10 Holidays to Book Now for the Best Rates

Where you go on holiday and when you travel are obviously huge factors in how much you’ll have to spend on flights, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on what you want to get a bargain.

In fact, researching the peak season of your chosen destination and following a few simple booking tips can see you saving big money when it comes to your air fares.

How to book cheap flights?

While there are no guarantees, the following tips should help you achieve the low fares across the board.

Be as flexible as you can with your dates - this is one of the biggest factors in being able to find a cheap flight

Fly on a Wednesday - as there are generally more seats available, you’re more likely to get a reduced rate.

Book six weeks in advance - research has shown this is most commonly the point where flights drop to a slow average price.

Apply the 24 hour rule - check back the day after you book your flight and see if prices have dropped. If they have you can often cancel and book again at the lower rate.

Consider indirect flights and don’t be afraid to mix and match airlines.

Where and When?

The above tips may go some way to reduce your flight costs, but you’ll need to consider avoiding peak months at your destination if you want to get an amazing deal.

Here’s our guide to the best times so visit some key locations across the world.

Orlando

As a year-round destination Orlando doesn’t ever experience the type of low season dips you might find elsewhere, but it is best to avoid extremely busy periods if you want to snag a bargain.

The busiest time of year in this Florida hub is Christmas Week, followed closely by the US holiday Spring Break, which is in March/April. Fares soar during these times, and the parks are packed, so if you can avoid these periods you’ll not only save on your air fares but also on queuing for the attractions.

Cheap flights to Orlando are readily available in its quietest month, September, but as this is also the peak month for hurricane season, it’s a risky time to travel weather-wise.

It’s also less busy in January, May and November (excluding the period surrounding Thanksgiving), so these are arguably the best months in which to an your visit if you can.

While last minute flights are often available, it’s best to book at least a month in advance, even better six weeks, before you plan to travel, as cheap online tickets for the parks and bookable Disney restaurants and special events often sell out weeks in advance.

Las Vegas

It may be a year-round party capital, but there are still some dips in price you can take advantage of when it comes to flights to Las Vegas.

If you’re planning a short visit, avoid weekends and look at booking Tuesday to Thursday when both flights and hotels tend to be cheaper.

July and August are so incredibly hot in Vegas, so if you are planning on spending the majority of your time in the air conditioned casinos and bars, it’s a great time to take advantage of lower fares.

Johannesburg

If you’re travelling to Johannesburg to visit the Kruger National Park, the good news is, there’s something amazing to experience there almost all year, so you can be flexible with your dates.

The dry winter season from May to October is considered the best time for game viewing and walking safaris.

As the summer rains start in November, before peaking in January and February, these months can be a better time to get cheap flights to Johannesburg. As The Kruger is transformed into a thriving green landscape and the game viewing is still good, it’s a great time to get a deal if you don’t mind getting a bit wet.

While fares are pretty stable it’s best to book at least 3 months in advance if you can.

Bangkok

As it’s always hot in Bangkok, the best time to travel is during the ‘cool season’ between November and February, when you’ll still experience highs of up to 30 degrees.

However, as this is when most people visit, it’s also when fares are usually priciest.

Avoiding December is essential if you want to keep costs down, as this is the peak month.

It becomes very hot very quickly during March to May, but it’s worth considering the wet season of June to October if you are looking for cheap flights to Bangkok. Although there are daily showers, you can easily get in some sightseeing in the morning before the rainy afternoons.

Cape Town

If you are heading to Cape Town for a beach holiday, the peak time to visit is at the tail end of the city’s dry months - from January to late April.

The temperatures peak between December and February and despite strong winds during this period these months are the most popular time, resulting in more expensive flights and packed beaches. From late January to April the winds calm and many of the tourists head home, so this can be a great time to get a good cheap flights to Cape Town.

However, if you can book early, the best deals of the summer season are from October to November, when the beaches are still relatively empty, but get good sun.

The off peak months of May and June are good if you are planning a hiking holiday and July to September are best for whale watching.

Dubai

As Dubai only really has two seasons weather-wise, hot and hotter, the winter months are peak beach weather. With blistering temperatures between May to September, there’s a big dip in tourists, meaning it’s a great time to get a bargain if you don’t mind highs of around 38 degrees centigrade and high humidity levels. Thankfully Dubai is one of the most well air-conditioned conditioned cities in the world.

Cairo

December to February is peak season in Cairo, bringing expensive flights and swarms of tourists. Between March and April and October to November Cairo is a much better choice, with cheaper flights on offer and fewer crowds. There are often lots of cheap flights to Cairo during the summer months, but be prepared to battle the heat.

New York

There’s really not a bad time to visit New York, which attracts its of visitors all year round. The holiday season of late November and early December can be incredibly busy, thanks to the parade and Christmas shopping, so it may be best to avoid this time unless you want to specifically visit for the winter holiday season. The cheapest flights are usually available in deep winter (January and February) when the often extreme cold puts off a lot of tourists.

Manila

Hot and muggy all year round, the most popular time to visit the Philippines is during the dry season from January to June. However, Manila becomes very hot and crowded during May, so it may be best to avoid this month entirely.

January (when you can experience the colourful Ati-Atihan festival) and February are arguably the best months to visit, although as they are popular with international tourists it’s best to book early if you are looking for a cheap flight.

There are plenty of deals on offer during the low season of June to October, but the weather is wet and stormy during these months.

Nairobi

As travelling around Nairobi and the national parks can become difficult during their wet seasons, most visitors stick to the drier months of January and February and June to September.

The most popular time to visit is during the famous Wildebeest Migration between the Masai Mara and Serengeti plains, from June to September. However flights to the region are usually more expensive during these months, due to high demand.