To book holidays for 2026 already

[CuriousKit]

DH and I haven't been on many holidays before and only just started going on holidays since having DC. I tend to book holidays in advance of 10-11 months to an year and my DH thinks it's unrealistic as we don't know how things will be. But I think I will get the cheapest price if I book now for December 2026. What are your thoughts and experience?

Agree with this, especially if flying the budget airlines (ryanair, EJ etc,) and doing your own "package". Although it isn't great to watch the flight price go down (we have recently been away and paid £150 for return flights each, only to watch them come down to around £60 both ways, less than half the price) BUT we had our pick of accommodation early which means you get what you want, and at the right price, it soon makes up for the price differential. Also, as an aside, if we left it until last minute, someone would always have something "creep in" (whether a social thing, or a doctors appointment etc.) others would maybe cancel, but we are a bit old school and if something is in the diary, then it stands. I think those who plan get the best hols and most things have to fit round them. x

The wife and I have been booked for Gran Canaria next 31st of August for two weeks since September. It's not unusual at all if you need the time to pay for it.

Wow, I really feel like I’m missing a trick here as we spend 9 months discussing where to go then always end up booking a month or so before - literally never even considered booking so far in advance. I thought we were particularly organised last year when we booked our August holiday just after Easter as that was a holiday taking extra kids

I don’t need cover for my role, I just let my manager know a few weeks before. We always make sure DH has his leave booked first, again his role doesn’t require cover, he just submits it which he can do ages in advance, but he has the kind of role that can require last minute changes and work away so we do always ensure we’re covered by insurance etc.

We’ve booked two holidays for 2026 (skiing and a short city break) and just booked and paid the deposit for a long haul holiday Easter 2027. I thought it was cheaper to book in advance.

We have a trip to Canada booked since last October and will probably book flights and accommodation in Croatia this week

I booked my holiday immediately after the last one in June this year. We were discussing it on the plane home.

I don’t think it’s much cheaper to be honest. We were disappointed not to be going abroad for Christmas this year as my son couldn’t get time off work, so I promptly told him to book Easter 2026 off instead and bought the tickets a few months ago to lock it in. It was close to the price I paid in 2023 so I’m happy with that.
I’ve bought flights in so called sales several months ahead but as I said not sure I got any bargains. Maybe saved £1-200 max (on flights costing £3500). I think it’s the time of year you go rather than when you actually buy your ticket.

@mondaytosundayI think it really depends what you’re doing, the main issue for me is the reduction in availability, we have a favourite AI spot and the room type we like gets booked up well in advance, that needs to be booked asap. Flights to the US generally speaking tend to get more expensive if you leave it too late. But there are other types of breaks I’ve been able to book later if I’m not so specific in what I want.

I’ve got two booked for 2026 already 🙌 Trying to work out the details for the third one as well.

YANBU OP

Just booked a holiday home up near Aviemore for 2026 so excited.

One for Feb, one for March booked already. Now looking for June.

9 months discussing where to go??
9 months

I'm doing Canada and Split this year.

We are very much on opposite pages here, we hate booking holidays because neither of us can be arsed to research. One of us will say ‘do you want to go away to x in April, will both book the leave for maybe a months time and then book flights and accommodation. Not much research done, we figure it out when we get there and have always had a blast 😂
Family holidays will always be in school holidays, most of my colleagues don’t have children and tend not to want leave around then anyway as it’s very quiet at work so I never have an issue with booking time off.
Would far rather leave it closer to the time of going away because things do crop up unexpectedly from Time to time so it gives us a little more wiggle room to book more last minute. Not that I consider a month in advance last minute!
And not really so concerned about the price being cheaper the further in advance you book; we’d rather have more life flexibility.

I've had my 2026 and 2027 holidays booked for months!

Not unreasonable at all. We are going on holiday next week and already have 2 of our early 2026 holidays booked. We usually book sooner to make sure our pet sitter has availability, so slightly different circumstances, but there is nothing wrong with it.

Got all my holidays for 2026 booked (St Lucia, Iceland, Crete and Croatia if you’re interested) and starting planning for 2027. Love having holidays to look forward to.

We’ve got several caravan weekends/weeks booked for next year as well as flights for a an Easter break and a December one. All booked as far in advance as we could.
It’s generally cheaper if you do it earlier and u like to be organised and have things to look forward to.

We've got all ours planned for 2026. I'm just waiting for the Eurostar trains to be released for October and BA flights to Malaga for Boxing Day and 2 Jan 2027.

I think we're kindred spirits

I have Lanzarote, Croatia, , Palma, Toronto and then back to Lanzarote all planned

i had 2026 holidays booked over a year ago, more like 18mths, i have 2027 booked!