Air travel is extremely safe mostly due to the rules and regulations brought around by airline companies for passengers to follow during their flight. From simple requests such as asking passengers to keep their seat belt on throughout the flight to safety briefing cards in the seat pockets. These following tips can make your flight safer as well as giving you peace of mind if anything were to happen. In any case this can make any anxiety surrounding flying lessen and will help with nerves throughout the flight. 

Emergency Exit
If you sit in an emergency exit row of the plane you may be told by flight attendants that you will be needed in the event where an emergency occurs. However, there are limitations to the person that gets to sit in the emergency exit rows as they must be willing to perform acts such as being physically capable of performing procedures such as opening and operating the exit row door as well as being above a certain age. If you're not sitting in an emergency exit row it would be handy to know where your nearest emergency exit is, the reason behind this being  that if the plane fills with smoke you won't be able to see where the exit is and how long it would take to crawl there. It would be advisable to remember what row your seat is in, this allowing you to calculate how long it would take to get to the nearest emergency exit if your visibility is impaired. 

Dress Sensibly
As much as everyone loves looking their best for the airport and their flight, which I will never understand since I prefer comfort over looks, you'll end up regretting it if an emergency occurred. Shoes such as heels are one of the worst choices to wear on a flight for two reasons: if there was an emergency you wouldn't be able to get far in heels as well as having your feet burned when you've turned to walking barefoot on whatever ground you have landed on. Even shoes such as flip flops are not the most sensible choice of footwear while flying, the main reason behind this being the same as wearing heels, you're not able to get far in them especially in the event of an emergency. Other fashion choices that I wouldn't advise would be wearing shorts as the reason behind this being if you had to use the slide to exit the plane then your thighs will be burned if you're one of the last to exit the plane and if it's extremely hot that day. 

Safety Briefing Video & Card
I know for a fact that most people on a plane are either talking to their friend, trying to update their Facebook status before they go into the air or just generally zoning out while flight attendants explain safety procedures. As much as we all find this boring, how do we think the flight attendants feel, but there is a reason for this repetitive briefing. Each plane has new safety requirements, whether it be the change of where the emergency exits are located or where your life jackets are located, it's important to listen to these safety announcements. Especially in the spur of the moment your thought may be impaired as an emergency is obviously unexpected but the priority would be to either know how to exit the plane, how to adjust your oxygen mask or to inflate your life jacket. ​ When the flight attendants recommend wearing your seat belt throughout the entire flight, they're not saying this just for fun, there's more chance of turbulence happening than any other emergency. 

Well-being & Surroundings
Every passenger should be well rested so that if there was an emergency they would be alert and be able to clearly listen to instructions given. I don't mean that passengers should have a full 8 hour sleep before flying as sometimes that isn't possible, I mean to refrain from drinking too much alcohol before or on their flight. Alcohol doesn't help someone having a clear head in the case of an emergency but it even can delay other passengers from exiting the plane. If you've had a bit too much to drink the last thing you would want is for someone to force an oxygen mask over your mouth even though it could be the thing that saves your life, leading to other passengers and flight attendants having to work a lot harder to ensure passengers safety. Drinking alcohol will also lead to dehydration so a cheaper and preferable choice would be to drink water - it would keep you hydrated and even better it's good for your body. When flight attendants say that they're not serving you anymore alcohol, respect their decisions, they risk their lives to save yours in the event of an emergency. If you're on a long haul flight and you're using your own devices to occupy your mind, it would be important to keep an eye on the screen in front of you as any important transmissions will be shown on the screen. If you're listening to music it would be advisable to turn your music down for just a minute so you can listen to what's being announced, it could be something small such as the plane hitting a small bit of turbulence or in a worst case scenario asking passengers to prepare themselves for an emergency landing. 

Emergency Kit
If there was an emergency on a plane and everyone had to evacuate you'd have around 40 seconds to get from your seat to exiting the plane altogether. I always carry a small cross body bag which has everything I need in it: my passport, identification, bank cards and my medication. I carry this bag on my body throughout the entire flight as if there were an emergency then I would have everything I need on me and I could leave the plane as soon as I was able to. If I moved some of my important possessions such as my medication or my passport into my hand luggage, such as an suitcase in the overhead locker, then I would either have the choice of exiting the plane with nothing or risk my life by staying to get my personal belongings. Clothing and other belongings can always be replaced, there's nothing more important than your life, in this sense it's your favourite pair of shoes or your life - an easy choice. 

Stay Calm
Even though this is easier said than done since it's hard to stay calm in the event of an emergency, it would help the situation. Panic can impair thought and this makes you more likely to make mistakes, mistakes that could delay your evacuation from the plane or adjusting your oxygen masks, a small mistake could cost you your life. If you've listened to the safety instructions then you have nothing to fear, there is always the safety card in the seat pocket that clearly shows and describes what you would need to do in the event of an emergency. Flight attendants have been trained for every possible situation and have passengers safety as a priority so there is completely nothing to worry about. There is a much bigger chance that you'll be involved in a traffic accident rather than one involving flying, there are rarely any major accidents.     

Asides from the obvious: making sure that you have everything packed and getting to the airport on time, there is a lot more to do that is overlooked. In my previous blog post: Keeping Your Home Safe While On Holiday there was a lot of information solely regarding tips on how to keep your home safe while on holiday, there is a lot more preparation to be done. Whether it's making sure that you have all the important documents you need to travel or sorting out your finances, these important procedures cannot be overlooked. 

Passport & Paperwork
Whether you're travelling on an hour long flight or a twelve hour one, there are two things you will need to get on a plane: a passport and boarding pass. People will read this and think how can anyone be so forgetful to leave their passport at home, well it isn't just making sure you have your passport - it's making sure that it's in date (as well as making sure it doesn't expire while you're abroad). It's important to check whether the country you're travelling to requires travellers to have a visa (without one you will be denied access to the country). Make sure that you have selected the right visa to travel under, whether it be a tourist visa or a visa which allows an individual to work in the country for a specific amount of time. If you do plan to rent a car at your chosen destination then it's important to bring your driving license, you'd be surprised at the amount of people that leave it at home as they simply don't want to lose it. 

