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The best Expedia deals for a cheap holiday in 2025

The best Expedia deals for a cheap holiday in 2025

Independent06-02-2025

While spring is on the horizon, if the winter weather has you dreaming of a getaway, you're not alone. Whether you're looking to experience the hustle and bustle of New York, want to release your inner The White Lotus season three character and take a trip to Thailand or you're simply looking to book a cheap hotel in Tenerife, the world really is your oyster.
While adventures further afield are an exciting prospect, they naturally come with a rather hefty price tag, but, of course, The Independent 's deal-hunters know exactly where to look when it comes to sourcing you a saving on your next holiday.
True to form, we have spotted a number of discounts available at travel site Expedia (who recently revealed the cheapest time to book flights was on a Sunday), including 10 per cent off package holidays. Whether you're a couple looking for a cheap holiday or an affordable stay in Paris, we've selected some of the best deals and discounts Expedia is currently offering.
If your next weekend getaway can't come soon enough, we'd recommend taking a look at Expedia's last-minute deals section. This lesser-known section of the travel site will see you save at least 20 per cent on upcoming trips to numerous destinations, including Barcelona, Paris, Lisbon, Dubai and Istanbul.
Another way to save is with Expedia's OneKeyCash, a free travel rewards programme where you can earn and redeem points on eligible hotels, holiday rentals, car hire, activities and flights. The more you book through the online agent the better the perks will be and by moving up the membership status, from blue to silver, gold and platinum, you'll unlock more benefits.
Members can currently save 25 per cent when adding a hotel after booking a flight. This could mean a luxury stay at the AlmaLusa Baixa and Chiado Hotel in Lisbon or a city break in Paris, staying at Hotel Bassano, will cost a fraction of the price.
If you'd like everything to be taken care of (flight, hotel and car rental, included), we'd recommend looking at Expedia's package holidays. Not only is it a hassle-free way to book (and ATOL-protected), but you can save up to 10 per cent right now.
If a sun-soaked escape is on your radar, consider Santorini, where Expedia's package deals include stays at the five-star Secret Suites and Spa. With breathtaking views, infinity pools and luxury suites, it's the perfect spot to unwind. Plus, bundling in a car rental is a great way to explore the island at your own pace – drive to hidden beaches, old towns and iconic sunset spots in Oia. All of this, plus a 10 per cent discount? Sounds like the dream getaway.
If you're a tight-pocketed student looking for a getaway, study sessions can be replaced with sightseeing thanks to Expedia's student discount, which is available through Student Beans or Unidays. Whether you're in need of some well-earned relaxation after exams (the stunning Croatian islands are calling) or looking to experience Ibiza's legendary nightlife, the discount code can be applied to select hotels, flights and package holidays.
Another smart way to save is by downloading the Expedia app, which will see you unlock even more travel savings. With up to 20 per cent off hotels, along with price tracking for flights, you'll always know the best time to book.
How we find the best deals and discount codes
The Independent' s team of deal hunters dedicate themselves to carefully selecting the best travel offers and discount codes. We look out for deals on flights and package holidays, and we'd never recommend a deal that we wouldn't make use of ourselves.
Why you can trust us
The Independent has been a trusted consumer champion since 1986, reporting on behalf of our readers to find the best deals and discounts. Whether it's a holiday abroad, regular deals coverage or helping you source the top offers during some of the biggest annual shopping events (think Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and the Boxing Day sales), our team are always looking out for the best ways to save you money on the products worth buying. We only ever select savings from travel providers that we trust.
When is the best time to book a holiday with Expedia for optimum savings?
Expedia recently revealed the best time to book a holiday, recommending that Sunday is the cheapest time to book flights, while Friday is the cheapest day to travel on. The travel site also warned against booking too far in advance and instead noted that booking international tickets around 13 to 21 days before your trip is usually the magic window for savings.
Why choose Expedia?
'For an easy all-in holiday, it's hard to beat Expedia. With flights, hotels, and – usually complicated – car rentals all bundled in one it's a convenient choice for last-minute holidaymakers. Better still, the travel search engine shows the best return flight offers from a combination of airlines, has broad filters for multi-city browsing and flexible cancellation policies,' says junior travel writer Natalie Wilson.

