Holiday Budget Blog – Tips & Guides | Holiday Budget Planner

What UK Travellers Need at the Border in 2026: Passports, EES and ETIAS

Published 8th September 2026

The Entry/Exit System is fully in place and passports are no longer stamped. What that means at the border, where ETIAS has actually got to, and the two passport rules people still fail.

Travel Money: The Cheapest Way to Spend Abroad from the UK

Published 26th August 2026

Foreign spending is charged in three or four separate places and none of them share a statement line. Non-sterling fees, dynamic currency conversion, cash machine layers, and why the expensive bookings belong on a credit card.

Hidden Holiday Costs UK Travellers Forget to Budget For

Published 12th August 2026

Tourist levies now include Edinburgh, Air Passenger Duty is already inside the fare, and most meat and dairy can no longer come home with you from the EU. The costs that never make the headline price.

Flight Delays and Cancellations: What UK Passengers Can Claim

Published 15th July 2026

Compensation of £220 to £520 per passenger, and a right to food and a hotel that applies even when compensation does not. Plus the coverage gap that leaves some flights home outside the rules altogether.

Cheapest Times to Fly from the UK: A Month-by-Month Guide

Published 12th February 2026

Peak-season fares from UK airports can be several times the shoulder-season price on exactly the same route. Here's the month-by-month breakdown of when flights are cheap and when they are not.

All-Inclusive vs Self-Catering: Which Is Actually Cheaper?

Published 26th January 2026

Neither option wins outright. It depends on the destination, the group and how much you eat and drink out. Here are worked cost comparisons for families and couples across popular destinations.

UK Staycation on a Budget: Affordable Holiday Ideas Across Britain

Published 10th January 2026

No flights, no airport parking, no currency to buy. Here's how to plan a good UK staycation on a budget, with typical costs for camping, holiday parks, cottages and city breaks.