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Take a Driving Holiday in the UK and Save Money

I’d like to cruise the English Countryside in this baby!

As a huge fan of Jane Austen, it has always been a dream of mine to venture out into the English Countryside and tour it a bit. I can imagine myself looking over a cliff somewhere or touring an old estate and hoping Mr. Darcy will come and find me there. Maybe you have a similar dream or perhaps you’d fancy a few days in Bath, a week in the Lakes or even a complete round-trip of the UK – whatever location sounds the most alluring – all you have to do is jump in your car and drive!

Along with this sense of spontaneity, a driving vacation in the UK means you’ll be able to dramatically reduce the amount you’d otherwise spend on a trip elsewhere. By taking away some of the flight costs and expensive accommodation, you’ll be able to completely design a voyage based around your budget.

Here are my tips for keeping a road trip as low-cost as possible…

But if you cannot find Mr. Darcy try these tips!

Look for cheap car rental

There are lots of reasonably priced car hire firms around meaning you can always get your hands on a rented vehicle for a short while. More often than not there’ll be some sort of money-saving deal available; with a company like Hertz you can even get good deals on insurance too – their ‘supercover’ plan means you’ll get great protection but pay no excess. It’s always worth looking for extra perks like this; you might be the best driver in the whole world, but that doesn’t mean that accidents won’t happen to you.

Split the cost

If you’re concerned about the rising cost of fuel – and let’s face it, this is undoubtedly going to be one of the most expensive parts of your trip – then consider asking more people to come along for the ride. If there’s a big group of you you’ll be able to share the expense (and the driving responsibility), and ultimately take some of the hassle out of those pricey petrol garage pit stops. Not only will the additional numbers be able to help out with fuel, but food and general day-to-day expenses too – just remember, the more people: the less you pay!

This is probably a better size vehicle for the narrow English roads!

Consider alternative accommodation

Although you won’t have to shell out on hotels abroad, staying in the UK doesn’t automatically mean all types of accommodation will be cheaper. Quite the opposite in fact! So make sure you figure out the economy alternatives; search out B&B’s and guesthouses as opposed to bigger hotels, you’re likely to come across much lower rates than in larger chains. But for an even further reduction in price, go camping! If you’re looking to save money then you won’t get anything cheaper than sleeping under the stars…

Map out your journey

Despite a road trip offering up a certain amount of freedom, it’s still worthwhile mapping out a loose journey plan. From finding out the shortest route to the most cheap and cheerful roadside restaurants, having a plan will help you avoid unnecessary expenses.  Similarly, it’s highly advisable to invest in a decent navigational device. Unless your map reading skills are absolutely stellar, there’s a good chance you’ll get lost without one, which will consequently result in further fuel costs, time wasted and arguments started! You don’t have to spend a lot; shop around for low price sat navs in places like Halfords, Auto Trader and B&Q; it’ll certainly save you a whole lot of hassle!

Why not consider a trip in the UK this summer? With some of the most beautiful countryside and the most historical cities in the world, there’s no reason to book a holiday elsewhere. Hop in your car and head off!