‘Don’t waste your money,’ urges holiday expert revealing exact time to book travel to save £100s
A HOLIDAY expert has revealed the exact time to travel to save £100s on your tickets.
Fred Harrington, CEO of coupon site Bountii, revealed there’s a sweet spot in the year for the cheapest deals.
He revealed families forced to book during pricey school holidays should plan to go away in the last week of August.
For those who have children and still want to get away with slightly cheaper prices, the last week in August would be your best bet for a cheaper holiday with prices being 15.5% less than the holiday average,” he told The Mirror.
Otherwise he suggests Brits avoid the school holidays altogether, planning getaways for June or September to get the best price.
He added: “This sounds relatively self explanatory but during school holiday times prices to jet off to a hotter climate will cost around £746 for just four people.
“So if you can get away in June before the schools break up, or even better head away after they go back to school in September then your holiday will, in theory, be quite a bit cheaper.”
He also suggests travelling to less touristy places where there’s less demand because plane tickets will be cheaper.
Meanwhile, travellers can save hundreds of pounds by snagging a “mistake fare” – but they’ll have to be quick.
A mistake fare is essentially an error that occurs when airlines or travel agents accidentally list the wrong price for a flight.
It might happen when airline staff accidentally leave out a zero – or two – while listing the cost of a ticket online.
They might also use a wrong far code to display the prices, allowing travellers to grab reduced fares.
Zach Griff, a senior reporter at The Point Guys, told HuffPost: “Mistake fares happen when airlines incorrectly file the price of a given flight.
“One of the recent mistake fares I found was a $700 round-trip ticket in Air France first class from Algeria to New York. That ticket typically retails for over $10,000, so it’s pretty clear that something was wrong with how it was pricing.”
It comes after another expert warned holidaymakers to check their airport meal deals before landing at their destinations.
And Ski Vertigo gave five reasons to avoid booking the cheapest flight for your holiday.
How to save £100s booking your summer holiday, expert reveals
TRAVEL expert Fred Harrington offers his complete guide to the cheapest possible holiday:
Opt for off-peak travel
Book travel in the last week of August for best chance of a cheaper getaway. It’s less popular as other families take time to prepare for the start of the school year.
Use coupons & discounts
Booking sites often provide a range of options for saving money while encouraging you to use them again. Also remain flexible with dates and specific areas to increase the chance of a discount.
Use comparison websites
They’ll ensure you get the best deal available on everything from flights and hotels to package holidays. Also a great idea for travel insurance.
Travel light
Save on pricey luggage costs by bringing less away with you. Many airlines offer free under seat or overhead luggage options.
Free activities
Jet Skiing and snorkelling can be costly options. Instead choose free days out. Many museums, galleries and cultural landmarks can be visited without spending a penny.
Walk more
While renting a car can be expensive, walking around during a city break is completely free.