After the children have finished school, the first major vacation departure is scheduled for next weekend. Between the overcrowded airports and stations, announced staff strikes, cancellation of flights, or elimination of some routes... For those who want to travel by train or plane, the summer of 2022 promises to prove difficult! The French are keen to travel, with 60% planning to take a vacation abroad (or 19 points, compared to last year) (1). How can you find cheap tickets to travel in this environment of inflation and a slashed purchasing power? These are our top tips.
Travelers can search for offers on hundreds of websites around the globe and then compare prices using a single platform. Some sites offer flights and stays, while others include travel by bus, train, carpooling or ferry. These comparators offer a variety of features, including the ability to abuse the programming alerts feature, which allows you monitor the price evolution and receive notifications whenever a variation occurs, either over a few days, or weeks. It is best to spend time looking for the best option and then give yourself enough time to verify the transaction. Do not hesitate to choose the option you want and then pay later.
Are you patient? You might be able to wait for long journeys, but they are also competitively priced. For example, the Blablabus or Ouigo classic trains will cost between 10 and 30 euro, while the Blablabus and Ouigo classic trains will cost you 5 euros for a trip lasting less than 12 years. You can also check out the offers on the rail side. These include the Milan-Paris routes, which are offered by both the SNCF and Trenitalia. You don't have to be focused on your destination. To find the best deal, you can either follow private sales via Voyage Prive or look into the Leclerc and Carrefour agencies. These agencies offer discounts up to -70% through tour operators. You are looking to get rid of your unsold stock.
Special pricing is offered by airlines, making it more attractive to purchase a return ticket than a one way ticket. However, the SNCF does not always offer this option. Under the same conditions you may pay more if you take a round-trip separately than a full round-trip. Before you confirm your purchase, make sure that you aren't at a disadvantage.
Prices vary by day for trains and planes. Internet users can find better deals by being flexible with their travel dates. Sunday is the best day to travel. Be flexible with departure and arrival times and locations. You might be able to travel to an airport or station farther from your home. However, you must not miss out on the journeys.
Opodo's holiday comparator and flight comparison tool indicate that Mondays in September are the best days to purchase a ticket. We are still not there, but paying attention to the time you purchase a ticket would be a good idea. Companies tend to reduce or offer lower processing fees during off-peak hours. To get great fares on trains, it is best to book your tickets as soon as possible. You can also bet on resale websites such as "kelbillet.com" if you are less than one week away from a possible departure.
You don't have to book your stay ahead of time because of the uncertain health situation. However, there are sometimes great deals available at the last minute. Companies and transport companies have the option to decide to sell some of their remaining seats on their trains, buses or planes, as prices are determined based on demand and filling rate. Liligo, a comparator, noted that Paris-Palma de Mallorca had an average price of 134 Euros and Paris-Lisbon in Portugal was at 199 Euros in the first week in July.
To pack light ! Ouigo, unlike TER and TGV, requires that you pack a small bag for high-speed trains. The price of a plane ticket may not include all options. Ryanair and Easyjet, European champions in low-cost, have created a discreet way to raise bills: Cabin baggage costs between 8 and 55 Euros, and last-minute check in is 55 Euros at Ryanair. Other options, such as priority board, meals onboard, and viewing entertainment, may be added to the ticket. Check out the details of the stay, including what's included and what's not, as well as where the plane lands. If possible, the transfer may also be supported. There are many ways to avoid unpleasant surprises on your trip.
(1) OpinionWay survey of Liligo, conducted between April 27 and 28, 2022 using a sample of 1,036 people representative the French population (18-and-over), quota method.
