When is the Best Time to Book a Holiday? (Our Expert Answer)
Planning a sunny escape? Woohoo! But between dreaming of sun-kissed beaches and figuring out what to pack, there’s one BIG question: when is the best time to book a holiday?
You’ve probably nailed down where you want to go and when. Now you’re trying to define the best time to book a holiday.
But when prices fluctuate so much, how do you know you’re getting the top deal? Is there actually a secret super cheap day to book that no one wants you to know about? Maybe you’re wondering if there’s any advantage to booking in advance or (in the case of sunny escapes) is it actually the late bird who gets the juiciest worm?
Fear not, fellow adventurers! We’re using all our holiday nouse to create this helpful guide as your secret weapon to unlocking amazing deals and making your holiday dreams a reality without emptying your wallet.
Pick Up A Bargain in the Big Blue Sale – On Now!
Before we get into are informative guide, there is an easier way to know you’ve booked at the best price. Just snag your escape in our Big Blue Sale! Remember – if you find your dream break cheaper elsewhere, we’ll match the price! Click the banner below to shop the sale.
So, When is The Best Time to Book a Holiday?
Want the short answer? It depends! There’s no single magic moment. However, January is peak season in the travel industry – so this is likely when you’ll see all the best offers being promoted. Also a great option for those who want to map out their year and make the most of their annual leave.
January is also the cheapest time to book plane tickets (as shown by the graphic below) – which is a contributing factor to those tumbling holiday rates at the start of the year.
However, when it comes to booking a holiday generally, booking in advance (especially for peak seasons and popular destinations) or being flexible and snapping up last-minute deals are your best bets. Now, let’s dive into why that’s the case.
Nobody wants to pay over the odds for their getaway. So, when is the best time to book a holiday to get the most bang for your buck?
The truth is, it’s a bit of a balancing act. Prices dance around like crazy, changing with the seasons, peak booking months and even the day of the week. In fact, even the number of seats left on the plane has an impact.
Why Do Holiday Prices Fluctuate So Much?
Airlines and hotels use complex algorithms that constantly adjust prices based on demand. If, for example, lots of people are booking flights to Tenerife in July, prices will likely rise.
Conversely, if there are still plenty of seats available a few weeks before departure, prices might drop to encourage bookings (hence the potential for last-minute deals).
Think of it like this: booking early is like reserving your favourite table at a popular restaurant – you guarantee your spot. Last-minute booking is like turning up on the off-chance there’s a free table – you might get lucky, but you might also be disappointed.
So, the “best” time depends on your priorities: securing your dream trip versus potentially saving some cash. But there is a little more to the story than that. As we said, prices can vary A LOT and the days and months affect that, so let’s look at those next.
Cheapest Months to Travel: Avoiding the Crowds (and High Prices!)
As we just mentioned, If you want to save some serious cash you should avoid travelling during peak times. Instead, the cheapest months to travel are “shoulder seasons” like April-May and September-November can offer some big savings.
These are the sweet spots just before and after the peak holiday rush – when airlines and hotels are working harder to fill spaces. You’ll find fewer crowds and better deals on flights and hotels. Think of it as getting the best of both worlds: nice weather and lighter prices.
Having said this, recent research by Skyscanner suggests that the cheapest month to book a hotel stay is in July with holidaymakers saving on average 9% on their stays. Meanwhile, April is the next best month with average savings of 8%. However, figures from Opodo suggest the cheapest month for booking international flights is in September. So, you may need to shop around to bag the perfect price.
Now we know about the best months to travel, let’s break it down further and investigate the best day to book your escape.
Is There a Cheapest Day of the Week to Book a Holiday?
In truth, there’s no proven cheapest day for booking holidays. While many believe booking midweek to be the creme de la creme for cracking prices, others believe Sundays are better for snagging the lowest airfares. However. there is no empirical evidence to support this. So, what can you do?
Do Holiday Prices Change Daily?
Yes, holiday prices change constantly. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see prices fluctuate multiple times within a single day. As we touched on earlier, this is because airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing models that respond to a variety of factors:
- Demand: This is the biggest driver. If a flight or hotel is proving popular and bookings are high, prices will likely rise. Conversely, if bookings are slow they might be lowered to stimulate demand.
- Availability: As seats on a plane or rooms in a hotel fill up, the remaining ones become more valuable, leading to increases.
- Competitor Pricing: Airlines and hotels constantly monitor their competitors’ prices and adjust their own accordingly to stay competitive.