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EXCLUSIVE I was excited to come to Australia on a working holiday visa - but here's what they DON'T tell you
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EXCLUSIVE I was excited to come to Australia on a working holiday visa - but here's what they DON'T tell you

A British traveller has shared one of the biggest struggles she's been faced with since moving to Australia that 'no one talks about'. Alice Carter moved Down Under four months ago, swapping London for Sydney, but has been left fearing she'll be forced to return to the UK after struggling to find a job. Despite plenty of experience, the former social editor has been unable to land a role in her chosen field due to the restrictions on her Working Holiday visa. 'It's been such a struggle and no one talks about it,' she told Daily Mail Australia. UK passport holders between the ages of 18 and 35 qualify for Working Holiday visas, which allow Brits to live and work Down Under for up to three years. As of July 2024, Brits no longer have to complete three months of farm work to apply for a second or third visa - but they cannot work for the same employer for more than six months. Ms Carter said she believed her most recent role as social editor at UK publication The Independent made her an ideal candidate for social marketing and strategy roles in Australia. But she has found herself in the same position time and time again where prospective employers have 'really liked her', but can't offer her a job because the visa limitations mean they will have to fill the position again in just a few months. While the rule is explained to applicants in the fine print, what isn't explained, according to Ms Carter, is how reluctant companies are to hiring anyone on a working holiday visa. Ms Carter said employer after employer has been wary of hiring her as she is unable to commit to a contract of longer than six months. 'I've just got off another interview and she said she really loves me and then she finds out I have my working holiday visa and then she tells me no,' she recalled in a video shared to TikTok. 'That's probably the 12th time that's happened where I've gone through a whole interview or started an interview and they've really liked me and I've really liked them. 'Then they say they can't offer the job due to my visa.' Ms Carter said she always makes it clear on any job application that she is a Working Holiday applicant The former social editor, who has worked with brands including Marie Claire UK, Depop and clothing brand TM Lewin, admitted she is considering returning home because she can't find work. Ms Carter's video was flooded with comments from other Brits who had found themselves in the same situation. One viewer said the same thing 'is constantly happening to me... starting to think Aus is no longer the dream'. Ms Carter replied: 'Sorry to hear! I've been here four months and I can't even get hospitality, thinking to have to go home too.' Another commented: 'Who the hell came up with the name of it like why's it called WORKING holiday if none of us can get any damn work, like???' 'It's a nightmare, I've managed 12 months at a place through a recruitment company and then working for the company itself but I'm now in the job hunting part again, job ends in two weeks and I'm dreading it,' another wrote. 'Just keep applying stay persistent I was the same you'll eventually get one that one employer who will give you a chance,' a third said. According the the Department of Home Affairs, the rule is intended to 'provide a temporary opportunity to work while exploring and enjoying the country'. It argues that 'tourism and travel should remain the primary focus of the visa holder's stay' and that work should only be for a 'temporary and secondary income source during a holiday'. However, as many visitors like Ms Carter are finding out, rather than limiting work to six months, the rule is preventing any work at all. Brits on Working Holiday visas are not subject to the six month work limitation if they work in plant and animal cultivation, natural disaster recovery, and critical sectors, including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care and childcare, tourism and hospitality, anywhere in Australia. Certain industries in Northern Australia, including fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining, are also exempt. In certain situations Working Holiday visa holders can ask the government for permission to extend the limitation. You do not need to ask permission to work with the same employer for more than six months if you work in different locations, including working from home, but work in any one location must not exceed six months.

