How last minute should you book a holiday?

Last Minute Booking Advantages: Booking 1 – 4 weeks before your departure is the best time for bagging a bargain, as airlines and holiday companies are trying to ensure their flights and hotels are full.



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If you want to maximize your trip budget, the golden rule of travel is typically to plan your trip well ahead of time. With flights, typically the earlier you book, the more money you'll save. But with hotels or Airbnbs, it can be unclear how far in advance you should reserve a room to get the best deal.

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Travel Agents Save You Time Travel agents can take the guesswork out of researching and evaluating the many options available to travelers, saving you time and the hassles that often come with vacation planning.

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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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'Flights are nearly always more expensive at the very last minute. However, packages and hotel room rates will, at some point, reduce from their first published price.

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Cost Savings Besides being able to save money by booking discounted rates, booking last minute can also help you save money in case anything doesn't go as planned before your trip. We know that many people think that the only way to get a good deal on flights and hotels is to book really far in advance.

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Book your holiday on a Wednesday Holiday prices often fluctuate throughout the week, so it's best to avoid booking on weekends, Sky News reports. Norton Finance recommends booking on a Wednesday, which is likely to create a 5% saving if you tried to do so on a Wednesday.

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Flights obviously become a bit tighter in peak time, but you should be able to get what you want by booking reasonably close to the time — within a week or so — and the prices shouldn't vary too much. Long haul is a little different, and we've always found booking early by a month or more gets the cheapest prices.”

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Tips to get the best last-minute travel deals
  1. Search lots of booking sites.
  2. Check different hotel dates before booking a flight (and vice versa)
  3. Check bundle deals.
  4. Don't forget about vacation rentals.
  5. Know your airline's 24-hour cancellation policy.
  6. Don't assume award redemption rates mirror cash rates.


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Generally, you should book your holiday as far in advance as possible. Expedia's 2023 Travel Trends report says you should book a holiday: At least 2 months in advance for domestic flights. This saves up to 20%, on average.

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The 20 cheapest holiday destinations
  • The Twelve Apostles mountain range, Cape Town. (Getty Images)
  • Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
  • Bengali sea cave, Algarve. (Getty Images)
  • Kuta, Bali. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
  • Colombo, Sri Lanka. ...
  • Malaga, Spain. ...
  • Porto Timini beach in Corfu. ...
  • Big Buddha, Phuket, Thailand.


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Some experts suggest purchasing your tickets on a Tuesday afternoon, while others insist that this technique might not produce the results you're after. Buying airfare at the stroke of midnight can yield a small amount of savings, say others, but it may not always be worth it to stay up late just to book a flight.

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Travel agents are a great way to get inside discounts and many specialize in all-inclusive resorts. Besides, most agents develop a relationship with these resorts and clients over time. This provides extra peace of mind, knowing that you have someone to call if there are any travel mishaps.

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