Travel Insurance
Whether people forget to purchase travel insurance or whether they regard it as not a necessity, travel insurance is one of the most important things to purchase before your flight. Travel insurance can cost as little as £5 depending on your age and medical history as well as being dependant on the country you're travelling to. If you purchase travel insurance make sure to read what the policy covers as some policies don't cover gadgets and adventurous activities. You'd be surprised how many policies don't cover the basic necessities such as whether you'll get reimbursed if you lose your cash or your luggage. If you have any medical conditions then you are obliged to state them when buying insurance, if you buy the insurance and fail to declare any illnesses or medical conditions then you may not be reimbursed when claiming for hospital costs. If you're purchasing a single trip policy then make sure that you have selected the correct date from when you're departing for your trip and when you arrive back. If you've purchased an annual travel insurance then make sure that by the time you arrive back from your trip your policy will still cover you. 

Prescriptions & Medications
Whether you're travelling for a few days or a few weeks, then the most important thing to make sure that you have packed in your suitcase is any medication you have been prescribed. It would be advisable to bring other common medicines such as paracetamol, Feminax (if you suffer from period pain and cramps) as well as anti-diarrhoea medication (this includes Dioralyte as it replaces water and body salts that have been lost). It would also be handy to take any medication that will help take the edge off from a cold or the flu, even if you're travelling to a hot country you may still catch it. I was stuck in Cyprus once with what I thought to be a throat infection and had to take what seemed like a shot of brown acid to resolve it, I would've much preferred to treat it with a medication I had brought along. At the pharmacy in Cyprus there was a major problem which was the language barrier, I couldn't read the instructions for the medicine since they were all in Greek, I just hoped for the best. Sadly when I returned to London I was told that I'd had tonsillitis, what fun. Whatever medications you decide to bring with you to your chosen destination, make sure that they're legal in that country. This may sound silly but there was a case of a woman from America being detained and placed in a jail cell for nearly 20 days for bringing Adderall into Japan. Even though it's commonly used in America to treat attention deficit disorder, it's classed as an illegal amphetamine in Japan and as they were sent to her it was assumed that she was smuggling them into the country.

Make Copies Of Everything
The most important documents to photocopy would be: 

• Passport
• Debit Card/Credit Card (mainly because they have a number on the back in case of it being stolen or lost)
• Travel Visa
• Prescriptions 
• Other forms of ID's such as a driving license/photo ID card

It would be important to leave this information in your accommodations safe or in your suitcase so if you do lose your passport while out and about then you have all the information back at your accommodation to report it being lost. You can also leave a photocopy of this information at home so that in the event that between the airport and your home that you lose any of these items you would have the necessary information to report items as lost such as a bank card. As well as making copies of important information it would be advisable to write a list of all the phone numbers that you will need while abroad, this being important for two reasons. If you lose your phone and need to contact family members or the bank you're with then you'd have them written down. The second reason being that writing phone numbers down for the police, ambulance and fire brigade in other countries will save time if there's an emergency. The main numbers that I store with me are my bank's number, my home number, my local doctor as well as the number for the hotel - you will never know when you'll need it. 

Knowing Luggage Restrictions
Many airlines have similar baggage restrictions, with most short haul flights (under 4 hours or less) restricting passengers to only bringing a small suitcase (hand luggage) and one smaller bag that they can carry on their person. The dimensions of this hand luggage are quite specific with each airline giving dimensions and the weight on their website as well as clearly stating what happens if passengers exceed this. Before you make your way to the airport it would be best to make sure that your suitcase is within the dimensions for your specific airline and make sure that it's not overweight - the main reason being that in most cases you'll have to lift it over your head into the overhead locker space. For long haul flights each bag will most certainly be weighed and tagged, when I was travelling back from Florida my large suitcase ended up being 3kg over weight. This leaded me to then wearing the heaviest of clothes that I had bought to the airport and all the way home - I'd rather this than paying the fee for an overweight bag (which can be as much as £65). 

Sort Out Your Finances
If you decide to travel with just cash, then make a plan of where to store your money as well as making sure that you have a debit or credit card with you so that you can withdraw from if somehow your money is lost or stolen. It would be sensible to invest in a prepaid travel money card, such as Revolut or one from the Post Office, these cards allow the user to put as little or as much as they want on it. When they use this particular card in other countries they won't get charged a foreign/international fee. When I travel I carry 70% cash and then 30% will be put onto my Revolut card (as well as having my debit card with me). If you do plan to use a debit or credit card then I would suggest informing your bank that you're travelling to a specific country or location so that they don't get alerts for any suspicious activity or temporarily block your card. When I was booking up excursions for my trip to Rome in March my card was temporarily blocked since my bank detected that I was making a lot of purchases to which were for outside of the country. I simply had to text back my bank with a code and they unblocked my card but while abroad some people may not be able to call or text their bank provider.   

If you're travelling the last thing you want is to return to a home that has been either vandalised or in a worse case scenario broken into. Rather than sharing images from your holiday on social media you'll be trying to come to terms with how this happened and trying to get back what you can from your insurance provider. All of these tips are quite simple and most people forget that these small things can allow you to have a stress free holiday knowing that your home is secure. 

Asking Someone to Watch Your Home
One of the simplest and easiest options would be asking a neighbour, friend or family member to keep an eye on your home while you're away (whether it be for a two day holiday or one that lasts for two weeks). In most cases you will be able to return the favour when your neighbour, friend or family member goes on holiday and it gives you the peace of mind knowing your property is being monitored. The neighbours surrounding me are quite old and don't go on holidays that much anymore so to say thank you I usually return the favour by buying them a box of chocolates. 

Unplugging Appliances
A safety measure that I never thought of until I recently started travelling was to unplug all appliances that I wouldn't use while abroad. For example, most people turn of their TV by the remote and leave it on a standby mode, this is still draining power as the appliance is still plugged in to the socket. Even a WiFi router is something most people overlook when travelling since most people use WiFi up to the moment they leave for the airport or train station. A WiFi router can be hacked easily, whether it be an easy to guess password or whether the router is weak, this puts you at risk when you return as criminals can monitor your internet use and gain passwords and credit card details when using online services. If you unplug your WiFi box this means there is no chance hackers can get access to your WiFi box since it won't appear online. The same principle applies to garage doors openers, they can easily be hacked into and allow your garage door to be opened, which not only allows criminals access to your car but some garages are connected to the insides of houses. It's surprising and scary that these hackers can gain access to your garage in minutes and in some cases seconds. 

