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Holidays are exciting, but they can get expensive fast. From flights and accommodation to meals and activities, the costs can add up quickly. Luckily, your phone can be your number one ally in keeping your budget in check. 

Whether you're planning your trip or already on the go, smart mobile use can lead to real savings. This guide shows you how to make your phone work harder for your wallet.

Plus, we’re giving away a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses—read on to find out how to enter!

 

Before you travel:

 

 

  1. Booking smart with apps.

One of the biggest expenses of any trip is getting there and finding a place to stay. Apps like Skyscanner are your best friends when it comes to comparing travel prices. Set up alerts for your desired destinations to catch the best deals as soon as they drop. And don't forget to check mobile-only deals on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Hotels.com. Booking in advance and using flexible date tools can also help you secure the best prices, so start planning early!

 

 

  1. Budgeting & planning tools.

Creating a trip budget is crucial to avoid overspending. Apps like TravelSpend make it easy to set and stick to your budget. Just input your expected expenses, and the app will help you track them in real time. It’ll even work offline, so there’s no need to worry about keeping track of your costs when you’re on a remote tropical island! 

Another smart move is to pack wisely. Use mobile checklists to ensure you have everything you need, preventing those pricey last-minute buys at the airport or your destination.

 

 

  1. Travel rewards & cashback.

Loyalty and rewards programmes can be a goldmine for savings. Sign up for these through airline, hotel and credit card apps to start earning points and miles. Apps like Rakuten and TopCashback can also help you save money when booking. By stacking loyalty points and discount codes, you can maximise your savings and even get some of your expenses covered.

iD Mobile customers can also enjoy exclusive travel deals through iD Perks, available in the iD Mobile app. Plus, there are plenty of other deals across shopping, dining, and entertainment. And the best part? It’s absolutely free for all iD Mobile customers.

 

While you’re on holiday:

 

 

  1. Fee-free mobile banking.

Once you're abroad, managing your money can be a hassle, especially with foreign transaction fees. Banks like Monzo and Starling offer fee-free spending in many countries, which can save you a lot of money. Plus, you get instant notifications for every purchase, allowing you to track your spending in real time. If you lose your card, you can freeze it right from the app. So, there’s no need to spoil your holiday on hold with your bank.

 

 

  1. Local deals & attractions.

Finding affordable options for food and activities is key to sticking to your budget. Google Maps and TripAdvisor are invaluable for this. You can find highly rated, budget-friendly restaurants and attractions with just a few taps. Checking ratings and reviews on the go can help you avoid tourist traps and discover hidden gems that won't break the bank. Restaurant apps like TheFork also make it easy to secure bookings at even top restaurants. Plus, they have discounts and rewards that you can earn while you eat out. Tasty!

 

 

  1. Save on roaming with iD Mobile.

Staying connected while on holiday can be an eyewatering expense, especially when you’re hit with unexpected roaming costs. 

Fortunately, iD Mobile’s Roam Free service lets you use your UK allowances in over 50 destinations at no extra cost. And if you’re heading somewhere further afield, you can purchase a Roam Beyond Add-on in the iD Mobile app, which offers affordable usage in an expanded list of countries.

We’ve just added five new destinations to Roam Beyond: Albania, Canada, Egypt, Qatar, and Thailand. You can now roam affordably in a total of 15 countries beyond Europe:

Albania, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Qatar, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA.

This way, you can stay connected without worrying about hefty roaming charges. With smart use of your phone, you can cut costs before you even take off and continue saving throughout your trip. Mobile tools, budgeting apps and iD Mobile’s roaming options make managing your money on holiday easier than ever. Prep your phone and your plan, then relax, knowing your budget is under control. Happy travels!

 

Giveaway time!

 

Got a favourite holiday that you always think back to? Maybe it was a relaxing beach escape, a wild city break, or a spontaneous road trip that turned into the adventure of a lifetime?

Tell us about your favourite holiday in the comments below for a chance to win a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses—perfect for capturing your next trip in style.

The winner will be picked at random, so keep an eye on your inbox or DMs for a message from us. But hurry—the competition closes on 16th June at 23:59!

World cruise in 2017.  Met so many new friends in so many new places.  Unforgettable. 


Trip to Alaska to witness the Aurora Borealis! Staying up till midnight and beyond to catch the skies light up in never-before-seen colours was the most amazing experience. Paired with the tranquility of the place we were at (north of Fairbanks) it was truely a soothing & rejuvenating experience.

Highly recommended and quite unforgetable experience.

 


New york 2024, family holiday. Every minute was absolutely amazing. Thank you america.


Lake Garda, 2022 — our first holiday together, and it turned out to be even more special when my girlfriend became my fiancée before we made it back home. An amazing trip with great vibes and memories I’ll never forget.


Favourite holiday was a fly drive into Canada then across onto USA via Niagara Falls into Detroit and Chicago. Blew our savings but what the hell - fantastic family time and some unforgettable memories


Favourite holiday was the Maldives, an island called Komandoo, scuba diving with the fish and turtles 


Washington DC.  The selection of free museums to visit is amazing.  A visit to the zoo was as must as got to see the pandas as well.  A trip to Arlington was a highlight my husband could have watched the sentinel all day carrying out their duties.  Lovely city to walk around plenty of open spaces and great transport links Highly recommend.


