Travel experts at Adventure Life, a company specialising in personalised travel journeys, shared five top tips for securing a great Christmas holiday deal.
“If you’re already thinking about a Christmas holiday, now is a great time to secure a travel deal,” the experts said. There are certain dates, however, that should be avoided when it comes to booking a flight, for example.
“Timing is everything when booking flights for a Christmas holiday,” the experts stated. “While some travellers think flying on Christmas Day is a way to save money, that’s not always the case, as many people will have had the same idea.”
Similarly, dates to avoid include:
These dates are likely to be “hectic” at airports and “prices can be steep due to high demand”. The experts suggested flying out on Monday, December 23, when “prices tend to drop”.
The time between December 28 and 31 “also tends to be less expensive” than other times around Christmas.
“If you’re flexible, consider travelling a bit earlier in December, or even in late November,” the experts at Adventure Life recommended.
“Not only can you score great airfare deals, but many destinations are already decked out in Christmas decorations by late November, letting you enjoy the festive celebrations without the crowd.”
If you plan on doing a city break this Christmas, places like Vienna, Prague, and Budapest “come alive” in December with Christmassy markets and twinkling lights.
But to avoid mainstream crowds, do consider the likes of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, or Riga, Latvia’s capital city. “These cities offer the picturesque, fairy-tale-like Christmas atmosphere everyone’s looking for,” said the experts.
“You’ll get to experience snow-covered streets, Gothic architecture, and some of the best Christmas markets in Europe – all for a much more affordable price than Western European capitals.”
To escape the cold, the Canary Islands offer a tropical-like getaway; think Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote.
“As Christmas approaches, prices for Canary Islands holidays tend to drop, especially if you’re flexible with your travel dates,” the experts added, which means last-minute deals are likely.