Don't Announce You're Going Away
As much as we all love seeing people's posts on Facebook stating that they're enjoying a cheeky margarita in Gatwick's North Terminal with the overuse of emojis in their post, this is announcing that you have an empty house. Some people don't realise that social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram are available for anyone and everyone to see if your account isn't private. There is more than enough time for you to post images and tell the world highlights of your holiday when you return. This is the most common mistake people make as most people are delighted to announce that they're going to enjoy two weeks in the sun while they know most people have to work, oh how I envy them. But unfortunately some people return to see that they have been burgled or even have had their property vandalised, that I don't envy.

Make Sure Everything is Locked Properly
No I don't mean the front door, I'm not that stupid. Well I mean do lock the front door but there are other measures you can take to make sure your property is locked and secure. Windows can be locked by simply shutting them but some windows come with a key which make sure that these windows can't be opened at all. Another safety precaution would be to make sure that you haven't left a key under the doormat or under a pot next to your front door. Even a lock box could prove to be the demise for your home, even though some lock boxes have a specific combination to get into them, I wouldn't put it past determined burglars trying different combinations each day to get in. Some lock boxes aren't secure at all as they can be easily broken into by simply smashing it. If you do want a lock box then make sure it's of high quality and durable to protect your keys. 

Make it Look Like You're at Home
Before anyone says anything, I don't mean copy the part from Home Alone where Kevin makes the Jordan cutout dance around the room to deter Marv and Harry. The first thing to do would be to focus on the exterior, if you have the same washing hanging to dry outside for five days then it does look like the house is empty. If you need to let washing dry then bring the clothes horse inside. If you have a front garden then make sure it's mowed and there isn't weeds growing left right and centre as this gives the appearance that there hasn't been anyone inside for a while. If you have flowers planted then ask your neighbour or a friend to come round and water your plants so that they don't end up dying, this is especially useful during the summer when there is barely any rainfall. Most people tend to shut their curtains while they're away since people won't be able to look in and see their precious 42" TV in their living room. As much as this is a good idea in concept and plays well during the night, it does look a little unusual during the day and if this remained the same for a couple of days. If you really want to make sure that your home is protected then it might be worth investing in motion sensor lights which as the name says light up when someone steps in the proximity of the lights. Many people use these either on their back door or the front door as burglars may be startled if they're suddenly highlighted for the surrounding neighbours to see what they're trying to do. Investing in CCTV cameras is another good idea, both a deterrent for burglars as well as being useful as evidence if your home is burgled as it would provide a clear views of who broke into your home as well as what they made off with. A clever investment would be buying lights which can be controlled from your phone or tablet, this meaning you could adjust the lights in your house depending on the time of day. For example, you might turn on the kitchen light in the morning and the light in the living room in the evening but at night all lights would be turned off. This gives the impression that people are in the house constantly hence the lights being on.

Place a Hold on Newspapers & Mail Deliveries
Not only does an overflowing mailbox signify that no one is home, it also allows people to reach in and take your mail. This mail may include personal information and allow people to view your bank statements, if someone stole mine then they're more than welcome to see how much I spent on food last month. Even when I have been home some delivery services have left items in pots outside of my house meaning anyone would be welcome to take it. If you have deliveries coming then make sure to use the option of delivering to a neighbour or stating that you'd pick it up from the depot when you return. Royal Mail currently offer a Keepsafe service which means Royal Mail will keep your mail and then return it when you're back. Prices range depending on the amount of days you're away, the shortest being 10 days and the longest being 100. This option would be more efficient when used for a longer holiday, if you're travelling for 5 days then it would leave you without mail for another 5 days after you have come back.

Don't Leave Valuables in Sight
A simple and easy way to prevent burglars from feeling tempted to burgle your particular home would be to hide your valuables. Even if someone did break in would they really spend the effort to search and search for a laptop or a tablet? It depends. I've heard stories of people being robbed of everything, even their kettle, which shows the pure desperation of some people. Regardless, a safe would be the safest option as you can store a lot of valuables such as jewellery and cash into something that is heavy and takes a lot to be broken into to. When I go abroad I try to put everything out of view and I put these valuables in places no one would think to look. 

Look at What Your Home Insurance Covers
If you haven't got home insurance then I would strongly advice investing and purchasing it. Even though some people have purchased home insurance I can tell many people wouldn't know what their policy covers as well as being unsure of the procedure they would take if their home was broken into. Most policies cover the standard rate of protection which allows customers can claim for damaged or stolen goods such as furniture and electrical items. However, some insurance companies may not except claims for more expensive items such as jewellery and pieces of art. If you're unsure then either call up your insurance provider or read the small print and policy details that should've been provided to you when you took out the insurance. If you do come home and your home has been burgled then the first thing to do would be to call the police and report it and then within 24 hours you should put a claim in for your insurance provider. Even though you might be in shock over what has happened, it would be advisable to make sure you try and find receipts for what you've lost and take photographic evidence as some companies may require this.     ​

Since the main airline I travel with is easyJet, I've sat through the numerous speeches on the plane regarding the benefits of getting an easyJet Plus card as well as seeing people take advantage of these perks at the airport and on board the flight. The price of an easyJet Plus membership is currently at £199 per year which had risen from the previous price of £170 per year. To take advantage of the benefits an easyJet Plus card entitles members to, it means that members must carry their cards with them when necessary. Unfortunately if members misplace their card then they will need to pay £15 for a replacement card to be sent to them. 

Main Benefits:

• Allocated Seating - You can sit anywhere on the plane that you want, whether this be right at the front with extra legroom or rows towards the front of the plane. This meaning that members will also be the first on the plane and in turn the first off. Seats at the front of the plane can cost between £12.99 and £29.99 as well as seats in the second to sixth row costing £8.99 to £24.99. 
• Dedicated Bag Drop Desks - Even though the easyJet Plus card doesn't allow members to check in their hold luggage for free, there are dedicated bag drop desks which are for easyJet Plus members only, which allows for a speedy drop off so then they can go through security and lounge in the airport. 
• Fast Track Security - Just as the title says, easyJet Plus members get the privilege of going through a priority security service which allows them to skip the queues. This allowing members to walk through security stress free and know they won't be there for long. However, Fast Track Security is only currently available at 41 airports but most of these airport are quite popular and well known. Prices for Fast Track/VIP Security can range from £3 to £12.50 per person, per flight. 
• Speedy Boarding - easyJet Plus members get the benefit of being the first on the plane, which not only allows them to sit down and relax before everyone else gets on but also allows them to get first dibs on the overhead lockers. This feature cannot be bought and is only available for easyJet Plus members as there's a dedicated queue at each easyJet departure gate.
• Additional Cabin Bag - Members and non-members allowed to carry a standard carry on bag/suitcase which is limited to 56x45x25cm but members are also allowed to carry an extra smaller bag which is limited to 45 x 36 x 20cm. The only downside to this extra bag is that it has to be placed under the seat in front of you, it can't be put in the overhead lockers. 
• Earlier Flight For Free - One of the best benefits to being an easyJet Plus member would be the option to get on an earlier return flight for free, as the name suggests, which is handy if you need to make a speedy return back home for whatever reason it may be. This is priced at £25 per return flight without the card and this return flight can be booked 3 hours to 60 minutes before, with some restrictions when returning from specific locations. 
• Price Promise - As much as a price promise seems like a financial advantage, to which it is, if you did find the same flight cheaper than the price you paid you will be given credit in the form of an easyJet voucher. This voucher can then be used towards the purchase of future easyJet flights. 

