There’s a depression, sorry recession, sorry depression going on. It’s the worst for 30, sorry 100, sorry 1,000 years. There are, no there aren’t, no there are, no there definitely aren’t green shoots of recovery.

What we do know, without a doubt, is that it’s a good year to spend less. The trick is to do it without cramping your style. We can help, with your travel plans at least. Here are our top tips for money-saving on holiday. Some of them are morally dubious — don’t write in, they’re not obligatory — but they will save you a bob or two.

1 You already know the minibar is out. Use it as a fridge for all your 7-Eleven purchases (beer, champagne, iced coffee, Perrier, G&Ts) instead. You can even have fun irritating the hotel by asking them to empty the minibar before you check in . . . It’s your room, after all.

2 Don’t bother with EasyJet’s speedy boarding. It just ain’t worth it.

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3 Never simply roll up at a hotel unless there’s plenty of choice in the area. “Walk-ins” are usually charged the highest rates, especially if the front desk knows you don’t have another option. Phone to book first — and ask for a discount (always worth a try).

4 Cut back on the adventures without cutting back on the adventures by booking a spot-the-difference discount alternative. Tribes’s new brand (01728 685971, www.down-to-earth-holidays.com ) offers stripped-back versions of its classic itineraries at truly bargain prices — India’s Golden Triangle tour has dropped from £1,465 with mints on pillows to £580 without. Also try Explore’s (0845 013 1539, explore.co.uk ) new Back to Basics brand, which offers a 10-day tour of India for £365, excluding flights.

5 SeaFrance is the cheapest way to cross the Channel. Book on the Rodin or the Berlioz, the (relatively) posher of its fleet and reward yourself with a full-service breakfast in the Brasserie. Appropriately, the continental is much nicer than the full-cooked. We can’t speak for lunch or dinner . . .

6. . . and fill up the tank before you drive onto the homebound ferry. Even with the new pricey euro, it’s much cheaper.

7 Comply with Ryanair’s relentless rules and regulations. The no-frills carrier claims to offer the lowest fares, but only if you stick to no frills. This means checking in online with no hold luggage, only one carry-on bag (including anything bought at the airport), paying by Visa Electron (who has one of those?) and taking your own sandwiches (which will be much nicer anyway). Don’t buy any scratchcards from them — you’re better than that.

8 Make lunch at breakfast. It’s thieving, technically, but no hotel worth its bacon and eggs is going to object to you making a nice cheese and ham roll or two from the breakfast buffet. And it means you can lunch on the go: excellent if you have 14 museums to tick off.

9 Except, of course, lunch is cheaper than dinner: so if you’re treating yourself, do it by day, not night. Five-star hotels, in particular, offer bargain lunchtime set menus. Even three-star Michelin jobs will have deals.

10 Before you book any flight, do triple-check that there isn’t a cheaper alternative on Skyscanner.net.

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