In part one of this blog series, we explored what times of the year you should consider going on holiday to get the best value. In this part, we explore destinations and how to look for the best value.
When you look at destinations it’s important to understand some destinations are open and good to go year-round and some are much more seasonal. For example, many of Greece and Turkey’s resorts closed for the winter (Nov-Apr) and flights are not widely available.
Islands, especially smaller islands can also have an effect on the price as airlines will only offer a limited schedule and have a limited number of seats available. Mainland airports which can serve a number of resort destinations will normally have more frequent flights, which tends to make your holiday cheaper.
As we mentioned in the first part of the blog, travel companies and tour operators price by popularity and demand. The more popular a destination and the more seats that are sold on a flight, the more expensive it’s likely to be, especially if you want to travel in peak season.
Exchange rates and a country’s economy is also likely to affect the price, so the USA and EU destinations tend to be more expensive than other countries. Destinations such as Turkey and Egypt mainly have an abundance of large all-inclusive hotel resorts so these places have lots of capacity and are served my multiple airlines which can make holidays here better value. You can also look at some regions which are developing as holiday destinations such as the Balkan states (Bulgaria, Montenegro etc) or northern African countries (Tunisia and Morrocco), which are popular due to their good value.
Essentially the time of year you want to travel will determine the value of the destination but we can give you some tips to help you get the holiday you are looking for.
- Know your destination! Find out when is peak season and when is good and when is not so good to visit. The weather is a big factor which could be too cold or wet. Your travel agent will be able to help with this.
- Book early! Especially if you are looking to travel in peak season or to a destination which is only open seasonally.
- Consider a destination which is open year-round. The Canary Islands for example are open year-round and the choice of other destinations in the summer can sometimes get overlooked, offering you a better deal in the summer.
- Think outside the box! A long-haul or city-based destination could work out better value than a typical European beach holiday, especially in peak season. These are less affected by seasonal demand such as school holidays etc. Again speak to us if you are willing to look at something different!