Is an affordable holiday in Bermuda possible? How to stay budget-conscious on one of the world's most idyllic islands
Is an affordable holiday in Bermuda possible? How to stay budget-conscious on one of the world's most idyllic islands

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Is an affordable holiday in Bermuda possible? How to stay budget-conscious on one of the world's most idyllic islands

Bermuda: home of brightly-coloured shorts, salmon-coloured sand and one seriously mysterious triangle. Brits might also know it for its offshore banking and top-tier sporting events. What it's not renowned for is being a bargain holiday destination. Replete with palm-fringed beaches and a nightly tree frog chorus loud enough to defy even the best sound insulation, Bermuda is often confused as being located in the Caribbean. In fact, this fish-hook-shaped archipelago, formed of seven primary islands, lies 1,000 miles north of that colourful collection, floating alone in the Atlantic Ocean like a last puzzle piece lost beneath the sofa. For many, it's a popular travel spot. In 2024, the total number of visitors arriving by air had almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, while the average spend per person was $2,151, shelled out over roughly nine days. That cost is in addition to forking out for airfares, which can average a few hundred pounds more expensive than flights from the UK to Caribbean islands. While hardly Maldives -level spending, it's also undoubtedly not a bargain. So is Bermuda a destination happy to remain reserved for cruise lovers and the private yacht-owning elite? Or is there a way your average holidaymaker can enjoy it too? Thankfully, the answer seems to be yes. According to Expedia, average flight prices to Bermuda dropped 6 per cent for Brits between 2023 and 2024, meaning it's more affordable now than in recent years. And while accommodation and dining add up, there are ways to conserve spending while there without sacrificing feeling like you're watching your pennies (universally agreed as the antithesis of a good holiday experience). So if you're keen to soak up the sight of white stepped roofs, yawing sailboats and Bermudian blue seas, you need to be smart about it. Here's what I learnt about visiting Bermuda on a budget. At just 20 square miles, Bermuda's landmass is smaller than Manhattan 's. This makes it easily explorable, particularly Hamilton, its colourful capital city. Sign up for the free walking tour, which sets off each day from City Hall and is delivered by ebullient 'town crier', Ed Christopher. A showman who missed his calling, Ed has been revealing the secrets of Hamilton for three decades. Listen closely for fascinating facts fired out between greetings of 'Yes, sir!' bellowed at acquaintances across the street, on passing motorbikes or through truck windows. Facts you might glean include that the roof of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity is made from the keel of an old ship and local brewery Goslings is the only rum maker in the world with the patent for 'black rum'. The tour runs weekdays between April and December. Inside City Hall, the National Gallery is free to enter and has a rotating slate of exhibitions by local artists. There are also events, talks and performances throughout the year. For a creative injection while taking some sunshine, opt for the self-guided city art tour, which leads visitors around the burg via some of its most striking outdoor displays. Free maps are available from City Hall reception. Another wallet-friendly, engaging activity is spending an afternoon at the Royal Naval Dockyards, perched at the very tip of the country's 'fish hook'. This collection of shops, museums and eateries is free to wander, though I'd recommend paying the $18 entry fee for The National Museum of Bermuda, which provides a comprehensive retelling of the country's history. Begin in the basement of the Custodian's House for an introduction to Bermuda's wartime legacy, then head upstairs for stories on slave trade history, the Portuguese influence and photo exhibitions by locals. It's also a great place to spot the distinctive Bermuda Longtail, which flits over the buildings. Access it by the Blue Route ferry from Hamilton for as little as $3.50. Explore beaches, parks and Bermuda's natural beauty While Bermuda's beaches and golf courses rightfully receive a lot of attention, it's in some of the less manicured locations that the country's natural diversity flourishes. I spent a morning wandering the untamed wilds of Cooper's Island Nature Reserve with vegan chef and forager Doreen William-James. Giant conch shell in hand and daughter-in-law's post-op Yorkshire Terrier strapped to her chest, she began the tour with the excellent point: 'Why walk by food to buy food?' We began, somewhat surprisingly, in the car park, at whose concrete edge I nibbled on nasturtiums, hibiscus and wild fennel. Further in, the variety within this 120-acre park (which also houses a NASA facility) revealed itself. Every plant seemed to hold some natural nourishment, whether it was the omega-3-rich sea purslane, vitamin C-filled 'Scurvy' grass or New Zealand Spinach, bursting with Vitamin K. It's no wonder Doreen estimates around 40 per cent of her produce comes directly from the land. The tour was $65 well-spent, not least because I got to taste Doreen's delightful fennel hummus and vegan coffee cupcakes. The Bermuda Railway Trail is another enlightening way to enjoy Bermuda's blooming nature. Tracing the edge of the island for 18 miles (excluding Hamilton), and skirting some of the country's most beautiful bays, this disused railway line is now the location of choice for runners, hikers and cyclists looking to enjoy the island's scenic allure. Though it can be tackled in a day, it's advisable to break it into sections and soak it up at