10 ways to cut the cost of domestic travel

1 Take the coach

Travelling by coach rather than rail can save over £60

The cost of travelling by rail has risen substantially in the past few years. 

When we checked, a return ticket over a weekend from London to Edinburgh, for example, cost £102.40 on www.thetrainline.com. 

Going by coach would have cost £39.50 if we’d booked online at www.nationalexpress.com. 

That’s a saving of £62.90, though the coach takes twice as long. 

For more information take a look at our transport choices report.

2 Single or return?

Most train fare websites offer you a return ticket as standard if you are making a return journey. 

However, in many instances, booking two single tickets could provide a substantial saving. 

A ‘saver return’ ticket from Southampton to Cardiff over a weekend, for instance, cost £35 when we looked, but two singles for the same trip would save you more than £20, as they cost just £7 each way.

3 Train tickets tips

When Which? investigated rail fares we found huge differences in the prices charged for similar journeys. 

Our research also found that National Rail Enquiries telephone helpline (08457 484950) and station staff generally offered poor advice and frequently failed to give us the cheapest fares available. 

To get the best deals, book your tickets as far in advance as possible and avoid peak times (7-9am and 4-7pm on some journeys). It is also worth buying a railcard (www.railcard.co.uk) if you travel frequently, as this will save a third on most tickets.

Find cheaper prices online

A quick search for petrol in Leeds showed a 5p a litre difference on unleaded petrol between the cheapest and dearest garages. 

For super unleaded and diesel the difference was 14p and 7p respectively.

It's also worth keeping an eye on the supermarkets as they often have promotions on fuel, and if you regularly fill up at the same outlet it could be worth signing up for a loyalty scheme.

For more fuel tips see our report on finding the cheapest fuel.

4 Domestic flights

Domestic flights are generally more expensive than taking the train, but the price difference isn’t as big as you might think. Booking a flight between Norwich and Manchester, leaving on a Friday evening and returning on a Sunday, cost £98 including taxes with Flybe (www.flybe.com). This is only £3 more than a return journey by train (www.thetrainline.com).

5 Pedalling goods

Cycling is a great way to enjoy the countryside and keep fit so why not take your bike with you when you travel. Check out our reviews of cycle carriers for the Best Buys.

6 Cheaper rental

If you don’t own a car suitable for long family trips, hiring one may work out cheaper than taking the kids on the train. 

Avoid poor-value insurance deals, though. Car hire firms typically charge around £10 a day for cover, yet you can buy your own from www.Insurance4carhire.com or www.Worldwideinsure.com for around £2.50 a day.

7 Softer on the pedal

Driving more efficiently is good for your wallet as well as the environment. Keeping your engine revs between 1,500 and 2,500rpm is a good starting point. 

Accelerating smoothly and minimising unnecessary gear changes will help too.

8 Get the right car cover

Before you pack the family into the car, make sure you have good-value insurance cover. Buying online is generally 5 to 10 per cent cheaper. See our reviews of car insurance for regularly updated Best Buys.

9 Track down the Best of British

Instead of wasting petrol in search of a decent restaurant, get The Good Food Guide 2009 from Which?. As well as advice on where to find the best food, it comes with vouchers to use at selected restaurants.