We went to Rio de Janeiro in 2022! It was great fun! 😁


I went to Chalis in Turkey with my partner and my new born daughter. One day as I was sat eating breakfast the owner of the hotel approached me and asked me what job I did in the UK. I told him I was a roofer but I'm sure he already knew this from my hotel registration. Anyways he told me that the night before it had rained and his bedroom was soaking wet and could I look at it. I did and found the problem and repaired it in half an hour. At the end of the holiday the owner gave me the week for free and also another week's stay for the future 


It's not fancy or anything, but my family and I love Blackpool! We've been going for years, but always manage to find something else that we haven't done.

And now we have a new puppy, we'll have more reasons to explore!!! Except that we will not go in the sea. We don't want to look like that melted fella from Robocop!!!😂


Twelve country 6500km bike tour. Simply stunning!


Ooooohhhh, this is a difficult one as I haven’t been on holiday since 2002!
I think all my happiest memories are from family holidays when I was young.
They were always in the UK, in many different places, and with so much variety in where we went and experiences had.
Memories include:-
Being placed into the back of the car at an early hour with a pillow and blanket for a long trip to Scotland
Visiting Castles, Museums, markets, car boot sales, beaches etc and enjoying them so much and having these memories to reshare now with my elderly parents.
But the most memorable is visiting the naval docks in Plymouth where we visited and toured around the  ships and submarines. BUT because of my fear of heights I HATED the open stairs throughout these vessels and cried everytime we had to climb/descend them (especially in the submarines). Although, my Mum thinks it was because I wanted the help of the sailors (what can I say….a love of men in uniform even from a young age!).
So many memories made and yet so many more I want to make.


Rixos in Sharm el Sheikh. They had a sunglasses cleaning service at the pool. Ideal for my new ones when I win :)


Just read bendybennet visit to chalis,  repair to roof free week. Well went to visit a friend's at chalis 2016 in may for 4 day break.We lived just down the road at time , myself  being a n electrician repaired lighting. Rewards being free meal for 4 not as good perhaps, but great weekend Chalis was memorable stay weather not the best, but good time.


I usually do festivals instead of proper holidays. 2000 Trees Festival In 2022 is probably my absolute favourite. From falling in love with new bands, to seeing my favourite band reunited. It will always hold a special place in my memories 

 

(Here's a picture of me trying to get comfortable in a deck chair while listening to my favourite podcast live)

 


My favourite holiday destination is Corfu, Greece. It is such a stunningly beautiful place, the food, the people, the laid back way of life. Corfu is the only place I've visited more than once. It just draws me back. I have had romantic holidays, girls holidays and family holidays there, the island has something for everyone. So many wonderful memories built there. From lazy days on beautiful beaches to exciting history trips and partying the nights away with friends, old and new. It hold a special place in my heart. 


I served in the British Army from 1997 to 2008, I served active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan but my first tour of duty was in Kosovo from August 1999 to February 2000. My time in Kosovo opened my eyes to what evil exists in the world and I spent much time walking the streets of the capital city Pristina, witnessing the destruction of buildings and infrastructure, and the dispair amongst the desperate locals.

I was only just turned 18 when I was posted to Kosovo, and after my 6 month tour of duty was completed, I returned to the UK and over the next decade I spent many a night thinking about what Pristina was like now there is peace. 

 

To answer the question, the best holiday I've ever had was I n 2015 when I took my family to Pristina, where we were amazed and thrilled by the amazing redevelopment and the real buzz and energy in the people there. It was no longer the bleak hell hole where I celebrated the millennium new years eve searching mass graves. However it wasn't difficult to find plenty of reminders of the past troubles as plenty of buildings still had bullet holes in them. We spent 1 week in Pristina and I was thrilled to see the amazing progress that has been made.


Newquay Wales 2018, first time seeing dolphins and seals in the wild and loved the beautiful villages dotted along the coast


 

Obviously not posting for the competition, but my favorite holidays have always been to Gairloch in the Highlands, it doesn’t even feel like you’re in the UK, its stunning!

For now our holidays are usually UK based with a kids club and splash pool haha! Got to keep those little ones entertained! Hopefully we will be able to get back to Gairloch when they’re a bit older 😊


Exploring Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Amazing people, culture and history oh and the food is.out of this world.


My favourite holiday was my honeymoon, we went to Lanzarote staying in a H10 hotel, it was all inclusive, adults only and really luxurious. We met a great crowd of people of all ages and from all over the country. We have promised ourselves that we will be back for our 10th anniversary.  


My favourite holiday has to be Florida, we are a busy family working full time and having busy lives and guilty of not spending enough time together as a family. However, when we went to Florida we spent so much quality time together! We laughed, screamed on rides, enjoyed the wonder, got competitive in the pool and snuggled and watched movies.

Even at 12 and 15, oh and 46 it is still magical and well worth the money 😀


I had a new girlfriend who was in the travel industry so we went on holiday to Thailand but were flying ‘standby’. All very exciting for a stick in the mud like myself. Even more exciting we didn’t get the flight back we planned and had to stay at the airport hotel for the night. It was so nice to have someone else in charge and doing all the worrying and sorting and I had an extra day off work!


I visited Bulgaria in 2023 for 2 weeks and explored the whole country. From beaches to mountains to cities.


Trip round the USA. Visited Florida a few years ago and the cultural differences were a real interesting point of the holiday.

Plus massive cars, bikes, food, etc. Everyone friendly and extremely welcoming. 


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