A travel specialist has said being aware of three common pitfalls could help travellers save hundreds
An expert in travel has claimed Brits who make the same mistakes as thousands of others could be driving the price of their own holiday up. This reminder comes as summer gets closer, traditionally the busiest period for getaways across the UK.
Travel specialist Kate (@Thedonnellyedit) claimed in a TikTok video several factors that could be sending the price of your next holiday soaring, and how to avoid them. While Kate primarily focuses on overseas holidays involving flights and airports, some of these tips may equally apply to staycation costs.
How often you look before booking makes a difference
Once you’ve settled on a destination, researching accommodation and travel dates is usually the next step. However, this thorough planning could actually be one of the reasons holiday prices creep up, reports the Express.
Kate said: “We are all guilty of this [and] we all know that airlines operate using dynamic pricing. So, the more you search a route, the algorithm detects demand and therefore adjusts the prices.”
“The prices go up, they don’t go down. If you find a good price, leaving it for a couple of weeks and constantly searching for it is not gonna make that price come down.”
In truth, most Brits share this habit, and that is precisely what can make price hikes appear so sudden. When hundreds of people are monitoring the same holiday deal, this registers as ‘demand’ and will more than likely result in prices rising.
Kate said: “If you do find something that you’re happy with, and it falls in your budget, don’t wait. Book it there and then.”
When and where you fly from can change the cost dramatically
Kate explained that sticking rigidly to your local airport could be the reason many travellers are missing out on the best bargains. She said: “It’s very convenient if you have an airport on your doorstep, but if you’re actually looking to save money, then sometimes travelling further afield can significantly bring that price down.”
She shared her own experience of swapping one of her closest and busiest airports, Manchester, for a flight from Leeds to the same destination, “because it was £300 cheaper”. She said: “You can actually do this on the likes of SkyScanner.
“You can search your main airport and then just make sure you select ‘nearby airports’, and it will tell you what the prices are, and then you can see if there’s a significant difference.”
Be flexible with your dates
Keeping an open mind about travel dates can also help to shave a fair few pounds off the total cost, Kate added. She said: “I get that some people are bound to certain dates because [maybe] they’re a teacher or they’re travelling with kids,
“Sometimes just moving the date by one day or staying an extra night can significantly reduce the overall holiday price. I have booked many holidays where it’s been cheaper to go for 10 nights than it has seven, so having that flexibility can make a difference.”
Instead of standard seven or 14-night packages, try booking for six, 10, or 11 nights. Many holidaymakers default to week-long trips, so travelling outside these rigid windows may offer some rarely-sold deals.
