Here’s everything you need to know to score the best deals in the year ahead.
Expected savings: 15% on flights, 23% on hotels
Aiming for a midweek departure for domestic flights is a super easy way to save an average of $45 per ticket. And, when possible, avoid Sunday — it’s the most expensive day of the week and is typically a busy day in airports as travelers head home from weekends away.
For international travel, skip the Friday or Saturday departures. Instead, aim for an early-to-midweek departure.
And if you’re booking a hotel, skipping the weekend can offer huge savings. Checking in midweek often leads to saving 23%.
Expected savings: 30% on flights
For winter and spring travel, opt for January or February instead of instead of March or April and expect to save an average of $92 per ticket on flights.
For summer and fall travel, opt for September or October instead of peak summer travel months and expect savings of $112 per ticket.
Prices for hotels and rental homes follow a similar pattern. January and February are the cheapest months of the year. If you’re looking to get a luxury hotel experience on a budget, look for rates available now for February stays, or consider visiting in September or October when prices are likely to drop once again.
Domestic flights: Start monitoring prices for domestic flights at least 3-4 months before your trip and expect to book 1-2 months ahead of your departure date when prices are often at their lowest. And don’t wait too long to book — prices can increase by almost double in the last 3 weeks ahead of takeoff!
International flights: International trips require planning further in advance. Start monitoring the price of your trip 7-8 months before departure and expect to book anywhere from 3-7 months before departure to get the best prices.
Hotels in vacation destinations: If you’re headed to a popular vacation destination like Miami Beach or Cancún, expect to book your hotel at least 1-2 months before your desired check-in date. Hotels in popular vacation destination cities will typically be booked up early, meaning last-minute rooms are harder to find and priced higher than usual.
Hotels in major cities: If you’re traveling to a larger city with lots of hotel options, waiting until the last minute can give you a price advantage. Hotels will often drop room rates in the last few days before check in — the best prices will be on the rooms left open 48 hours before check in.
Long weekends are often quiet in big cities, especially in the first couple months of the year when travel is slow and weather is cold. Consider planning a staycation in a big city near you! You’ll get some of the best rates of the entire year and can book at the last minute to get the best prices. Some properties will even offer discounts to locals in an effort to encourage community members to stay and spend locally. Whether budget or luxury properties, expect great deals booking at the last minute over quiet weekends.
