SUMMER TIME is still here, just about. If you are strapped for cash there are some alternatives.
TheJournal.ie has some ideas of how to land a bargain holiday:
Camper van holidays – It may not be Marbella but some of our coast line isn’t half bad. The Irish Caravan and Camping Council website has special offers and all the advice you need so as to have the best holiday at home. It is not just about sitting around playing cards.
While being stuck in a tent or camper van may not sound like the most fun, there is lots to do in many counties around the country and it sure costs a lot less than a five star hotel.
Couch surfing – It is sometimes assumed that this sharing-is-caring form of accommodation is purely for scroungers, but there is a lot to be said for couch surfing. Staying in the home of strangers may not seem like a fun way to spend your holiday, but why not? Isn’t that what holidays are all about – meeting new people and having new experiences.
Time Magazine says that couch surfing “isn’t just a means of accommodation; it is an entirely new way to travel”.
Primadonna princesses probably won’t find it appealing but if you are in need of a dry place to stay just visit couchsurfing.org. Hopefully the couch you land on will be inside, unlike this one:
Enter every competition – This is more of a leave-it-up-to-fate idea, but if you are in need of a break and luck is on your side perhaps your winning ticket will be called out on Winning Streak. Either way, if you aren’t in, you can’t win.
Get back in touch – You know all those old relatives you never talk to on the phone anymore or even those long-lost friends that you have fallen out of touch with. It might be a good time to pick up the phone or find them on Facebook. It is especially worth it if they live in a nice climate and perhaps have a spare room that you could crash in.
Last minute deals – If you are flexible and can jet off at a moments notice then there are deals out there for you. Websites like lastminute.ie and gohop.ie offer deals on package holidays, flights and hotels. So get searching.
Holiday at home (literally your own home) – Okay, it might not sound exciting and it does involve staying at home but your hometown or nearest city probably has a lot to offer. You probably haven’t even visited the wonderful sites near you.
How many of you near Dublin haven’t experienced the Viking Splash Tour or the Croke Park tour. Or how many Waterford folk haven’t stopped by the Waterford Crystal Visitor Center? Why not try out all the things you said you must do some day and actually do them today.
