As the nights are starting to draw in and the frost settles on the ground, it’s easy to cast your mind away to warmer climates and start thinking of booking your summer holiday. Gone are the days of stepping into a travel agents and flicking through a brochure, travellers now have more choice and flexibility to book than ever. In this article, Auto Advance, have some tips for you to choose when and how to book your next getaway.
Now vs Later?
We’ve all heard of the fantastic bargains sunseekers can pick up on last-minute deals, and taking a look through travel sites, the appeal is obvious. Late deals are often much cheaper than booking in advance but, if you’re looking to jet off to a popular destination, availability can be limited. If you’re travelling alone or don’t have time constraints on when you’d like to holiday then playing ‘holiday roulette’ with a last-minute deal site can really pay off. If hotels and airlines are struggling to sell seats and rooms then there is also scope for haggling if you’re feeling cheeky! Shop around for the best last-minute prices now and compare to booking in advance to get a rough idea of how much you could be saving.
If you’re less flexible on when you’re able to travel due to work commitments or school holidays then booking in advance has some benefits. Booking now, in the cold winter months, will give the family plenty to look forward to and will give you lots of time to plan your perfect holiday. Booking ahead of time also gives you the option to split the cost over several months before your holiday which is easier on the budget than forking out the whole cost of the holiday in one go. Plus, not all deals are last minute. Early bookers can benefit from discounts such as meal deals, discounted child places, free nights and perhaps even a room upgrade.
Package deals or DIY?
Another benefit to booking your holiday online rather than at a travel agents is that you can shop around and choose between packages or booking your flights and hotel separate. One important point if your booking DIY, packages are usually sold with ATOL protection which means that if a holiday company goes bust, you will get your money back. If you’re booking DIY it’s crucial that you add travel insurance that protects you in the same way.
Booking a package deal is perfect if you’re looking for a straightforward holiday to a popular tourist location. For these holidays, you’ll usually be able to find a package that would suit you and your family. On holidays to tourist resorts, a package will most likely be your cheapest option and will mean that your holiday is all booked up in one go. But, if you’re looking for something more specific like holidays than span different locations or to travel alone, booking DIY could offer better choice and lower prices. Picking your flights and hotels separately will give you the freedom to compare airlines and hotels that will suit your time and needs. Airlines recently released the flights for Summer/Autumn 2017 so now could be the perfect time to look!
Disclosure: This is a featured post, but I’m sure I’m not the only person thinking about next years holidays already.
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