drinks are also common to get you into the bar or restaurant.

Tip on the first day: Hotel staff are a lovely bunch and are keen to treat every guest perfectly. To get special treatment, it’s worth a try to on the first day when staying longer in a hotel or resort, tip well because that then means the staff will remember you.

Concierge: Don’t be intimidated to ask for things from the concierge: they are the secret heroes of hotels. They can often get you a table at the best restaurant that claims to be fully booked when you call, or advise on hidden gems, get you better deals on an experience or sight, hand out free city guides and get fast passes or early access to sights.

If you fancy dining in style in your hotel, there are ways you can achieve this for minimum spend

Check in as late as possible: If you check in late, the chances are that the hotel might have run out of standard rooms and will therefore give you a higher room category.

Travel with man’s best friend: Sometimes pet-friendly hotels allocate the biggest rooms to those travelling with pets so they have more space and are more comfortable. 

Barter on the upgrade: You might have to accept you can’t get an upgrade for free but if you decide to pay for an upgrade when checking in, make sure you barter. So offer to pay for an upgrade for the next higher room category, but ask to get upgraded to an even better one like a suite instead.

Specific room requests: Ask for specific room requests on checking in, like non-smoking, king room or to be on a high floor. You may find that only higher room categories are left that have these facilities so you could secure an accidental upgrade.

All Inclusive: Even if you don’t plan on eating in the hotel every night of your holiday, take the all-inclusive option where available, it’s often not that much more than self-catering or half board.

Lost and found: Often travellers leave behind all sorts of things from theirs stays, so asking if there are any city guide books or plug adapters in the lost and found, could bag you some freebies during your trip.

Sweet as pie: Many travel experts told us that those people who are demanding, pushy, constantly asking or begging for an upgrade are the least likely to get one. Just be nice to the receptionist - it's often down to the attitude of the guest.

Rave reviewer: Mention on check in that you read nice reviews about the hotel, the chances are the hotelier will think you're going to be writing reviews yourself, so will want to ensure you have a great stay.

Cheap doesn’t always mean cheerful: If you didn't choose the cheapest room in the first place, you're more likely to get upgraded. Consider booking just one room category above the lowest and you never know, you might end up in a suite.

High flyer: Ask for a room on an upper floor. Most hotel experts would say that the best floor to stay on in a hotel is the top or an upper floor as they have less noise, a better view sometimes and the suites are usually on the top floors.

Avoid the elevator: Make sure you request a room that is not next to the elevator as not only do some elevators make a lot of noise, there’s a lot of chatting from people coming out of them.

Give a gift: One hotelier told us that sometimes it helps to give the reception staff sweets or chocolate if you’re hoping for an upgrade. It’s worth a try.

City Break Hacks: Don’t let the city break the bank

Flight + Hotel Combo: Book your flight and hotel together as a package, rather than individually, to save money and to get the best discounts; you can often save more than 15 per cent.

Premium Economy: You’d be shocked to know that when you purchase a flight and hotel in a package, sometimes going premium economy can be as cheap as economy or just a few pounds more. Make sure you check both options before making your booking, but remember this is only when you book the flight and hotel together.

The cheapest time of the year to book a city break is January - just get Christmas out of the way first

Car rental extras: On a fly-drive holiday, don’t take the sat nav or car seat hire options from the rental company, as these can be expensive. Head to a supermarket instead to get the same thing for half the price and you get to keep it.

Night at the museum: Many European cities have set days during the year where they open up their top museums at night and offer free access. The European Night of Museums in France, Germany and the UK is in May, Budapest and Prague offer the same thing in June.

Beat the January blues: The cheapest time of year for a city break is January, with deals for flight and hotel for two nights for under £100 to places like Berlin, Dublin, Prague and Copenhagen.

Out of town: If you’re on a budget, it is often cheaper to stay further out of town. Most destinations have good transport links and you can save a considerable amount of money.

Eating with the locals will make good impressions

Transfer time: When picking a city break, look how close the city is to the airport to make the very most of your trip. If you’re only away for 48 hours, every minute counts and you don’t want to spend hours of it on a transfer coach, so when planning a city break take this into account.

Birthday freebies: Especially in the USA, birthdays are something the hospitality industry celebrates. Many chain restaurants offer free meals (usually breakfast) on your birthday. Sign up to their email list to make sure you receive communications on how to claim.

Keep currency exchange local: Change your pounds in a bank in the country you are visiting, as you could get a better exchange rate. Also consider using your debit card to pay for things abroad because you’ll get the exact currency rates of the day (not a rate that has fees and commission on top). Just check any fees your bank might charge for this though to check it’s cost effective.

Haggle for your currency: If you are going to change the currency before you go, haggle with the supplier as many offer currency exchange these days, so it’s easier than ever to haggle to keep the fees down.

Social media praises: Before your city break, use Twitter and Facebook to rave about an airline or hotel - they will appreciate this and can sometimes give you something in return.

Eat and drink like locals: The best places in cities to eat and drink are usually where the locals go. The chances are that prices will be better and you will also get a real sense of the country you are visiting.

Public transport: Don’t bother paying for bus tours or taxis. Public transport with city cards is more cost effective to get around, plus if you just grab a map and use the public transport, the public buses are a great way to see more of a city destination.

Perfect packing: As most airlines now only allow one piece of hand luggage you need to pack smart for your city break. Don’t take shampoo or shower gel, ask for it at the hotel. Or even better, keep the flat cosmetic samples you find in magazines - they are perfect for short breaks as they don't weigh anything. Always pack neatly, it makes such a difference. Put your underwear in your shoes and if travelling as a couple - split your clothes between the cases so should one case go missing you’ll both still have something to wear.

Source: Lastminute.com 

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