How far ahead do you book your holiday?
Posted by bydevilz1@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 97 comments
I recently booked a holiday to Tenerife that was about 3 months in advance, most people I know book within this timeframe, but while shopping around I was seeing offers for holidays 2 - 4 years in advance, and the prices didnt even seem like that good of an offer.
There was places like Florida in December 2029 for £1400 a person, room only. Cruises in 2030 for around the same price as they were for one in a month or 2
Im just curious if anyone has ever actually booked a holiday that far ahead, even 3 months in advance It feels like its years away, I do slightly understand that people can have a longer time to pay these holidays off on monthly payments but anything can happen in 3 - 4 years
Ok-Yogurtcloset-8863@reddit
Cruises we book about 18 months in advance. I think this seems to be normal for Cruises. We are fairly picky with who we travel with so we book early to ensure we get the correct cruise and room.
In July we head for a week in a Tenerife AirBnB, we booked this and the flights in Aug 2025.
WSB4EVA2LOL@reddit
2 weeks - 1 month
Kevin-SkyParkSecure@reddit
Depends how long it is and where I'm going. If I'm going abroad for a week or more, it'll be 6-12 months in advance for planning and monthly payments to spread the cost. For short staycations, just a few weeks ahead is usually fine.
griffaliff@reddit
Booking a trip today to Warsaw, that's the last weekend of September. Next month I'm booking a trip to Morocco in November, usually a number of months, I've never been a last minute booking person.
Reactance15@reddit
Normally a couple of months. This year we booked earlier due to risk of flight cost increases.
ProtectionGlass8110@reddit
If it’s for a specific thing or with someone a few months, if it’s by myself sometimes the day before
Acrobatic_Try5792@reddit
A year ish
Ok-Information4938@reddit
Why 6 months for city breaks?
I book mine at the last second when I fancy going. Euro city breaks don't need to be expensive even at the last minute. There are always hotel deals with some hotels discounting at short notice.
You save a bit on flights?
I find flights can still be fairly good value 3-4 weeks out, and not so much more than 6 months.
lamb1282@reddit
This might depend I. How many people are going and the type of accommodation you need/want. So 2 people double room never an issue but twin rooms am a book up early in some places. Family rooms for 4 can be hard to come by and last minute can mean only more expensive options left. I’m a family of 5 so booking ahead for a city break is crucial to get what I want. There will always be somewhere that will work but my wants within budget need planning.
Acrobatic_Try5792@reddit
Because I like a plan. A city break usually falls around an event (like a club night or day festival), so it’s also not a last minute idea.
frogmission@reddit
Stupid question - how do you spread the cost? I’ve only ever been given the option to pay the full amount there and then
Pocket_Aces1@reddit
Credit cards can often give X amount interest free, which can spread to cost over usually, 3 or 6 months periods. If it's too short, you can also usually find interest free and free balance transfer cards which you can transfer the balance too after the first card's interest free period has ran out.
If you understand money, and not spending money you do not already have, they are a useful tool to spread it out without having to go into savings, and earning additional (good) interest on those savings.
OldGodsAndNew@reddit
Not OP but for big trips I'll book flights first like 9 months out, then hotel(s) 7 months out, car hire 6 months out, etc
Acrobatic_Try5792@reddit
We are always given the option of either pay in full, pay by a set date or pay monthly.
hhfugrr3@reddit
Not very. Once booked at 1am and left at 9am. More often though we book ahead a bit more, typically mostly all booked by 5pm the day before. Although we did go away for a couple of nights last week and my gf booked that at 4pm and we left as soon as I got home from work.
Few_Recipe_9061@reddit
4/5 months or so roughly seems abit cheaper but I know and have a plan and more important something to look forward to
Ok-Information4938@reddit
Often last second, where fancy to go and has good weather.
highrouleur@reddit
My main holidays are April and/or October. I tend to book April after October and vice versa.
Then I'll do random smaller breaks through the year which are generally about a week in advance
Forsaken-Original-28@reddit
Booking as far in advance seems like a decent way to save money? Assuming they don't adjust the price for inflation.
Victorius_Meldrus@reddit
'Holiday'? Never heard of it.
RevFernie@reddit
Always a year in advance. I can get the exact accommodation I want and believe flights are cheaper.
queljest456@reddit
The big holiday I'm doing this summer was booked over a year ago. But that was mostly because I would be able to pay a small deposit and the rest in installments.
Usual holidays to Europe I just book 1-3 months ahead.
Illustrious_Day5086@reddit
When I went to Tenerife, I booked it 12 hours before. (I missed my flight to Porto and was determined to still go on holiday)
harrisurn@reddit
Me and my partner (no kids) tend to book our holiday 3 months in advance however we have typically got 2 weeks off from work booked way more in advance so we know when, just not where we will be going.
That being said, if we were doing a more expensive holiday then I'd likely go 12-18 months in advance for budgeting purposes.
