Saving money on the cost of train tickets this Christmas

This Christmas, like every year in the UK, train stations, airports and motorways will become relatively chaotic, with passenger numbers soaring as the whole country, it seems, take to the hoof, heading home for Christmas, or in some cases, eager to escape the madness.

It's the busiest time of the year for travel, and many people spend a small fortune on getting from A to B, but it's possible to reduce costs, certainly where rail travel is concerned, with a bit of advance planning.

Cheap train tickets are there for the taking if you book early enough, so it makes sense to be organised well in advance and get to grips with your schedule; the best time to get cheap tickets is when they are first released - 12 weeks in advance of the day you travel. When you book train tickets in advance there's a good chance you'll save yourself a small fortune, giving you more money to spend on Christmas presents for your loved ones or better still, an extra treat for yourself to help you get over the inevitable hectic-filled days while you're visiting family and friends over the festive period.

It's not just a question of looking out for cheap tickets though, it pays to be prepared and know exactly what your arrangements are likely to be well before you book. Speak to your family, or whoever you are planning to visit. Find out what the plan is likely to be, then once you have an idea from this on the dates you're likely to be travelling, speak to your boss to make sure you can have the appropriate time off work.

Once you've confirmed that you are actually able to travel on the dates you wish, you are then in a position to book your tickets early and make the most of those cheap train tickets.

If you have left things a little late, then the best chance of getting decent fares is to look for an Advance ticket. These are available up to midnight on the day before you travel.

And don't forget to get the cost of your train tickets down further by taking advantage of any railcards you may be entitled to. You can also try lowering fares further by looking around for different dates and times as well as trying two single journeys, which can sometimes work out cheaper than a return fare.

Organisation and advance planning is the key to keeping down the cost of your trips this Christmas, so make sure you don't spend a small fortune and be ready to book early.

30 November 2011

This is a sponsored posting.