a slower pace (you are on holiday after all). The route takes visitors via the old capital and docks of St. George's, by stunning vistas of the Dockyards from Palmetto Park and alongside Gibbs' Hill Lighthouse. For a modest fee of $2.50, visitors can climb the 185 spiralling steps and, on a clear day, be rewarded with views of white roofs peeking out between oleander and palm leaves, and always, the inescapable blue sea. Short diversions from the trail lead to the lauded likes of Horseshoe Bay and Warwick Long Bay, two of Bermuda's best beaches. All its public beaches are free, so stock up on drinks and snacks before you arrive, borrow a brolly from the hotel, and dig in for the day. Focus on festivals for an affordable slice of Bermudian life Visiting during an event season is a good way to ensure low-cost entertainment. During my visit in April, the Bermuda Annual Agricultural Exhibition was all anyone could talk about – giant rabbits, huge hogs and gourds to make you blush were due to be on display within the Botanical Gardens' 36 acres. This long-running, weekend event (first held in 1843) celebrates Bermuda's diverse agriculture and horticulture and features woodworking exhibits, fruit and vegetable stalls, livestock pens and technicoloured floriculture displays. If such an environment isn't stimulating enough, there are also interactive zones for children and live arts performances. At $10 per adult ticket, $5 for under-16s and free entry for under-five-year-olds, it promises an affordable, culturally rich day out. In summertime, events ramp up a notch. Mid-June sees carnival chaos descend on the island, and while a plethora of parties fill the calendar (Raft Up, Euphoria and Glow offer yacht-, beach- and costume-based events), visitors can enjoy much of the celebrations for free, such as the parade, which lasts almost an entire day. Food stalls, live music and the joie de vivre of festivities infect the islands, making it an easy, affordable way to soak up the country's vibrant culture. Sports fans should plump for the end of July when one of Bermuda's biggest events (the Cup Match) takes place across two significant holidays (Emancipation Day and Mary Prince Day – July 31-August 1). A historic cricket game between rival teams from either end of the island, St. George's and Somerset, this sporting event is a world away from the restraint of British cricket. Scaffolding is erected around the pitch and sections rented out to spectators, who, dressed to impress, spend as much time following the on-grass rivalry as they do sampling local delicacies from food stalls, playing Crown & Anchor (an old Navy game) and socialising. Tickets cost around $25 per adult and entry starts at 6am. The carnivalesque vibes extend into 3 and 4 of August with other adrenaline-fuelled events such as the Bacchanal Run (where runners are covered in powdered paint en route) and sleek sea vessels collect in Mangrove Bay for the Non Mariners Raft Up. Pack lunches and plan meals out strategically As with many remote island destinations, grocery shopping and dining out in Bermuda can be pricey. If you're staying somewhere with a kitchen and can cook at your accommodation, it's worth making up lunches for days out and planning the odd dinner in too. Look to local markets for groceries as they often have decent offers – the Farmers Market in the Botanical Gardens runs every Saturday morning and sells locally-grown fruit and veg as well as novelty treats such as guava candies, banana bread and mango fruit sticks. Some convenience stores also sell hot buffet food, which is popular with locals and perfect to pick up on the way back from sightseeing (boxes tend to go for around the $13 mark). Fans of all-inclusive resorts will find limited options here; currently, Grotto Bay Beach Resort is the only all-inclusive property. It charges $129 per person, per day, for its full meal plan on top of the room rate (which is one of the more reasonable rates on the island despite an incredibly generous offering). Even by the price tags of most Bermudian restaurants, this still isn't an inconsiderable cost, but for the convenience of three meals a day from either a comprehensive buffet or à la carte menu – and a lunchtime poolside eating option – it could be worth considering. When you dine out, do your research, as there are some reasonable options which come with character. Look to the island's 'oldest' pub, The Swizzle Inn, which serves burgers, pizzas and salads for around the $20 mark in a rustic, sticker-wall clad atmosphere. For a local's lunch, stop by Mamma Mia in Hamilton Parish (just off the Railway Trail), a hole-in-the-wall fish shack serving shrimp wraps and fish burgers alongside chicken wings and breakfast plates. Prices range from $6 to $27 so sampling the seasonal catch can be an affordable option. Use public transport Considering it's such a small country, Bermuda sure does like to complicate its geography. For example, you won't find the city of Hamilton in Hamilton Parish, but in Pembroke Parish. There's a Paget Island and a Paget Parish, and a Smith's Island and Smiths Parish, but neither of the islands fall within their namesake's Parish. It's probably a good thing then that visitors can't hire cars here (though scooters are available for around $50 a day), and whilst taxis are sure to get you to the right place, they charge handsomely for the pleasure – the two minute drive from the Airport to Grotto Bay for example, could set you back as much as $20. Thankfully, the bus system is comprehensive and more than capable of ferrying visitors from one end of the country to the other. Hotels can organise passes or tokens, or tickets can be bought with cash. Prices vary depending on your travel plans, but are likely to cost less overall than taxis. Ally Wybrew travelled as a guest of the Bermuda Tourism Authority and PADI.

