Experts say this type of holiday can save you money

Travel experts have shared some of its best tips and tricks for securing a great deal this summer.

And with July just around the corner, so are the school summer holidays. This usually means that holiday prices, including airfare, hotels and packages will increase as demand increases.

People are now looking to make their money go further and bag the best value deals more than ever. Research from BVA BDRC revealing the cost of living is affecting how around 70% of families and 67% of younger adults choose to travel.

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So to help holidaymakers get bang for their buck, travel company loveholidays has given a helping hand when knowing what to look for for their next holiday. Ellen Southall-Garrad, head of product strategy at Loveholidays, shared her insider tips and hacks, including the best value board basis, cheapest weeks to book, and how to make the most of flight schedule drops.

Opt for all-inclusive

All-inclusive deals and packages are a good way to stay in control of your holiday spending. With limitless snacks, meals and beverages included in your upfront cost, there's less to worry about when you're away.

As an alternative, consider booking half-board which factors in meals for breakfast and dinner, but leaves you with the flexibility to venture out and explore the local cuisine, should it take your fancy. Try thinking ahead about other expenses you may incur whilst you're away, such as eating out, exploring local attractions, souvenirs, and transportation.

Cheapest times to jet off for a last-minute summer break

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to find good summer deals, even at the last minute, according to the experts. It’ll require some research, but jetsetters who have a little more flexibility with their time should look to quieter periods and not-so-obvious destinations if they’re hoping to find a ‘diamond in the rough’ type deal.

loveholidays’ data revealed September is currently the cheapest month to book, costing an average of £658 per person for a seven-night trip (£94 per person per night). The first week of October is the cheapest week overall during summer, costing an average of £532 per person (£76 per person per night), for a seven-night holiday.

For those tied to school calendars, the company’s data showed late August as the cheapest time to travel during the school holidays. This period is often cheaper as it marks the end of the school holiday period for some countries.

loveholidays’ data showed a seven-night holiday in the last week of August can be up to eight per cent cheaper than late July, on average.

Try the ‘any destination’ approach

Exploring your adventurous side by being open and receptive to different destinations can help save money. loveholidays' search function allows holidaymakers to look for holidays in any location based solely on their budget requirements.

By keeping an open-mind to travelling and holidays, this laid-back approach can help people uncover deals they might otherwise miss. loveholidays’ data revealed Castellon and Blanes in Spain, and Ipsos in Corfu, Greece, as the cheapest short-haul beach destinations for summer 2024, with a seven-night trip costing an average of £294, £301 and £329 per person, respectively.

Destinations such as Toulouse, France and Sofia, Bulgaria were revealed as the cheapest city breaks this summer, costing £168 per person and £210 per person, respectively, on average. However if you’re looking to go a little further afield, Orlando, USA (£700 per person on average) and Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic (£714 per person on average) are the cheapest long-haul destinations during the summer period.

Booking at the right time for the best prices

Airfare prices are dependent upon a range of factors, which means that if you book in advance, the cheaper the place ticket will be when you book in advance, as prices tend to creep up as seats fill. loveholidays’ experts explained that the trick to getting really cheap summer flights is to keep an eye out for when airlines release their next flight schedules.

Most airlines tend to set their schedules for the following summer in January and for the following winter in September. MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis even keeps an eye out for releases such as easyjet.

Availability for accommodation is released even further in advance, with some hotels having already released room rates all the way up to 2026. This way you can browse all the options to find the most wallet-friendly.

Understandably, it can be easy to put off booking or want to fly off as soon as schools are out, but ultimately patience and forward planning are the top things to consider. Booking in advance or waiting until later in the school holidays gives travellers the best chance at early bird rates and allows them to take advantage of payment plans across longer periods, meaning smaller, more manageable payments.

loveholidays’ top last-minute summer 2024 deals

• Toulouse, France from £135pp (July) - Book a four-star, seven-night getaway to Toulouse, France departing in in July from £125 per person

• Blanes, Spain from £249pp (September) - Book a three-star, seven-night stay in Blanes, Spain departing mid September, from £255pp (4* TripAdvisor rating)

• Ipsos, Crete, Greek Islands from £309pp (August) - Book a three-star, seven-night stay in Ipsos, Crete, departing in late August from £279pp (4.5* TripAdvisor rating)

• Orlando, Florida, USA from £725pp (July) - Book a four-star, seven-night holiday to Orlando, Florida in July from £725 per person (4* TripAdvisor rating)