When is the best time to book a holiday?

Holidays are important. They’re a break from our daily routines and allow us to rest, recharge, explore, have fun and learn something new. But you don’t need us to tell you why you need a holiday: you definitely already know that.

You likely also already know when the cheapest time to go on holiday is. Going on holiday during off-peak times, such as avoiding the school holidays and bank holidays, is a great way to spend less on your holiday, but that’s not always possible. But there are other ways to spend less too.

Did you know that when you book your holiday can also affect how much you spend? This is often not as dramatic as the difference between travelling off- or on-peak, but it can still have a big impact.

So, when is the best time to book a holiday? In this article, we’re going to let you know exactly when to book that big bargain break, so you can head off on your next well-earned adventure.

Does timing matter when booking a holiday?

While the date you book your holiday is the single biggest influence on the price you’ll pay, when you book can also make a big difference.

The cost of flights can vary dramatically week by week. The cost you see one minute can be different the next, which can be influenced by factors such as:

• Demand
• Seasonality
• Special events
• Limited availability
• Fuel prices
• Flight prices
• Operational costs
• Exchange rates
• Political and economic instability
• Sales

Booking during a time when all of these factors are in your favour is all but impossible, but there are times to book when at least some of them will be in your favour. But with many of these, they can be hard to predict and if you wait for the best possible deal, it can sometimes count against you and you’ll end up paying more.

And that would be really frustrating.

Planning ahead vs last-minute bookings

It’s often assumed that booking a last-minute summer holiday is the best way to secure a great deal and pay less. While it can save you money, it’s often the case that you won’t get your first choice holiday. Yes, you may well get away for way less, but the best offers are applied to destinations, hotels and package holidays that are the least popular. If that happens to line up with what you’re looking for or you’re totally flexible, then great – you’re laughing. But if you want to go somewhere popular or specific, then don’t expect to save much money, if anything at all.

In fact, sometimes it can be the opposite, and booking early could be your best bet, especially if you plan to travel during the school holidays. If a destination is close to capacity, the prices will usually go up rather than down. This could scupper your plans of finding a bargain or force you to change your plans altogether.

The debate of planning ahead vs last-minute bookings can be summed up quite easily:

• If you’re going somewhere popular, booking in advance is usually more affordable.
• If you’re flexible about when and where you go, there are some absolute bargains to be found by booking last minute.

How far in advance should you book your holiday?

If you’re travelling during the peak season, booking early is more often than not the best way to secure the best price. Not only can you bag early booking discounts, it also means you can pay off your holidays over a longer period. So if you need to travel during half term or the summer holidays, it’s best to book at least six months in advance, or ideally a year – otherwise, you risk the price creeping up as flights and hotels have less availability.

If you’re headed somewhere popular and you’re travelling off-season, you can usually get away with booking around two or three months in advance.

The more flexible you are, the longer you can leave it. You may even find that you can secure a great deal to somewhere you’d never even considered visiting before with flights leaving the very next day.

Which day of the week is the cheapest time to book a holiday?

There are no hard and fast rules about which day of the week is the cheapest time for booking a holiday. However, many consider Tuesdays and Wednesdays to be the best days to secure a deal, as Mondays and Tuesdays are frequently the days when offers and discounts are launched.

Booking during special periods

If you can hold out, there are certain times throughout the year when it can be cheaper to book a holiday. These include:

• Black Friday
• Cyber Monday
• Travel Tuesday (the day after Cyber Monday)
• Post-Christmas sales
• Sunshine Saturday (the first saturday after New Year)
• Spring
• Late summer/early autumn
• Outside of the build-up to school holidays

It’s always worth browsing individual tour operators as they frequently hold limited-time offers throughout the year. This may be package holidays or booking your flights and hotel separately (often, hotel and flight prices aren't influenced by each other). At Savoo, we provide up-to-date discount codes to use on travel and holiday companies including Expedia, Travelodge, easyJet and TUI.

Save money booking your holiday using discount codes from Savoo

Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to figuring out the cheapest time to book a holiday. It all depends on your flexibility, which can be determined by various factors. If you have something specific in mind, then booking at least six months in advance will usually secure you the best price. If you’re not fussed about where and when you go, then a last-minute deal could save you a lot.

For many, booking early or securing a break during off-peak times might not be possible, so unlocking new ways to save is important.

Browse travel voucher codes at Savoo and save money booking your next holiday.