Early booking on holidays saves you money

THERE’S no ignoring the soaring cost of living, with the onset of colder months and higher energy bills looming.

Like every sector, the travel industry has been hit, with reduced flight schedules and higher fuel costs likely to drive prices.

But that hasn’t stopped us from travelling.According to several key operators, demand is continuing and, if you book far enough ahead, it’s still possible to bag good deals.

Here’s what they have to say…

Despite rising inflation, some holiday deals remain surprisingly steady — and some are even lower, suggests Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On The Beach.

Customers who are smart and book early for 2023 can take advantage of deals even lower than in 2019.

Turkey continues to offer great value, with new flight routes to top beach destinations creating competitive pricing.

For example, the average price of an all-inclusive, seven-night stay at the fourstar Nicholas Park Hotel in Dalaman is €329 per person in 2023, a 31 per cent decrease in average cost since 2019.

“Booking holidays for summer ’23 will take place earlier than ever before, as customers look to avoid any inflation and help spread the cost over the months prior to departure,” says Harris.

“In addition, we’re likely to see more customers booking all-inclusive holidays, meaning travellers can enjoy their time at top quality hotels and spend as little as they want on arrival.”

Flexible payment and monthly payment options are also becoming more popular.

Despite Irish people feeling the pinch, holidays are one of the last things the nation is prepared to give up, experts at TUI suggest.

Travellers are already planning for summer 2023, with TUI saying Spain, Greece and Turkey are the top hotspots.

“All-inclusive bookings where there are no hidden extras have seen a marked increase, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of our holiday bookings for next year,” says Richard Sofer, commercial director at TUI Holidays.

Peak

“And the two-week holiday is no longer the norm, with 10-night bookings up 45 per cent since pre-pandemic.”

Meanwhile, Reigo Eljas, the Ireland/ UK country director at Lastminute.com says: “We have seen the average booking value for sun and beach holidays significantly increase versus 2019.

“If we compare the earlier part of 2022 vs the peak of the summer, we are seeing the cost increase further.

“Between January and May, we saw average spend increase by +22 per cent, whereas in June and August to date we are seeing the spend increase by +35 per cent vs 2019.”

The good news? Prices drop after August and the peak of summer holiday season, with prices in September on average 30 per cent lower than in August so you might want to think about booking soon.