When to Book Your Holiday for Maximum Value and Availability
Granted, some people are last-minute bookers—whether it’s due to tricky work schedules, a lack of stashed away holiday savings, or just a love for outright spontaneity and fun! Others enjoy planning ahead, carefully comparing options, and looking forward to their trip.
For honeymooners and families, the sweet spot is typically 9-11 months in advance. For couples, friends, and groups, it's usually 7-9 months, unless it's a bucket-list trip (more is better here). Personally, I’ve shifted from booking 4-6 months ahead to 11-14 months out. After 15 years in the travel business, navigating the impacts of COVID, and seeing how booking trends have changed post-pandemic, I’ve found that early planning secures the best prices, room choices (especially for larger families), and lets me work around my commitments. Booking ahead also motivates me to work harder to make my dream trips a reality!
Below are my Top Tips for the best times to book a range of holidays:
Christmas Holidays & Festive Fun
The best time to book is always when the flights are within date range—around 11 months ahead (roughly in early February). You can often benefit from early booking discounts for hotels, cruises, and villas, which allows me to create a great package with a low deposit. For destinations like Lapland, booking 14 months ahead is ideal. Ski holidays, like those with Club Med, also offer discounts when they go on sale in January.
February Half Term Holidays
Again, I'd recommend booking 11 months ahead, so late March is ideal. If you're flexible, you can bag a last-minute bargain by travelling a few days before or after the main week. However, if you're after an affordable ski holiday, February half-term is the priciest week to go, so it’s better to book a year ahead or aim for a high-altitude resort during Easter. For long-haul travel, destinations like Dubai, Oman, Mauritius, the Maldives, and the Caribbean are fantastic choices.
Easter Holidays
I always seem to book Easter holidays all throughout the Autumn months. Easter is the perfect time to take long-haul, multi-centre trips, because you get to maximise on those extra bank holidays, meaning less annual leave taken. (Winning!) It’s also a great time for visiting those far-off destinations - think Australia, Hawaii or Asia. Why not plan a rewarding adventure like the Inca Trail at April's end into May, for fewer crowds and more flowers in bloom, or an expedition to Everest Base Camp? UK weather in spring is often lovely, so it’s also an ideal time for a staycation.
Summer Holidays – Late July and August
For summer trips, there are TWO optimal booking windows. The first is September/October when early booking deals come out for destinations like Ikos Resorts, Mitsis Hotels, and Sani Resort. I’ve found long-haul destinations like Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and St. Lucia can sometimes offer better value than Europe, so if your kids can handle a longer flight, let’s explore those options!
The second window is in January when flight sales and deals on family-friendly offers (like free child places) drop. It’s a British tradition to book summer holidays right after Christmas, so why not get ahead of the game?
Summer or Winter Sun (Outside School Holidays)
If you're traveling outside of school holidays, booking closer to departure can work well. We constantly get great deals for destinations across the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Bali, Thailand, and the Mediterranean. And the added bonus is that flights are less crowded, so the prices tend to be better.
Snow Holidays
Snow holidays come in two varieties: skiing and winter experiences like the Northern Lights or ice activities. Skiing/Snowboarding: Book these in February or March for the following winter season. The ski season runs from mid-December to Easter, and for the best snow, mid-January to mid-March is ideal. If you want to ski in December or April, aim for high-altitude resorts (above 2000m). For families, early booking is essential unless you're willing to take your kids out of school. If you can travel outside school holidays, you may even find some last-minute deals. Winter Adventures: Northern Lights and ice experiences are best booked in advance, but I can often find availability last-minute too!
Bear Viewing Holidays
To Maximize your chances of seeing bears in Canada, the best time to plan your trip is between late winter and early spring (February-March). Bear sightings are most common from May to October, when bears are active after emerging from their hibernation. In the spring, they come out to mate and feed on berries, flowers, and sedge grass, occasionally catching the odd fish. However, the prime time for bear watching is during the salmon run from late August to October, that the real feast begins. If you’re hoping to see polar bears, aim for October and November when they're most active while waiting for sea ice to form. Popular bear viewing destinations can book up unbelievably quickly, especially during peak season, so it’s highly recommended to secure your spot as soon as you decide it's a must-do for you.
City Breaks
For cities, aim to book 4-6 months ahead when low-cost airlines are releasing fares and you have lots of flight options to choose from. If you're traveling during a peak time (like Fashion Week or a big conference), book 9-10 months ahead. Eurostar tickets for destinations like Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam go on sale 6 months ahead, and Disneyland Paris tickets go on sale 9 months ahead.
Cruise Holidays
Cruises can be booked up to 2 years in advance! Booking early often comes with extra perks like cabin upgrades or onboard credits, but I also see plenty of bookings 6-9 months ahead. Many of my regular cruise clients book their next trip while on board. If you’re tempted to do the same, don’t worry—I’ll still be here to handle your booking! Plus, you might even score some onboard discounts.
I hope my tips help you plan your next adventure with confidence and ease!
Fawn
