Tourists heading to Spain or Greece this summer have a potential money-saving strategy at their disposal, thanks to a clever rebooking trick suggested by finance expert Martin Lewis.
Lewis, known for his money-saving tips, recently proposed the idea of cancelling and rebooking holidays and hotel rooms at lower rates if prices drop after the initial booking. He advised, “Is your hotel or car hire cheaper now than when you booked? If so, and you’ve got free cancellation, well, keep checking the prices. And if you suddenly find it cheaper, we’ll rebook, and then cancel.”
This technique has already proven effective for many travellers. A fan of Lewis wrote to Money Saving Expert, sharing a success story: “In January 2024, I booked a two-week car rental in the US for £1,024. After checking comparison sites in May, I checked back, and the same car was available. I cancelled the first booking, had my deposit refunded, and rebooked at a lower price. The lesson here is that booking early does not always guarantee the best price.” Martin Lewis added, “The lesson here – get free cancellation.
Social media users have also praised the rebooking strategy. A Twitter user named Chris shared his experience: “I found this booking at a hotel in London for July at nearly £600 for two days back in January, on the off chance I checked earlier this month and it had dropped to £250ish so cancelled and rebooked.” This savvy move saved Chris around £250.
MSE readers suggest that haggling can also yield significant savings. One reader shared their experience booking a trip to Southeast Asia: “I booked a year before the holiday. I visited one firm who said it would be £4,000-£4,500 per person. The next travel agent quoted £2,700 per person, but I tried one more and got it for £2,200 per person. Couldn’t get it any less after that, so this is the one I booked the holiday with.”
Another reader recounted their success in haggling for a family holiday to Florida: “Recently we booked a holiday for a family of four to Florida. Initial quotes were in the region of £5,000-£6,000 for chartered flights, accommodation, and car hire. By employing the haggling technique, we managed to get the final price down to just over £2,000 all-in!”
These stories highlight the potential savings travelers can achieve by staying vigilant about price changes and being proactive in rebooking or negotiating better deals. So, before setting off to sunny destinations like Spain or Greece, tourists might want to double-check their bookings to ensure they’re getting the best possible price.
