HOW TO JAG THE CHEAPEST HOLIDAY IN OUR NEW TRAVEL SECTION
How to make the most of travel sales
IT’S HERE! THAT ONE TIME of the year when someone can tell you the “world is your oyster” without you wanting to hurt them. Also known as the January sales or “wave season”, it’s a period when a multitude of airfares, hotel packages and once-in-alifetime holiday deals are released in waves, bandying figures like half-price, second guest free or 60 per cent off the total bill.
As tempting as it is to lock in the first, “$298 Sydney to Tokyo” flight you see, a bit of research before you hit BOOK NOW might just be the gift that keeps on giving all year long.
DESTINATION DEALS
Dreaming of going on safari in Tanzania or sledding around the Arctic? You may wish to buy a copy of Out of Africa at the airport because most of the great deals to be advertised over the coming weeks will be centred in and around Australia, says Steve Brady, Viva Holidays (vivaholidays.com.au) general manager of sales.
“Because the Australian dollar has trended down in recent times, there’s a huge amount of interest in the domestic and short-haul market – particularly Fiji, Thailand and New Zealand,” he says. “We’ll be rolling out some terrific deals in the coming weeks.”
Stuart Buxton, head of marketing for Hoot Holidays (hootholidays.com.au) agrees 2020 will be the year Australians fall in love with Fiji all over again. “Our $1 kids’ airfares with Hoot Holidays (for kids under 12) will be available in January for 2020 dates,” he explains. “But we’ll also have great deals for Bali and Thailand – our fastest-growing holiday spot – and where you can find value in five-star packages.”
January is also the best time to book My Fiji’s (myfiji.com) Bula Bonus Sale packages where you can expect bargain basement prices alongside a long list of inclusions.
CRUISE NEWS
Pondering whether you could sit out Christmas 2020 in favour of a family cruise? Now is the time to book, insists Carl Frier, Cruise 1st Australia (cruise1st.com.au) director. “It’s extraordinary how many people were disappointed that they couldn’t get a holiday season booking this year and that’s because they left it too late,” he says.
“The truth is, cruise lines couldn’t make it any easier to get things locked away for the next 12 to 18 months. With some cruise lines, such as P&O, asking for a simple $1 deposit, you’d be crazy not to get a booking into place.”
Many deals from cruise lines have already been released (“they get earlier and earlier each year,” he quips), but what Carl has seen thus far is impressive. “Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Azamara, are offering up to 40 per cent off as well as $US400 (about $570) on-board credit; others, such as Holland America Line, have free beverage packages thrown in and lines such as Carnival and P&O have heavily reduced deposits on top of the sale fares,” he adds.
His top tips? Get in early before prices increase once more and ask how much to upgrade to the next category before you book. “Sometimes the difference might just be $100.”
FLIGHT PLAN
If you have your heart set on a European adventure this year, and you can stomach the weak exchange rate, airfares to key places will also be cheap as chips, swears Demi Kavaratzis, partner marketing director of commercial strategy and services for Expedia Group (expedia.com.au). “January is generally the time when airlines including Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways push great sales to European destinations,” she says.
“That said, it’s also a great time for Aussies to lock in deals for domestic travel too – for example, a lot of Saver Fares have more seat availability at the start of the year.”
Just remember, don’t book accommodation or a cruise without checking both the cost and connection times of a flight first.
GET CONNECTED
You’ll see many deals in print, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg, says Hoot Holidays’ Stuart Buxton. “Sometimes limited availability means red-hot deals can’t be featured in newspapers or advertised online so you have to subscribe to websites such as hootholidays.com.au for exclusive, allinclusive Pacific and South-East Asia deals.
It doesn’t just end at subscribing at various travel providers’ websites, of course. Signing up for newsletters for various airlines and downloading mobile apps such as Expedia’s mobile app can help you stay informed on daily deals around the globe.
Before you book, remember to conduct thorough research on all properties, cruises and services, taking into account other travellers’ reviews on sites such as TripAdvisor and anything else your travel agent might care to share with you. “Remember that there can be different ideas on what makes a four-star or a five-star resort in different destinations,” warns Stuart. “Choosing from the world’s most respected names in resorts and spas takes out all the guesswork and means no last-minute research while the deal is ticking away.”
Read and re-read the fine print, including fare rules, blackout periods and inclusions (the cheapest airfares tend to have the most restrictive terms and conditions, says Expedia’s Demi Kavaratzis), call providers and ask them out to outline everything included to determine how it actually stacks up as a deal and always trust your instincts, says Jake Falkinder, marketing and sales director for My Holiday Centre (myholidaycentre.com.au).
“Avoid booking a holiday package that cannot provide all of the information upfront, including airline and flight times, hotel or resort name and room type,” he says.
And remember, successfully booking The Trip will ultimately come down to flexibility. “Some of the best deals are often only available outside of school holidays, but if you have a destination in mind, educate yourself on properties and pricing so you know a great deal when you spot it, advises Steve Brady.
“And if you miss out on the first wave of sales, focus on the next wave later in the month. Trust me, there will be the perfect deal out there for you.”