How to find a good winter-sun deal

BOOK ON A TUESDAY “Pricing teams for hotels and tour operators meet on a Monday to review what’s sold well over the weekend,” says Tim Hentschel, CEO and co-founder of HotelPlanner. “Then on Tuesday morning they’ll update their systems and websites with deals and offers to increase bookings to hotels and destinations where they have more availability.”

DON’T REVISIT ONLINE SEARCHES

“Each website uses algorithms so the more searches for specific dates, or visits to a particular page, means the price may increase,” says Hentschel. “Instead, add the holiday you like to the favourites tab.”

BE FLEXIBLE

“You’ll likely bag a better deal if you are willing to try a new destination and are open to travelling at off-peak times,” says Rosie Panter, travel expert at dealchecker. “Destinationwise, steer clear of firm favourites such as the Canaries, and try a newlytrending spot in Northern Africa, such as Tunisia or Morocco.”

BOOK ACCOMMODATION AT THE LAST MINUTE “Leaving it down to the wire can have its benefits, particularly if you look at off-season places,” says Hamish Van Gruisen, Africa specialist at The Ultimate Travel Company. “We’ve been able to secure some amazing discounts for our clients looking to book within two weeks of departure to places like Botswana and Namibia, which are technically in the off-season but still have plenty of sunshine. There can be great flexibility on rates when booking with a tour operator – particularly on single supplements.”

CONSIDER SECURING FLIGHTS IN ADVANCE “The closer you get to travel, the higher flight prices will go,” advises Rosie Panter from dealchecker. “We’d suggest booking your flight for January now and waiting until Boxing Day or New Year’s Day to secure your place to stay.”