Additional Benefits:

• 25% off TrustedHousesitters - If you do plan on going on holiday and don't want to leave your pet with a family or in some cases a kennel then easyJet Plus members will receive 25% off the cost of a house sitter when using TrustedHousesitters. 
• Europcar Free Car Hire Upgrade - If you book an Economy vehicle and you're a member of easyJet Plus then you will be upgraded to a Compact vehicle at no extra cost.
• 15-20% off Airport Parking - With an easyJet Plus card members will get 15% off offsite parking or 20% off onsite parking at the airport. 
• Airport Lounges - Airport Lounges offer a relaxing experience while at the airport as they offer free WiFi, a comfortable place to relax before boarding in addition to unlimited food and drink. Members of easyJet plus luckily will receive 20% off UK lounges and 10% off EU lounges. 
• 10% off HolidayTaxis - As the title states, members will get 10% when booking airport transfers with HolidayTaxis. 
• AirPortr Home Bag Drop - This benefit is only available currently from London Gatwick Airport but allows members to get 4 bags for the price of 1 (£30). AirPortr will collect your bags from any London location the evening before your flight or even the same day, which can then be tracked and followed throughout your journey to your destination. easyJet Plus members can then go hassle free through security without any hold luggage and then pick up your bags when you get off the flight at your destination.

Example Flight:

• Flights from London Gatwick to Amsterdam Airport (Return Journey)

London Gatwick to Amsterdam:

• Dedicated Bag Drop Service - £0 
• Fast Track Security Service - £5
• Speedy Boarding - £0  
• Allocated Seat (1A) - £20.49
• Additional Cabin Bag - £0 

Total: £25.49 

Amsterdam to London Gatwick:

• Dedicated Bag Drop Service - £0 
• Fast Track Security Service - £5
• Speedy Boarding - £0  
• Allocated Seat (1A) - £20.49
• Additional Cabin Bag - £0 
• Earlier Flight For Free - £25 

Total: £50.49

Final Total: £75.98 

Conclusion
There are many benefits to becoming an easyJet members, as shown above, which would prove to be more financially beneficial to people that travel with easyJet frequently. As shown above, if you were to take full advantage of the benefits offered by this card then it may only take 3 return journeys (6 flights) to get your moneys worth. If you also want to travel comfortably than the easyJet Plus membership is for you since benefits such as Speedy Boarding and Fast Track Security make your airport experience less stressful. Personally I would have invested in an easyJet card if I had found out about it prior to booking my holidays as I would've taken 18 flights with easyJet by next June. If I paid at least £10 for a seat and £5 for Fast Track Security per flight, I would've saved nearly £100 from just getting a free seat and being able to through security quicker. This doesn't even take into account the Earlier Flight for Free and if a seat was priced at £29.99 per way. 

More information about easyJet plus can be found here: ​https://plus.easyjet.com/benefits.aspx

Finding and booking up accommodation can be one of the most time-consuming and painstaking processes when booking up a holiday. For me, extensive research is done into what facilities the hotel offers, where the hotel is situated and most importantly the price. However, some people may find themselves booking accommodation last minute by booking last minute flights with the realisation that they have nowhere to stay. Either way finding accommodation can be very stressful and take more time than you'd like, in some cases people take weeks to find accommodation they like. With these apps finding accommodation has never been easier, it's essentially stating what factors are important to you and then these apps find results accordingly (based on price, distance from the city centre/airport or rating). 

Booking.com
Price: ​Free
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The name of this app couldn't explain its purpose better, it's a website in which lists different types of accommodations across nearly 230 countries. This making it one of the most extensive and useful apps available at the moment. It's main listings regard hotels as there are 1.5 million hotel listings worldwide but there are a range of different property types such as hostels, apartments, holiday homes and guest houses. There are specific factors in which narrow down the search for the perfect accommodation, in which the individual has full control over. These factors include budget, location, score, star rating and traveller rating. The app goes into even more detail by breaking down the specific ratings given to a property by asking individuals who have stayed there to rate the property on service, cleanliness, comfort and facilities. Through the app you have all the specific information of the properties such as check-in and check-out time, something some properties don't clearly state as well as images of the room/place you had booked. Rather than going through other websites or a Google search all of the information is easily accessible all in one place.
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HotelTonight
Price: Free
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For the people ​that like to live life a little more spontaneously there's a specific app for you. HotelTonight allows the user to book up a hotel at a discounted rate for the same day or after as well as allowing the user to book up to 100 days ahead. In some cases some people may be stranded, such as at an airport, which may mean they need to find a last minute deal (luckily enough through the comfort of their own phone when using HotelTonight). Discounts go as low as up to 70% from the original face rate as well as having different options to choose from: lowest price, top deals and premium. If you're in a rush to find somewhere for the same day then this app is ideal since HotelTonight simply outline why they like it (the main features of the hotel) as well as an overview of the amenities that the hotel offers. The app also outlines what the individual would need to know: the check-in and check-out time as well as if the hotel requires identification upon check-in. The layout of the app is simple: type in the location in which you want to stay in as well as when you want to check in, then review the numerous amount of results with the prices being clearly stated and the face rate of the room originally. I couldn't recommend this app more if visiting to London since the sheer amount of hotels can be overwhelming as well as the hefty price tags which come with it. I've seen hotels as cheap as £150 per night in areas around Central London, which have been previously priced at £250 per night. 
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Hostelworld
Price: Free
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With 36,000 hostels in 170 different countries the option of staying in a hostel is becoming an alternative and cheaper form of accommodation for many travellers. Many people may assume that staying in a hostel means that you have to share a room and bathroom facilities with a range of people, that is simply wrong. Looking through the different options on the Hostelworld app, there are a range of different options to pick from: whether you want a private bedroom as well as whether you want to sleep in a mixed dorm. Using the app is the easiest way to book a hostel since you simply type in the location you want to stay in as well as how many guests will be staying. Each hostel has an individual description by Hostelworld themselves as well as an overview of the property itself. My favourite part of the app is the added details such as what the hostel offers as well as events that you can attend which you can book with the hostel. If you're going to somewhere new then this is a way to get out of your comfort zone as well as having a chance to experience new things with new people. The app also features extensive reviews from people who have stayed at that specific hostel, with 10 million reviews in total this makes this app useful when looking for hostels around the world. 

