Summer already seems so far away. But if you’re anything like us, you’ll already be looking forward to next summer. The question is, when should you book?
The best time of year to book summer holidays depends on a number of factors such as price, availability and how far in advance you and your guests can commit to a booking.
Read on as we look at some of those all-important considerations:
Best time to book for price
Whether you’re going for an unforgettable week away or a low-key weekend escape, price plays a role in the plans for any holiday. With travel agents moving online, last-minute summer holidays have become much more practical – and more popular as a result. People can simply log on, take their pick from holidays the following week and get packing.
However, it’s important to note that this is mainly for package holidays. Why? With package holidays, travel agents have already paid for flights and rooms. If they don’t sell them, they’ve made a loss, so they’re happy to reduce the price lower and lower as the deadline looms. That said, you might also find price reductions for hotels and holiday homes, as owners and operators still won’t want them empty.
On the flipside, you might also find plenty of good deals when you book early on. By booking six months or more before your holiday, you’re giving the travel agent, hotelier or holiday home operator a guarantee that they won’t have an empty property. They can secure bookings early on, rather than rushing nearer the time. With that in mind, you may find discounts to incentivise early bookings.
Availability for your summer holiday
Aside from price, availability is easily the most important factor when it comes to the best time to book a summer holiday. In fact, when it comes to last-minute bookings, the two can play-off against one another.
If you’re booking last minute, you’re obviously not going to see the same availability as you would six months or even a year in advance. The more time that goes by, the more bookings that are made and the less availability there is for you.
As a result, you might not be able to book your first-choice accommodation or get the exact dates you wanted. While you could save a bit of money, you may have to compromise on the quality of your holiday. It’s simply a question of which you prioritise.
Given that you can often get the same or even better deals when booking in advance, it seems only logical to do that wherever possible. However, there are some other factors which come into play.
Committing to your summer holiday booking
It seems like the best time to book a summer holiday is as early as possible. But it’s important to consider your own availability as well as that of the accommodation. Booking early means you’re locked in for those dates, and the size of booking you’ve made – let’s say 10 people at the end of July.
Can you and your guests commit to that booking? By May, you’ll probably know for certain whether you can make those dates. However, it can be difficult to guarantee the earlier you book. In the worst-case scenario, you might need to cancel the booking entirely. If that’s a possibility, it might be best looking for holidays you can reserve with a deposit, rather than paying the full fee.
Alternatively, you might need to add new people to the booking. Maybe someone wants to bring their partner or children, for instance. If this is the case, it’s worth considering the type of accommodation you’re booking.
With a hotel, you would need to hope they could upgrade your room or add new rooms, which would depend on availability and would impact the price of your booking. On the flipside, you can simply book a holiday home with plenty of room for everyone, and there’s no downside if some of your guests can’t make it.
The best time to book a summer holiday
With all of the above considered, the best time to book your summer holiday depends on the kind of holiday you’re booking.
If you’re going for a package holiday, it might be worth waiting and booking a last-minute summer holiday – typically less than 10 weeks before your holiday. That way, you can get the best prices and there’s less need to worry about the hassle of changing flight details if you need to add, remove or change any passengers.
However, if you’re booking a holiday home, where there’s a bit more flexibility in terms of guests, it’s well worth booking early. Planning your holiday at least six months in advance will give you the best availability, so you can find accommodation with the perfect location, facilities and plenty of space.
Book your summer holiday
With kate & tom’s, there’s no time like the present to book your summer holiday. We’ve hand-picked the most beautiful holiday cottages across England and Wales, with plenty of availability for next summer.
Choose from a selection of large holiday homes in picturesque locations, then check availability online in an instant. Alternatively, we have a dedicated travel team on hand if you need any help with your booking. Just give us a call on 01242 235151 for any information about our beautiful homes and their availability.
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Want to find out more? Get in touch with our team on 01242 235151
