How early do you book

[user1471543683]

I’m just browsing flights for a trip to Rome next Easter. Was wondering how early other people book their hols?
Would I get better deals if I leave it for a bit? Only operator to Rome from where I live is Ryanair. Will their flights get any cheaper?
I think I like to be organised and have something to look forward to but not sure if I get the best deal.

I book one year to six months beforehand. I usually do the accommodation first through booking.com as I can get free cancellation if I can’t find any flights that match when they become available. Flights aren’t always available a year beforehand.

I’ve never booked a package deal as they’ve always worked out more expensive so can’t comment on those.

I usually buy in January for summer. Look out for flight sales. I plan holidays around flights and book accommodation separately. There’s really no early booking or late booking price advantage- just better choice if you book early

I vary from 2 years to 2 days. If I’m booking flights separately I book them as soon as I can, I never wait.

I really don't think it matters these days

Budget airlines the flights never (IME) get cheaper nearer the time. They start cheap and get more expensive as time goes by. Scheduled flights, OTOH, can get cheaper nearer the time if there are unsold seats on the flight. So if you're flexible with your dates of travel and/or you can travel outside the most popular times e.g. school holidays, you can sometimes get great deals by holding out. Someone I know recently got return flights Dublin to LA for under £400.

I tend to book as early as possible, because I always want something specific, inc. specific dates, so if I wait I risk not getting them or having to pay a lot more for them. But if you don't mind where you go or exactly when, it can be worth waiting.

Flights are usually cheapest when first released.
Some accommodations aren’t yet open for booking in advance so I sometimes wait a while between booking flights and accommodation.

For Ryanair 5-6 weeks beforehand. The price dips low before shooting up after this point.

Last time I went to Rome (last august) I booked the flight and hotel that morning and went the same afternoon. It was pretty cheap. I hate booking in advance as would rather just decide where I fancy going nearer the time.

Similar to this. Anything from the night before to a year in advance.

Got tickets to a festival next June so have been looking at flights the past few days. Booked the hotel for a trip to Boston last week 2 days before we got there.

Flight prices vary wildly and can get cheaper nearer the time depending on demand.

However I imagine Rome at Easter will be high demand so best to book early.

But if you want something that feels like a good deal then my advice would be to not go to Rome at Easter, go at another time of year.

OTOH, if it has to be Rome at Easter then you'll likely need to pay high season prices for flights and accommodation.

I book flights when airline sales get advertised usually. But look now and if it’s looking good, go for it.

Then l book the accommodation with a cancelation option. Monitor the price from time to time. If the price drops, cancel and book again. But actually book again first to be safe.

My partner's started looking at flights for Easter. He was comparing a few different ones last night.

Depends but I like booking very last minute for packages as we have adult kids (who don’t come with us) and go in term time however for anything special it’s further ahead, over a year this time because it sells out

As soon as I can! I’m tied to specific dates and school holidays so the earlier the better.