Airbnb
Price: Free

Whether you're wanting to earn extra money while you're away on holiday or searching for a holiday home or house, Airbnb is the perfect app. With over 4 million vacation homes in 191 countries you'll be spoilt for choice with the different range of options within each country. It's a cheaper form of accommodation if you're travelling as a group and in a sense it makes a holiday memorable since you can all eat together and spend time together rather than having to go your separate ways to your hotel rooms at the end of the day. When I travelled to Australia me and my family done this and it made life a lot easier and it ended up being a lot cheaper than any hotel in the area we stayed in. The app gives you a choice to "Tour the home" by giving pictures of the interior and exterior which allows the user to see exactly what the home offers. The app also gives ideas for experiences around that specific location, ranging from concerts to photo shoots. Through the app you'd be able to speak directly to the owner, whether it would be enquiring about facilities of the home or asking where they'd leave their keys upon arrival, this is a convenient and reliable feature. 
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CouchSurfing
Price: Free

As much as I wished the name of this app meant you could literally surf using couches, it's not too far from the reality. This free app allows users to search couches to sleep on couches in over 230,000 cities as well as offer their couch to travellers around the world. Just like the price of the app, the whole idea behind this scheme is that people offer their hospitality and couch for free since hosts aren't allowed to charge their guests. Even though the idea of this may come across as unsafe, there are references from genuine people who have stayed at their hosts home. These reviews give praise on their friendliness, flexibility and whether their hosts were fun and reliable. Through the app different hosts state the rules of their household and what they can offer. Other information also includes what the hosts can teach the guests as well as the countries they've stayed in with other hosts. With over 160,000 hosts in London, this app is guarenteed to find you the best accommodation with no price attached - something handy if you're trying to travel on a budget as well as learn about the area you're staying in with your host essentially being a free tour guide.
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Even though these safety tips are mainly used when staying in hotels, they can also be used when staying in different types of accommodation such as hostels and rental homes. Most of these points seem obvious but some people forget to do even the simplest of things whilst on holiday, something in which could even put your life at risk.

Showing ID When Checking In
​One of the most standard procedures when checking into a hotel is showing photographic identification (Photo ID) to prove that you're the person as to whom the booking is under. When handing over your ID make sure you pass it to the receptionist rather than leaving it on top of the desk where everyone around can take a look at it. When the receptionist hands whatever forms of ID you've given back to you make sure every form of ID was handed back to you.
Some people may forget that some hotels may need to see the bank card that the room was booked with, which may be left at the desk after being checked. Then make sure that you put these forms of ID away in your bag, I've seen countless numbers of people leave their passport at reception and had gone to walk away before a receptionist had reminded them of what they had left. 

Using a Safe
Before going away make sure you research whether your hotel or accommodation includes a safe, it's more likely that these will be found in hotels and full lockers will be found in hostels to hold your belongings. This can easily be done by searching the name of the place you're staying at and then going directly to their website or on websites such as Booking.com or Trip Advisor. Through these websites you can see what facilities your specific accommodation offers and from this you can then plan where to leave your valuables while there. If your hotel doesn't include a safe then get a lock for your suitcase if in worry, even if you do have a safe I still keep a lock on my suitcase, since everyone that works for the hotel isn't always as honest as they seem. Most hotels don't accept liability if a guests valuables are stolen through no fault of the establishment, hotels may only take responsibility if valuables are damaged due to an act of nature (natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods). 

Don't Open The Door To Anyone!
If staying at a hotel, especially if you're alone, don't open the door before first checking through the peephole. If someone claims that they're the hotel staff then open the door with the security chain still on, so even if you found out they were lying they still wouldn't be able to gain access to your room. If someone knocks on your door and claims to be staff from the hotel and you're ever in doubt, call down to reception and ask if there's any reason for their staff to be knocking at your door. Anyone could claim that they're staff working at the hotel or even try to claim that they're housekeeping, once they get into your room you have no idea what could happen and what their intentions are. 

Knowing The Fire Escape Route and Plan
Upon arriving at your hotel room you will clearly notice that there's a detailed plan of the floor you're staying on, with your room being highlighted and the map telling you your nearest fire exit. Even though many people may look at this and have a clear indication as to where the fire exit is because there are big green signs saying "FIRE EXIT" pointing to what direction you should be going towards to escape. What about if there was smoke in the corridor? How would you be able to see where you are if you have to end up crawling towards the fire exit? Make sure you locate where the stairs of the hotel are since lifts are to be avoided when in a fire as well as knowing how long it would roughly take to get there from your room. If you're staying in a hotel that has a lot of floors, try and get a floor that's situated near the bottom of the hotel. Even though you might miss out on the spectacular view it does mean you're a lot more likely to be safer in the event of a fire. If you were on the 4th floor of a hotel and couldn't use the corridor of the floor you're staying on to escape, what other route could you take? If the fire and rescue services came then they'd be able to rescue you through using a fire ladder. If you were situated on the 31st floor then this would make it near impossible to help you get evacuated from the building. 

Never Say Your Full Name or Room Number
When checking in to a hotel many people may say their full name to allow the reception staff to find their booking. I would never do this since you never know who is listening, I would usually say "Hi, I have a room booked for Miss McLaughlin" and then the reception staff would then look for my reservation accordingly. I have never been in the situation where someone has had the exact same surname as me and they're checking in on the exact same day as me. If they did ask me for further clarification I'd announce the number of nights I'd be staying for rather than my first name. Another thing that hotels commonly do is openly announce your room number, if someone has your room number as well as your name they could easily impersonate you and say that "I'm Miss McLaughlin in Room 98 and I've lost my key for the room". If the hotel did announce openly what your room number is ask for another room. Hotels have never announced my room number openly, they usually write it on a small bit of paper used to hold my key card.

