The weather is improving, the sun is shining: we’re officially entering holiday season.
Or so we hope. With the cost of living crisis and a dodgy economy to contend with, money isn’t going as far as it used to – so booking the right time to go away could prove crucial in stretching those pennies as far as possible.
Going away is more popular than ever. According to Skyscanner’s new Smarter Summer Report, 76 per cent of UK travellers are looking to take more holiday time this summer compared to last year, and 87 per cent say they’d be willing to change the date of their summer holidays to save money.
Fortunately, Skyscanner has also crunched the numbers to reveal the cheapest day to travel, as well as the cheapest week. That would be a Saturday (on average), and as for the cheapest week to book – that would be w/c July 7.
Given that 49 per cent of us are planning on going away this summer and yet haven’t gotten around to booking their holiday yet, it’s information that’s well worth keeping in mind.
Tweaking travel times to get a good deal is becoming ever-more popular for budget-hunting Brits. According to the report, 36 per cent of us will be travelling on a less popular day or week to get better prices, while 33 per cent of us are choosing destinations where their money will go further.
It’s not a surprise. Overtourism has become a buzzword over previous years, with destinations like Venice and Santorini complaining about the millions of tourists visiting each year – driving up prices and forcing out locals.
Swapping out a popular destination for a less-visited one not only means a quieter holiday, but a cheaper one, and it’s a fact more of us are starting to cotton onto. 55 per cent of us would rather visit an alternative or quiet destination this summer, while 44 per cent of UK travellers would like to explore new destinations they hadn’t considered before.
The top alternative destinations to visit this summer
- Bremen, Germany - Average flight price: £60
- Poprad, Slovakia - Average flight price: £68
- Baden-Baden, Germany - Average flight price: £73
- Ouarzazate, Morocco - Average flight price: £84
- Strasbourg, France - Average flight price: £88
- Luxembourg - Average flight price: £90
- Eindhoven, Netherlands - Average flight price: £91
- Belfast, Northern Ireland - Average flight price: £95
- Shannon, Republic of Ireland - Average flight price: £96
- Rodez, France - Average flight price: £105
