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How to save big on flights and hotels in 2020
Guest Author:
Emma LunnUK holidaymakers can save up to 69 per cent on hotels and up to 56 per cent on flights by knowing the best time to book.
Travel website Kayak.co.uk has analysed millions of travel searches to reveal the best time to book flights and hotels for top destinations next year.
Based on its analysis of Brits’ searches over the past year, the travel search engine has found that huge savings can be had by booking at the right time – as much as up to 56 per cent for flights, and up to 69 per cent for hotels compared to booking on the most expensive day.
According to KAYAK’s data, the best time to book differs depending on whether the holiday destination is within or outside Europe.
Travelling within Europe
For British travellers planning a holiday within Europe, booking a flight three months in advance is usually a safe bet. On average, the cheapest tickets are found approximately 63 days before departure with savings up to 56 per cent.
If flying out on a Tuesday, the deal becomes even sweeter, and savvy planners can cut the price by up to 23 per cent compared to flying out on a Sunday, which is the most expensive day.
For hotels in Europe, it pays to plan a bit earlier. Usually, the cheapest hotel rooms can be found approximately 118 days in advance (about four months). Here, the room can be booked at up to 49 per cent lower prices on average compared to the day of arrival which is the most expensive day.
Booking long-haul flights
When it comes to travels outside of Europe, Brits should book 51 days in advance, on average, to score the biggest savings of up to 42 per cent compared to booking on the day of departure, which is the worst day to book.
As with Europe, flying out on a Tuesday will save you the most on long-haul flights – up to 13 per cent on average compared to flying out on a Saturday.
Just as is the case for hotels within Europe, a stay at a hotel in the rest of the world should also be locked down about four months in advance to get the biggest savings. Expect to save up to 69 per cent on average when booking approximately 115 days ahead.
Sophie Gough, senior director for commercials at Kayak Europe, said: “There are so many myths when it comes to the best time to book your holiday that it can be difficult for travellers to feel confident about when to book to get the best deal. That’s why we dig deep into our data each year to compile an extensive price analysis and find the best time for the most popular flight and hotel destinations among Brits. Our data this year again shows that the price varies greatly depending on when you book, so it really pays to do your research.”