What To Do Whilst Inside Your Room
Aside from the obvious which is to enjoy your stay as well as making sure you have a comfortable place to sleep and shower for your stay, it's important to make sure your room is secure and safe. While in your room make sure the door is able to lock properly as well as making sure that when you're ready to call it a day the extra security feature such as a deadbolt or a security chain is in use. They aren't just there to look pretty, they are an added form of security to make sure the room you're in is secure. Electronic cards are most commonly used in hotels these days as they're deemed to be the safest option compared to keys. This is because each time a guest leaves their room and returns this specific key card back then this key card is completely wiped and replaced with a different code which allows the next guests to use it. If you're staying on one of the floors towards the bottom of the hotel then make sure your windows can be locked and they're locked at night, if they're near the street then thieves may see the perfect opportunity to get inside of your hotel room. The only time I would leave my windows open is when I'm in the room and usually I'd leave them open up to the moment before I go to bed to allow fresh air to get into the room. 

Be Prepared For Anything
When staying in a hotel room the most important thing to do is make sure you have all your valuables in one place so if you needed to leave the room then you would have everything. I usually keep my handbag next to my bed with everything inside that I'd need for the next day, which can also be used if I needed to make a quick escape. In my handbag I keep my wallet, keys, passport and any other small items of importance. Keeping a pair of shoes next to your bed is advisable, like you would do with slippers while at home, so if you did need to leave then you wouldn't be running out of your accommodation bare foot. As much as some people would say the chance of something happening to them while abroad is one in a million, it's common to find people waking up in the middle of an earthquake or being awoken by the fire alarm blaring through the hotel. 

Leaving A Note On The Nightstand
As mentioned in a previous blog post, Making an Itinerary, I explained that I keep important information regarding my whereabouts for the next few days: what activities I'll be doing as well as the times in which these activities take place within my hotel room. If an itinerary is not your cup of tea then most hotels provide a notepad and pen in which you can write down your whereabouts for the day so if you didn't return for some apparent reason then the hotel would have a rough idea of your location. This gives the police a helping hand and a map as to where I was during different times of the day, making it a lot more likely that I would be found. Even if you don't want to use the notepad and pen for this reason, it's a good idea to note down emergency numbers you may need such as for the police and ambulance since the area codes and numbers are different for each country. 

Research The Hotel & Area Beforehand
Before booking a hotel or any sort of accommodation you first have to narrow down what part of the city you want to stay in. There are a number of different factors that deter people from certain places such as noise, crime as well as the prices in which certain areas charge due to their popularity (such as a city centre). If you google a specific area within a city it'd be easy to find whether that area is safe and whether the crime levels are high. It's important to find out if there's good transport links such as a metro station or a bus stop nearby, especially if you're travelling back to your hotel after dark. For example, in Barcelona our hotel was located within a minutes walk of a metro station as well as being in a well lit location as there was a lot of street lamps down these roads. It's important to look at the situation within that country: whether there is a terrorism threat and whether the area is a good place to visit for tourists. On websites such as gov.uk they advise tourists as to whether or not to travel to specific areas within a country. For example, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise people from travelling within the West of Egypt unless travel is essential (a holiday is not recommended here). 

Babbel
Price: Free (​There's a subscription service which is £9.99 per month which gives the user full and unlimited access to all courses for that specific language) 

Babbel, which is currently used by just over 1 million people, features 14 languages to learn in the app. Babbel features a simplistic format with it translating a sense of calm to the user since it's not overcrowded with images and too much distraction for the user. There are daily lessons featured which focus on building basic conversational skills by allowing the user to quickly memorize key phrases such as how to greet someone as well as learning how to say thank you. The app goes into further detail by explaining grammar concepts and language rules to the user, for me this is interesting since I'm planning to learn in depth about the language and the rules surrounding it. Rather than using this app as a main form of learning Spanish I prefer to use Babbel as a supplement. Babbel uses a form of repetitive learning by first allowing the user to select the word out of a choice of two and then four. This repetitive style of learning is useful but can get a bit tedious, especially for the smaller and easier phrases.  ​

Revolut, a form of a pre-paid card which is used in the form of digital banking, appealed to me mostly due to the fact that I was able to change the money I put onto this card into a range of different currencies. Since I'm travelling a lot I would hate to lose my regular bank card abroad, with the countless stages to get it back as well as not being able to use if in an emergency, leaving me with only the cash I had brought out with me. 

Applying for this bank card was easy and quick, with it only taking me to download the Revolut app and then putting in my details as well as deciding what plan I had wanted. I decided to pick the standard plan, which has its limited features but has the benefit of it being completely free. However, I had to pay for the card itself with it being £4.99 excluding delivery which then took another 9 days to arrive. Luckily I had thought of getting this card weeks before my next holiday so I could try it out and make sure it worked before I ventured abroad. 

My favourite feature about the Revolut card is the simplicity of it, I was able to transfer money from my bank account straight into my Revolut account within seconds. This money then appeared immediately in my account with the date and time of the transfer being present. From here I was able to convert this money into any currency I wanted to. When I mentioned before that Revolut have a lot of currencies available, I wasn't exaggerating with there being 130 currencies currently available. This meaning this card can be used globally with a small exception for countries with a currency that is not currently featured with this card. Even without transferring money I was able to purchase dinner in Spain with Revolut doing the conversion for me, with them taking it out of my main account (which has the currency in GBP), by using the exchange rate at that period of time. The only downside to this would be if the exchange rate is extremely poor, you will be the one suffering and losing out, which is why I recommend watching the exchange rate for your preferred currency and then exchanging money through the app when it's at its highest. 

Just like a regular bank card Revolut allows money to be withdrawn in ATM's in your home country as well as at destinations you're travelling to when abroad. There is a catch to this, if you're on a standard plan then you're only allowed to withdraw up to £200 a month without being charged 2% for each withdrawal made after this. I barely withdrew money since I made a plan of how much physical money I would spend and how much I would spend on my Revolut card. However, if in need of emergency cash or if you travel a lot monthly then this may be a big downside for this card due to the charge applied after reaching your £200 a month limit. 

