Smart travel tips

This year, I want to get better at planning our holidays. We always leave it quite last minute and end up probably paying too much or playing it safe and going to the same places. I figuresd that if created a “smart travel tips” column here, it would help both me and you !

Each month, I will list booking tips or reminders, where it’s sunny and also new hotels opening as they often offer discounted prices for first visitors.

Booking tips

Ideally your summer house is already booked. If not, now is the time. I will publish a round-up post of previously found houses to help you with this tomorrow.
For those of you fans of the five star luxury hotel Martinhal beach resort in Portugal, I learned today from Jo at Family Holidays Company that they operate a system like Easyjet where the price goes up the better sold a particular date is. So for instance they just increased the prices for the summer holidays. If you want to benefit from lower prices, book a stay there for your October half term.
Equally book your summer flights now
Time to benefit from early booking offers at hotels even for this summer.
Book big cottages for your next Christmas break. I know it seems far away but “c’est bientôt Noël” as a friend of mine always says. I have some ideas for group houses in Europe here or in the New Forest here;
You could still get some good offers for late spring ski.
There are also possible good deals for winter sun to Canaries, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocoo.

Hotels opening this month

The Serras hotel in Barcelona, a new five star luxury hotel in Picasso’s first studio near the Ramblas. If you want style at cheaper prices, check Praktik hotels instead!

La Réserve, Paris, really top luxury so keep it for a special event.

Maison Souquet, also in Paris in the famous Montmartre area. Decor by Jacques Garcia so quite heavy but the indoor pool and hammam could be tempting…