Popular Spanish city with strict curfew rules in place - what it means for Brits
Popular Spanish city with strict curfew rules in place - what it means for Brits

Daily Mirror

time2 days ago

  • Daily Mirror

Popular Spanish city with strict curfew rules in place - what it means for Brits

In a huge blow to sun-worshipping Brits, a huge Spanish city has unveiled a strict curfew impacting bars, nightclubs, and restaurants - following noise complaints from fed-up locals Brits are being warned of a brutal clampdown in one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations. Last year, a staggering 18 million international visitors passed through Alicante-Elche Airport - located on the southeastern stretch of the iconic Costa Blanca region - marking a 16.8 per cent spike compared to 2023. While droves of these passengers will have left the city on cramped coaches heading over to party-mad resorts like Benidorm, almost five million chose to stay in the city for their holiday. ‌ Famed for its sugar-like sand, rich history and eclectic range of shops - there's no denying Alicante's mass appeal. Here, you'll find the Santa Bárbara Castle, the old town of Santa Cruz, the bustling Central Market, and half a dozen golden beaches. ‌ However, following a series of noise complaints from fed-up locals - authorities green-lighted a strict curfew ahead of the peak summer season. The ruling, which impacts bars and restaurants, means establishments will have to close at 12.30am on weekdays. They will be allowed to stay open slightly later (1am) on Fridays, Saturdays, and on the eve of national holidays. Nightclubs will also be given permission to stay open a little later, but must still close their doors at 1am during weekdays and at 3am on the weekend. Those dining outside on terraces will also be impacted by the crackdown, as Alicante is slashing its al-fresco seating by half. According to local press, customers will be asked to leave their table 30 minutes ahead of closing time. ‌ The curfew, which will be a huge blow to Brits wanting to dance the night away, applies to two areas of Alicante City that have been designated as Acoustically Saturated Zones (ZAS). This includes parts of the Old Town as well as the area around Calle Castaños, which was previously known for its 'lively' nightlife. The Independent reports that police will be enforcing the rules and helping 'disperse revellers from the area'. It is said the ruling will also have an impact on 24-hour shops that cash in on drunken Brits desperate for a nightcap, as they will also need to comply with the curfew. Alicante's crackdown follows escalating anti-tourist sentiment that has grappled the country in recent months. Last year, a slew of protests erupted across the country as angry residents blamed Brits for Spain's worsening housing crisis. The movement's momentum has continued into this summer season, with more demonstrations to take place in Spanish hotspots this month (June 15). As previously reported the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth, which is behind the action, has been encouraging protestors to bring water pistols to target holidaymakers and get their message across.

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