When Is The Best Time To Book A Holiday?

With spring finally here, you likely already have a summer filled with sun, sea and sand in mind - but when is the best time to book a holiday?

If you're yet to book this year's summer holiday, we're here to help you figure out the best day to book a holiday based on cost. Because believe it or not, holiday prices can vary significantly depending on the day and time you book!

So if you're wondering when holiday prices drop and whether it's best to book in advance or last minute, we've got you...

And remember, as a TOTUM member you'll make huge savings on all things travel - from accommodation and flights through to holiday extras which will make your journey as smooth as possible.

Cheapest day to book a holiday

A 2023 report by Expedia found that Sunday is the best day of the week to book your holiday, with this typically being when the cheapest flights are available. While there's no guarantee that booking your holiday on a Sunday will save you money since prices vary by airline, Expedia's report found that travellers can save up to 23% on flights just by booking on a Sunday compared to a Friday!

Cheapest day to fly

So Sunday is (on average) the best time for you to book your flights, but when should you actually aim to fly?

Your departure date is another factor that can impact the cost of your holiday, and it is generally believed that early or mid-week departures cost the least due to being less popular than travelling of a weekend, for example.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically the cheapest when it comes to departing flights, so this is worth keeping in mind when making your next booking!

We decided to put this to the test by checking the cost of flights from Manchester to Lanzarote via Google Flights throughout the month of July as an example. We found that flights are typically upwards of £200 if departing between Thursdays-Sundays, whereas flights cost around £150-£200 if flying on Mondays-Wednesdays - so this tip seems to be pretty accurate!

When is the best time to book a summer holiday?

If you're looking for the cheapest time to book a holiday this summer, Expedia advises booking domestic flights at least 2 months before you're due to fly to save on average 30%, and almost 4 months in advance for international flights to save on average 20%.

That being said, if you're due to travel during the peak summer season - i.e. during the school summer holidays - you're probably better booking even further ahead. Many travel agents recommend booking around 6 months in advance for holidays during the peak summer season, as these tend to be the most pricey in general!

Is it cheaper to book a holiday last minute?

When it comes to booking a cheap holiday, it's better to either book as far in advance as you can or last minute to make the biggest savings. Usually, you'll find last-minute package deals will be on offer between six to eight weeks prior to departure, so keep your eyes peeled.

You'll find great deals from third party agents too such as Lastminute.com, Expedia, Booking.com and more, with offers for TOTUM members including:

• Get at least 15% off stays worldwide with Booking.com

• 25% or more off your dream stay with Expedia

• 10% off at Hotels.com

Where should I go for a cheap summer holiday in 2024?

If you're on the hunt for some great, budget-friendly summer holiday destinations for 2024, make sure to check out our travel deals and discounts!

From Spain and Portugal to Thailand and Mexico, you can save on your summer holiday with TOTUM.

Some of our best travel discounts currently include:

• Get £25 Jet2 holidays

• Save up to £70 on selected flights with TUI

• Save up to £150 on summer 2024 escapes to Italy

• Get up to £350 off trips to Turkey with First Choice