The app for Revolut is one of my most used and helpful apps since when I purchased something on holiday, such as  a meal or a drink at a supermarket, I'd get a notification seconds after. This notification would let me know how much I've spent and how much I've spent that day in total, an easy way to see if you're following your budget. The app also divides your transactions into categories such as groceries, restaurants and transport as well as showing how much you've spent in each category per month. This feature is handy since I was able to see how much I spent on food and transport and whether or not I was under or over my budget. The app also allows you to freeze the card, in which if your bag was stolen with your card in it, you would be able to immediately freeze it, so no one would be able to use it and you'd be able to cancel it. From the app I'm also able to see exactly where I made my purchase, this helped me find a restaurant I used and didn't remember the name of (since I wanted to return there the following day). The only downside to using your phone to keep track of your spending and making sure your card is topped up would be to make sure that your phone is fully charged or  to make sure you have a portable charger with you. 

Revolut is a form of digital banking, as mentioned before, which unfortunately means there is no physical branches in which people can go to if there is a problem. There's only the online support which is available through the app or by phone, this may make some people feel cautious about using Revolut since there is nowhere to physically go if something went wrong. The company itself is very new with Revolut being launched in 2015 with over 2 million customers in just under 3 years, which indeed did make me suspicious when I first read that on their website. Regardless, the website makes a strong point in saying that they're regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) in which allows your money to be protected.

The Revolut card has made my life so much easier when travelling abroad since I always know that money is in the account regardless of whether or not I have converted it to the chosen currency for the country to. The only real downside was waiting for the card to come and the initial payment for it but regardless once it came I was able to use it straightaway.  

As much as we don't realise it we're all guilty of the small purchases such as being a sweet treat or a new item of clothing. These purchases soon add up and you're left sitting there going through your statement wondering how all of these small purchases amounted to so much. In our minds we justify these purchases as being "small" but in reality they're just a constant cycle of spending in which leaves us with less money then we'd like.

I went through my statement one day and realised that I needed to cut down my expenses in order to afford all of the holidays I wanted to go on. A month later I had already saved around £200 by cutting back and limiting the amount of items I bought as well as making my money last longer by cancelling subscriptions I never used. In 15 easy steps you could easily cut down your expenses, if not saving more than I did, leaving you with more money to put away for your travels. 

1. Travelling - Saving £50 a month
I love the transport in London since it's cheap, quick and efficient but it comes at a price. With a single tube and bus journey starting from £1.50, these purchases can soon add up with a minimum of £3 being spent daily to commute to and from work. This doesn't even include transport for going out on weekends or any other activities during the week. Taxis are also money consuming, even though they are useful in helping me get from one place to another in comfort and with added privacy, these journeys can start from around £5 and cost upwards of £20. I started to walk to work, which saved me £3 a day on travel, as well as helping me get fitter and allowing me to enjoy the wonderful weather London has at the moment. Rather than getting a taxi I use the bus or tube, even though it costs £1.50, it's much better than it costing nearly quadruple the price in a taxi.

2. Generic vs Named Brands - Saving £10-30 a month
This is something that can save money very quickly since it can be used in all aspects of life: food, clothing, medicines, toiletries as well as cleaning products. Even though I wouldn't go as far to make ever single food item an supermarket brand, there are some food items such as pasta that are a lot cheaper than branded as I've seen 500g of penne pasta for just 30p. Many clothing brands boast about their reputation and their name being recognisable yet these items are overpriced and can be bought in other clothing retailers for better than half the price (just without the logo). My favourite way of saving is buying own branded medicine, this has easily saved me money since I constantly suffer with headaches I buy a pack of paracetamol being 30p for 16 capsules rather than branded names being around £3/4. They both do the same job in my opinion and there is no point spending more money than necessary on something only you will see. 

3. Food & Drink - Saving £50 a month
As much as it seems unrealistic to save £50 solely on food and drink, it is very easy once you start to cut out the obvious yet unimportant things. I used to buy a bottle of water when I was at work since it would be cold and it would save me the effort of doing this at home. When I counted up how much I had spent on water alone, it came to just over £25. I nearly cried when I had seen that I had spent that much on water and then decided I would reuse a bottle from work and fill the water from a jug (that filters the water) from my fridge. Since I currently work in a supermarket, it has it perks, since I finish work the same time second reductions have begun. This meaning I'm able to get at least 75% from the retail price from items such as fruits and vegetables to a whole leg of lamb. As much as people argue that this food is "bad" since it's expiring that day, there is no harm in freezing it and then defrosting it when it's needed. Some of my friends have even got £80 worth of shopping for less than £15 since they shopped just before closing when supermarkets are desperate to get rid of food expiring that day.

4. Do you really need those ______ ? - Saving £20-40 a month 
Do you really need those shoes? Do you? Do you really need them when you have dozens of pairs at home? These are the questions I ask myself now when shopping since I'm one of those people who impulse buys since they "need" that certain item. Unless my clothes have ripped or my shoes have holes in them, I don't need to buy anymore than I need to - when something rips or breaks then replace it, don't buy something you don't need and might not wear. When going through my wardrobe I had found tons of tops and dresses that I didn't even know I had, which led me to have a massive clear out of the clothes I wore and the ones I didn't, with the clothes I didn't wear either going to charity or being sold. 

​5. Doing your own beauty treatments - Saving £30 a month 
I love feeling pampered by going to get a manicure and a pedicure done, yet I don't feel pampered when I see the hefty price tag that comes along with it. The salon I have been going to for years charges around £15 for a manicure and pedicure, which I admit is cheap, yet soon adds up when this is done once or twice a month. To save money I bought a nail varnish colour and a nail hardener, which was as cheap as £3 for both items, which allowed me to do my nails whenever I wanted to since I could do it from the comfort of my own home and without paying out each time. Another way I learnt to save money was to do my own waxing, admittedly the lady I go to is a professional, when I go on holiday I could spend up to £50 on waxing (I'm very ashamed to admit that). To change this I bought waxing strips from a health and beauty retailer and braved the pain, which first time left me with a waxing strip stuck to my leg and me in tears trying to rip it off without bringing my skin with it. Regardless over time I began to get better and the results were similar to those of a salon. 