- Time of Year/Seasonality: Costs are generally higher during peak travel seasons (school holidays, summer, Christmas, etc.) and lower during off-peak or shoulder seasons.
- External Events: Unexpected events like weather disruptions, economic changes or even major sporting events can impact travel demand and prices.
Because of these constant fluctuations, it’s crucial to keep an eye on rates if you’re serious about finding a good deal.
We’d suggest that a better plan than stalking the internet for top prices midweek would be to just be as flexible as possible in terms of the day that you can travel. This does more to free up additional discounts on airfares and room rates than any ‘magic’ day. You can also use price tracking tools and sign up to get the best and newest holiday deals directly to your inbox.
Booking in Advance vs. Last Minute: When to Secure Your Stay For Optimal Savings
It’s the age-old holidaying question! But the best way to consistently secure top holiday deals is by booking in advance. However, there are positives and negatives to each approach. So, for balance, let’s dive deeper into the argument of booking early vs. last-minute to define what works best for you.
Booking in Advance: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| More flight and hotel options | Potentially miss out on cheaper last-minute deals |
| Ability to use Flexible Payment options and pay-off the cost of your break over a longer period | Plans can change, making the original booking no longer viable. |
| Perfect for families with more time to plan, research & prep for your trip | |
| Lower risk of your fave destinations/hotels being sold out |
Booking Last Minute: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Potential for very cheap deals (12 weeks before travel) as companies try to fill remaining spaces. | Fewer flight/hotel options. |
| Reduced risk of conflicts with future plans. | Stressful and risky process, racing against time with no guarantee of finding a suitable deal. |
| Less pre-trip stress/unbearable excitement. | Likely need to pay for the holiday upfront or within a short window. |
| Great for spontaneous travellers or couples open to flexibility on destination and dates. | No guarantee of finding last-minute bargains. You might end up paying more than if you’d booked in advance. |
| Less suited to families with potential difficulty securing last-minute annual leave, childcare or pet care. |
When is the Best Time to Book Summer Holidays?
As we touched on earlier, July is great for snagging some super sunny deals when it comes to choosing the best time to book your summer holidays. Alternatively, couples might also like to check out the last couple of weeks in June.
However, if you’re a family, a teacher or someone else tied to travelling during school holidays, then it pays to book as early as you possibly can! The May half-term and the last two weeks of the summer holidays can be slightly cheaper than the peak summer weeks. It’s all about taking your time and tracking the peaks and troughs in pricing.
What About Holiday Packages?
Is it worth going all-inclusive? And are package holidays cheaper? Often, yes! The best deals on holiday packages offer great value as they bundle flights, accommodation, transfers, luggage and sometimes even extras like discounts at signature restaurants, free spa treatments or access to areas like water parks and exclusive lounges.
For example, our current offer at Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort comes with added extras like an upgrade to ultra all-inclusive and free sport sessions. Alternatively, our offer at Le Peninsula Bay Beach Resort & Spa in Mauritius has a complimentary boat trip to Blue Bay Marine Park and a 30-Minute Jet Lag Massage – as well as a 25% spa discount – all bundled up in the price.
But, whether you’re travelling as a couple or family this summer, it’s clear that going all-inclusive is best for getting optimal value for money. Don’t just take our word for it though, The Money Saving Expert also recommends going for a package deal over the hassle of planning a DIY escape:
As a rough rule of thumb, traditional packages are usually cheapest for seven, 10 or 14 days away in traditional holiday destinations.
Top Tips for Snagging the Best Deals
- Be Flexible: If you can, be flexible with your travel dates and destination. This is the golden rule for finding the best deals.
- Sign Up for Alerts: Subscribe to holiday newsletters and get price updates or latest offers from travel websites direct to your inbox (like our Subscriber Exclusives).
- Sales, Sales, Sales! Keep an eye out for sales like the Big Blue Sale, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday.
- Consider Alternative Airports: Sometimes flying from a smaller airport can save you money.
Travel Happy and Book Smart with Blue Bay
Whether you’re a meticulous planner or a spontaneous adventurer, understanding the dynamics of holiday pricing can help you get the best deals.
Another way to be sure you’re getting the very best deal is by booking your next escape in our Big Blue Sale. With unbeatable offers on awesome resorts located in some of the best holiday destinations in the world – you don’t have to worry about snagging a top deal. Click the button below to check out all our latest deals.
Plus, if you have a trip in mind with another provider let us know about it before you book and if we can’t beat that price we’ll match it!
