It's not too late to book your summer holiday!
04 February 2019
January has always been a busy time for summer holiday sales with many people grabbing early booking deals at this time of year and ensuring they book the holiday they want when they want! But if you haven’t yet got yourself organised there’s still time to do it, and what better way to cheer yourself up during the dark, cold days of February than by planning a summer holiday!
Why book your summer holiday now?
If you need to travel at a specific time, for example you know the dates of your annual leave, or have specific requirements for accommodation or flights, booking early is the best policy. This is especially true if you need to travel during the school holidays including the May half term; as these are peak season for all holiday and travel companies. While you could wait for a last minute deal, if you want the certainty of knowing you’ve got a holiday booked, now’s the time to do it.
Even though many holidays will have been snapped up over the last few weeks, you can still get a better choice now rather than waiting for a deal. You’ll also be able to take advantage of savings that generally are not available for last minute bookings. January and February are when holiday companies offer the best incentives to book, including meal deals, free or highly discounted child places, free night deals, room upgrade deals and single traveller discounts. These can really slash the cost of your holiday, making it better value than holding out for a last minute deal.
Another reason to book now is that you can also spread the cost of the holiday over the next few months. Holiday companies offer low deposits, so you can save up or delay paying for a few months. However, if you want a package holiday these generally have to be paid in full 12 weeks before departure, so around April or May for a summer holiday.
Alternatively, if your employer offers a holiday scheme you can book your holiday today and spread the cost from your salary over an agreed period of months. That can make it much easier to budget and afford a holiday, compared to paying for it upfront, via credit or a low deposit holiday deal. You can even take the holiday before you have paid the full amount, with the cost taken off in the months that follow.
What about Brexit?
Many people are worried about booking a summer holiday while we’re still not sure what the impact of Brexit will be both here in the UK and in Europe. Travel advisors recommend opting for a package holiday with a regulated travel operator because they have a duty to look after you and refund your trip if it’s not possible to travel because of Brexit. ABTA has already announced that those who are unable to travel due to Brexit will be refunded. Have a look at this article on holiday company TUI’s website for their advice on Brexit and booking a holiday.
So where are you going to go this year?
With lots of exciting holidays on offer it really isn’t too late to book a break at a competitive price. Why not cheer yourself up this month by browsing holidays online and see what bargains are still available? Don’t forget to take advantage of any holiday schemes your employer offers too, and give yourself something to look forward to in the summer months!