6. Gym Membership - Saving £30 a month
When joining the gym I was surprised to find out I had to pay £20 upfront as well as paying £27.99 a month for the membership. The gym was about a 20 minute walk from my house, that alone being a task in itself, put me off going when it was raining or if the weather forecast said it would rain later on. The equipment itself in the gym is worth the money but when walking through a park nearby my house one day I found similar equipment in a section dedicated to being an outdoor gym. I then cancelled my gym membership and started going to this gym, not only was it completely free but I was able to go there whenever I wanted to since it was so close to my house. Another great thing is that you're not cooped up inside with the smell of sweat filling the air but unfortunately this means you're stuck indoors if it begins to rain. 

7. Going Out (Or Should I Say Staying In) - Saving £20 a month 
Living in London is very expensive. I mean very very expensive. With restaurants costing around £15-20 per person for a main course and either a starter or dessert as well as a drink, these outings can come at a price if done frequently. Why go out for a meal when you can cook for your friends from your home, you could even make it so that each week or each fortnight you take turns to cook for each other. Not only is this an easy way to save money but it means you get to spend time with your friends in an intimate place where you can watch a film or even just talk privately without being surrounded by music and other guests. With this meal you could also bring a bottle of wine, if you and your friends drink, since pubs charge ridiculous amounts for a single glass (so much that you could buy the bottle of wine for that price). I remember the first time I bought a drink from the pub became my last, when ordering a single vodka and coke I was charged £4.50, I could hear my debit card crying when I had finished paying for it. Let me tell you it was my only drink that night, preferably since I wasn't about to spend £4.50 on another one. 

8. Smoking, Energy Drinks, Fast Food & Coffee - Saving £10-50 a month (depending on if you smoke, eat fast food or drink coffee or energy drinks)
Smoking is a very expensive habit, I'm not going to suggest giving up smoking straight away since I know it's a very difficult habit to give up as many of my friends and family members smoke. However, smoking is detrimental to your health as well as your wallet since a pack of 20 cigarettes can cost up to £12, even the cheaper packets are around £8.50. If you started to reduce the amount you smoke even by a packet a week, that can save nearly £10 a week which then leads to you to saving £40 a month. The same goes for energy drinks and fast food, as much as they're a purchase of habit, I find they're not the best for your body. I gave up fast food around a year ago as well as cutting down my energy drink intake and it has made my health much better as well as my bank balance.

9. Only Use Cash When Going Out - Saving £25 a month
As mentioned before I'm an impulse buyer, I won't worry about the price until I read it on my statement and then regret it. Since technology has evolved people are now able to pay for items with just a tap of a card - no hassle of putting in your card and entering your pin. This makes it even easier to buy items since in the time it takes for the payment to be verified, your brain still hasn't thought of the actual money being spent. If you bring £20 out with you and see something for £25, that's tough. You'll just have to put it back and come back when you have enough money (don't steal it). This limiting what you can buy with just physical cash and preventing you from spending tons of money on a day out, in which you could do if you had your debit card on you. 

10. Sharing a House/Living at Home - Saving upwards of £200 a month
Some people are afraid to admit they live at home, not me, I'm proud to say I live at home since being single and at the time of writing this blog post I'm 18 - I don't have enough to even think of moving out and no reason to. I pay for all my own bills and pay my parents housekeeping each month which contributes towards food and household bills but this is a lot cheaper than the rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in London. Another cheaper alternative would be living with friends since it would mean bills get split between more people which then makes it a lot cheaper. 

11. Phone Plan - Saving £5-10 a month
When looking for phones and tariffs that go along with them, it's important to think about whether it's cheaper to buy the phone and the tariff separately or buying it as part of a contract. With my phone tariff, which is £26 a month for an iPhone SE with unlimited calls and texts as well as 4GB of data each month, which I consider good value for money as I make a lot of phone calls and text a lot of people. My contract lasts 12 months so in these months it would have cost me £312 for the phone and the tariff through my contract. If I had bought the phone by itself it would have cost me around £270 and the tariff being around £10 each month which altogether would have cost me £390 - saving me around £80 altogether. 

12. Second Hand Items - Saving £5-10 a month 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with second hand items, whether they're from a charity shop or a library, they still are fit for their purpose but just might not look in the best condition. One of my favourite things to do on a hot day in London is sit in the park and read but books that are brand new can cost between £5 and £10, which would be costly in the long run. For this price I could buy around 5 books from a charity shop and then pass them on to a friend or donate them back to a charity shop. Another alternative which is completely free is borrowing books from a library however these have a limited time frame in which they need to be read in and returned by. 

13. Cinema Pass - Saving £60 a month 
I love going to the cinema, whether it be to watch a horror movie or a comedy, it's something I do more than once a week. Nevertheless, going to the cinema has become very expensive with a ticket for an adult costing around £12, a ridiculous amount to see a film that on average lasts around an hour and a half. I purchased a Odeon Limitless Pass which costs me £17.99 a month and I can see an unlimited amount of movies, with restrictions of course, but still it's very good value for money. When I purchased this I went to the cinema twice in one day, so in one day I had already gotten my money back for the month plus more towards next month. In September 2017 I watched 11 films, which should have cost me around £132 but only cost me £17.99 since I had used my Limitless Pass. 

14. Bringing Your Own Lunch To Work - Saving £60 a month
Meal deals, which usually consist of a sandwich, a drink and a bag of crisps, usually cost about £3. As much as these tend to be good value for money, they can be an unsurprising weight on your bank account. If you spent £3 each day for 5 days during the week, it would cost around £15 (not much so far considering what you get) but if you done this every week for a month it would then cost around £60 (that is a lot for sandwiches, crisps and a drink). Instead of paying £3 for a meal deal I bring my own lunch to work, this consists of a sandwich, a drink (which was bought as a multi pack) and a bag of crisps (which was also bought as a multi pack) which brings my total cost of lunch each day to less than 50p. This saves me the time and effort in work of going back onto the shop floor and figuring out what I wanted to buy, which has wasted nearly a third of my break in the past. 

15. The best things in life are free! - Saving £20 a month 
I enjoy going out at the weekend since it gives me a chance to do something other than work. In London activities tend to be on the more expensive side but there are hundreds of interesting and enjoyable activities to do in London that cost absolutely nothing. Museums that are free include the National Gallery and The Science Museum as well as talking a walk along South Bank. There are hundreds of parks around London that not only are free but host some of the best views of London. 

Some of these tips may seem completely obvious but some of us are so unaware of how much we're spending due to habit of doing it. Even cutting back on the smallest of things can save at least £50 a month towards a holiday or your travels, this equates to £600 a year in which I could get two and a half holidays out of (including flights, hotels and activities).