It’s getting grim outside in the UK, darkness is coming earlier and the cold is about to hit.
About now is the time the country starts daydreaming of a holiday.
But according to experts, anyone hoping to plan a long-haul trip in the first part of the year may have already left it too late. In fact, the advantages of booking early far outweigh any financial gains to be made by scooping up last-minute deals these days.
“Booking short-haul flights five months in advance can save you just under 50% across flight and accommodation costs, whereas six months is recommended for long-haul with further price reductions rising to 55%,” says Tim Hentschel, travel expert from HotelPlanner.
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It pays to be an early bird
Tour operators and airlines are eager to fill spaces, so there are plenty of deals to entice people to book early.
“By booking ahead, you’ll have access to the best flight seats, hotels and room options, such as family rooms or sea views, while also benefiting from early booking offers (EBOs) and low-deposit options,” says Mike Collins, managing director of Tropical Sky. “We currently have some great examples of 2025 early booking offers including savings of £500pp for a trip to the Maldives and to St Lucia.
“Airlines also often offer reasonably priced upgrades to premium cabins for those who book ahead,” Collins adds.
Families travelling in peak periods shouldn’t waste any time
“If you are truly flexible in terms of where and when you can travel, leaving it late and playing ‘holiday roulette’ can pay off with some excellent late deals,” notes the team from TravelSupermarket. “But you won’t find many last-minute bargains in peak dates, so be aware that choice will be limited and last-minute prices can actually rise, not fall – even for package holidays.”
They also warn that any holiday involving a low-cost or scheduled flight is highly unlikely to get cheaper, except on off-peak dates to a destination that is not currently popular: “Prices for these trips only ever go upwards.”
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