How far in advance do you book?

[bakingmummy21]

Just wondering how far in advance are people booking holidays? Past few years we have booked quite late and have only last week booked our holiday for august. I think this is partly from covid where we couldn’t plan or commit to anything but obviously that has now changed. I’m tentatively looking at holidays for next year as I’d like to plan, there are some reasonable flight prices for Easter etc. Are people generally booking for next year already?!

Last year I booked in August for this August on Jet2 and the price has stayed almost the same any time I checked. At one point breakfast was included at the same price (we booked room only) and it really surprised me, I thought the price would fluctuate throughout the year or at least go up. Not sure about other companies though. I checked in the hope I'd got us a good deal lol

I book a new on every July for the next Oct, pay over 12 months then book another but I also do city breaks inbetween but more last minute

I usually book in December or January for June.

However, we know where and when we want to go next June, so I’ll book it as soon as I see any price drop.
It’s currently far too expensive (TUI) but I think they do a Black Friday sale?

I’ll also price it up myself individually with different airlines as soon as they’re available.

About 3 months

We used to book as soon as we got back home from our last holiday, so a summer in advance. Nowadays with DH’s work schedule we’re lucky if we get 3 weeks in advance😩

I suppose it depends what type of holiday. I know some people who always know when flights are released and book immediately but they are often going to the same place each year. We never really know where we fancy going so it was usually about April for summer holidays. But last few years, it's been about a month in advance as can go outside of school holidays.

usually a week sometimes two

Sometime in Winter, December - February. Something to look forward to when it's dark and cold.

Last year and this year we do everything ourselves, last year was a three center trip, this year it's two center so we book s/c appartments/hotels, car, flights etc on our own.

Thanks all - probably should have added we now have school age children so we’re tied to school hols which does tend to give you a bit of a schedule to work to / fixed times when we can go, and obviously we’re competing with the masses for plane seats / accommodation etc. 🤣

I get panicky by about Feb if I haven't got something sorted for the summer hols.

To get the best deals book either early (more than a year in advance) or last minute.
We always did last minute before having kids in school

We haven’t booked our summer 2024 holiday yet…

I booked my August next month holiday this week to a hot EU country.

We always book in March for our Summer holiday… when my DH gets his bonus 😂

About a month in advance.. last holiday just had.. booked on the Sunday.. flew on the following Thursday. But I'm retired and go abroad 6 times a year.
Look at flights.. see if any interesting and cheap.
Then look for villa.. then book hire car.

We came back from a holiday from Greece last July which we had booked via a travel agent and I within 48 hours booked the holiday we are about to leave on in 2 days. But that is exceptionally rare for us. Usually I am a 'Oh Fuck it's May, where can we go?' sort of person.

It depends on the holiday, but also bound by school holidays (1 more year...). We frequently visited Florida in the Easter holidays which is peak season, and generally find best flight deals are as soon as they're released (11 months before travel). We also often do a (large) group holiday, which requires some forethought to get a big enough house at an affordable price. We tend to travel in August and try to book by October half term for the following year.

We don’t plan too far in advance, maybe a couple of months at the most usually.
We’ve had the most part of this summer holiday booked since last year though as it’s a big extended family one, but we needed some accommodation either side of the main part of the holiday as we are having some time before and after in the country too. We booked the accommodation for that last night and are going in 2 weeks - there’s tonnes available so I wasn’t worried we wouldn’t find anything.

It varies from quite early to quite late. One place we love is gorgeous and gets booked up quickly so at least a year ahead.

When I was a child we used to go to the same place every year. My mother used to book the following year as we checked in each time.

My friend booked a holiday on Friday and went yesterday.

Ages in advance, I love travel planning and booking. We booked this summer's holidays last October. Xmas holidays were booked in January and Feb half term is also already booked. Those are all long haul and going with family that flies in from other countries, so it takes some planning and coordinating.

I can never bring myself to book more than a few weeks in advance. Just feels impossible. Trying to change that though.

I booked the accommodation for this year's August/September holiday last September and the flights on Christmas Day.

Next year we're thinking Santorini/Paros for June followed by Florence in September possibly. Not sure when I should book those yet!

Anything from a few days to a few months.

Currently on a holiday that I booked 2 weeks ago (only booked the hotel the night before flying out).

I booked flights for a trip in August a few days ago because it’s over the bank holiday and they’re only going to get more expensive. I’ll book accommodation for that trip a few days before, I imagine.

I don’t have kids so I can be a bit more spontaneous / disorganised.

Same, last few years I’ve found it best to wait and not book for the school summer holidays until 3-4 weeks before, both times got better for my money that if I had booked further ahead - downside is you have to pay in full upfront rather than instalments. So depends on people’s own circumstances. Also seems to get a flurry of cancellations around a month out when people that booked early haven’t paid their balance.

Long haul and when I want a specific location or hotel I book well in advance and ideally when flights are first released - but that’s mainly for availability than getting best price.

For Europe if you aren’t fixed on wanting a specific hotel etc and can pay it all in one go then booking later seems to work best - there’s loads of holiday still available for the school summer holidays and free kids places

When kids were school age generally sept-dec for following August so we had choice. Now they’re all grown up usually a week before 😂