Holiday prices can fluctuate dramatically. Chances are the person you sit next to on the plane paid a different price to you and they paid a different price to the person sitting in front of them and so on. With such variation, it is important you do some thorough research before booking your holiday in order to endure you get the best deal. This can be intimidating with a whole host of websites and travel companies claiming to have the best deals. Fortunately, we are here to advise you on the best way to get more for your money on your summer holiday in 2017.
Should I wait for a last-minute deal?
Late deals are, contrary to common belief, not always the best way to find the cheapest offer. It is true that the month before your trip, travel companies will slash prices in an attempt to sell the final few plane seats or hotel rooms left. However, these prices are not usually the cheapest these seats or hotel rooms have been. Here, the early prices from 6 months before travelling are often the best deal with some companies offering special early bird discounts of up to as much of 30% off.
Also, in recent years, tour operators have become a lot savvier when assessing how many holidays they are likely to sell and so the chances of them needing to sell lots of last minute deals to fill spaces are significantly lower. So, if you are feeling organised then book your 2017 holiday as soon as possible.
Be Flexible
For the best deals on holidays, flexibility of travel is key. According to research conducted by flight comparison site Momondo, the cheapest day to fly is a Tuesday with morning flights also coming up as the least expensive option. Despite being very early in the morning, catching a red eye out of town is not only cheaper, there is less chance of being delayed.
If you are flexible with your travel dates you may be able to nab an extremely cheap deal from sites like Groupon who provide offers like eBookers discount codes which have some excellent holiday discounts.
Best time to book travel to:
Ski Resorts: When booking your ski holiday for 2017, the early bird definitely catches the worm. If you have a particular resort in mind, make sure you book as soon as you can to ensure you get the best price and to ensure you get a room. Crystal ski holidays have stated that over 70% of their customers book at least 6 months in advance and for peak dates over New Year and school holidays resorts are fully booked by October.
Summer Holidays: Like ski holidays, if you have a particular place you want to go to on holiday over the summer, book it as soon as possible. Popular resorts in Spain, Greece and Portugal will be fully booked over the summer months so don’t try and hold out for a last-minute deal to your favourite resort because chances are there won’t be any space left.
US and Canada: The cheapest time to book a long-haul flight is January and February because this is when the majority of airlines launch their special deals and offers. You are unlike to get a last-minute offer to North America as the cheapest tickets are nabbed in the low season (October to March).
Australia and New Zealand: Australia and New Zealand are always popular destinations for Christmas. Unfortunately, due to the fact that this time of the year is their summer, it is the most expensive time to travel to that region. The best time to buy tickets to the Antipodes is during their winter (May- July) however, the cheapest tickets are often bought as soon as they are released around 11 months prior to flying.
