The 5 things we spend too much money on when planning holidays

There's nothing better than a holiday. But it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of a well-deserved trip away... and completely forget about your budget. Oops.

The good news is that there are a few systems you can put in place before you go to stop yourself from overspending once you're there. Here's how to save yourself some money (and some stress!) on your next getaway.

1. Taking taxis everywhere instead of figuring out public transport

In a foreign land you don't know your way around, it can be tempting to smash the Uber button. But there's no faster way to rack up a steep bill on holiday than getting taxis or rideshare everywhere.

Save yourself some serious cash by getting familiar with the public-transport system before you go, so you feel confident about hopping on the subway, train or bus at your destination. That might just mean looking up the route between your hotel and that museum you're dying to visit, then making a note of how you'll get there — that way, the "hard" work is already done.

Better yet, book accommodation somewhere central, so you can make walking your main mode of transport. And remember: Google Maps is your friend.

2. Souvenir overload

It's easy to go OTT souvenir shopping, especially if you're buying for people back home. To stop yourself from going overboard in the fridge-magnet department, set yourself a souvenir budget in advance.

It might help to withdraw that amount in cash at your destination, so you can easily see how much you've got left to spend.

3. Paying too much for your flights and hotel

Flights and accommodation are usually the biggest line item in any holiday budget — so it pays to make sure you're getting the best possible deal on both.

And the best deals are often packages where flights and accommodation are bundled together at a great rate. To find one, head to ALDI Holidays — you can search the website for a deal, or call one of their holiday experts seven days a week for help finding the right trip.

All of them come with little extras that make a getaway great — things like all-day happy-hour prices, free beachside yoga classes or complimentary airport transfers. It's the luxe option for less.

4. Additional — and unnecessary — fees

In addition to the overweight-luggage fees that could definitely be avoided with a bit of clever packing, now many low-cost airlines charge extra for checking in big pieces of luggage.

If possible, packing a capsule holiday wardrobe into your carry-on could save you some coin that could be put to good use elsewhere.

Similarly, getting hit with a merchant fee every time you tap your credit card or draw some cash from a local ATM adds up fast on holidays.

A quick search through your bank's website will give you all the information you need to plan ahead and hopefully avoid unnecessary transaction fees… and have more to add to your souvenirs budget.

5. Every meal, every day

It would be pricey to eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner at home every day. And it's expensive to do it on holiday — so it's worthwhile to get savvy with your meal planning.

Book a hotel that offers free daily breakfast to take one meal out of the daily budget, or perhaps go for a serviced apartment where you can make your own lunches from time to time. That way you can be intentional about when you want to go out and splash on a nice meal.

Each new month brings the launch of fresh holiday deals. Find out more at aldiholidays.com.au.