ReallyIntriguing@reddit
How far in advance do you normally book the 2 weeks off?
harrisurn@reddit
We both booked our two weeks off for June at the start of this year so about 5-6 months. It's worked well the past few years we have done it this way for budgeting purposes. I have found it to be the sweet spot for giving us enough time to save up extra £, but not so far in the future that the holiday feels like it's never going to arrive.
Slackdarren@reddit
No kids so flexible booked 11 months in advance.
sweetqueencollection@reddit
i usually book last minute
Connell95@reddit
Best prices are usually about a month before.
Sometimes I book a bit more than that for a bigger trip, but it just depends. Often it’s nice to keep things flexible, and I’ve booked a week’s trip the day before the flight with no issues.
ReallyIntriguing@reddit
1 month before? Damn, I thought booking well ahead would be best
Connell95@reddit
Nope, well ahead providers are just looking to maximise price, and the risk to them is low. As it gets closer, they focus on selling out, so reduce prices where possible. The very best deals are last minute, but often availability is non-existent by that stage, so a month before tends to be the optimal balance.
floodtracks@reddit
Well, three months ago I booked Christmas in Finland 2027. Generally book a year or two in advance to spread cost.
JonRoberts87@reddit
We booked ours last april/may time to go away this june. Just makes it more affordable to spread the cost out over 12 months or more
Party-Werewolf-4888@reddit
I tend to return from one holiday and book the next one, to aid the post-holiday blues.
CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit
Usually a month before if abroad, for this country we like to last minute it lol.
lovesorangesoda636@reddit
It depends on the holiday tbh...
Some trips I've booked over a year in advance, most are booked between 6 months and a year in advance. With needing to book annual leave, get the cat into the cattery, husband needs to rearrange work, and sort out if the 3yr old has clothes that will fit the climate we're going to... it takes time.
Short trips we'll do at more short notice, especially if its somewhere we've been before or is an easy trip but I like having a good amount of planning time.
Rh-27@reddit
About 6-8 weeks before usually. Enough time to plan logistics, book holiday from work etc.
ReallyIntriguing@reddit
Are these solo trips then? Or do you mean single as in jo kids to think about
Rh-27@reddit
Solo trips. I'm also single and no kids.
zeusoid@reddit
You are not thinking of inflation.
jimmywhereareya@reddit
I frequently holiday with my dad who is 85. We're not booking something more than 2 months in advance nevermind 2 years in advance
destria@reddit
I tend to come back from a holiday and then want to book another one so I have something to look forward to. So I'm booking things 8 - 12 months in advance usually for our big trips abroad.
Smaller trips in the UK, I still tend to book at least 3 - 6 months in advance to make sure we can get the annual leave.
Redgrapefruitrage@reddit
We have a holiday home we go to every year that is owned and shared by our family, so you have to book a year in advance. We’ve just booked for next May.
YOF626@reddit
Usually a year in advance for us.
Jazs1994@reddit
Personally for an actual holiday abroad, 12 months depending on what time of year tickets might be slightly cheaper to book.
I play Pokemon go and regularly go to the European in person events so they're booked as soon as the dates are known, usually 3/4 months ahead.
The bigger the cost the more ahead I'm booking
Realistic_Ad9820@reddit
Usually 4-10 months ahead.
I like having the full range of hotels to choose from, and most exceptional boutique hotels sell out early.
I also really enjoy the anticipation and planning that goes into a future trip. Once it's booked, I can really start to fantasise about all the possibilities in a new place.
Finally, booking annual leave from work has zero resistance if done many months in advance.
sleepyprojectionist@reddit
My last holiday was two years ago.
It was originally supposed to be a 40th birthday trip for a whole bunch of us.
Planning started about two years out which gave people plenty of time to make excuses and drop out.
In the end only two of us went and we booked flights and hotels about eight months in advance.
Livid-Needleworker65@reddit
Depends on where I'm going. I booked a trip to Antarctica 14 months in advance.
Educational-Angle717@reddit
Time off at work maybe a month or two. The actual thing like two weeks before.
DeifniteProfessional@reddit
2 weeks
brianorjeff@reddit
If I see a good deal on a date that suits me I'll book way in advance. This has caused issues in the past though, with flight times changing, or hotels being swapped by the holiday company.
Cultural-Ambition211@reddit
I booked in December to go to Miami in June. They’ve changed my flight multiple times, including a complete rebooking when one of the changes moved it from evening return to early morning and a 7 hour stop over somewhere!
brianorjeff@reddit
It's a ball ache, if like me you've tried to be organised and booked the parking already :'(
glitterstateofmind@reddit
Sometimes a few months ahead, sometimes with a week’s notice 😅
It mostly depends on the type of trip and who (if anyone) I’m going with.
My partner often needs time to think about it, as well as having a different budget to me, so usually there’s a bit of notice for those. If it’s one of my dependable travelling friends, then it could be anything from a week to a few months away. Solo trips are obviously the most flexible.
I never book a year or more ahead of time though, so I do get a bit perplexed by deals that are like 2029 or whatever - I’ve often questioned who books that far ahead! Personally, I never know where I’m going to be, what I want to do with each year’s annual leave balance, or even if I’ll still have a job by then!
Spadders87@reddit
Generally around a year at the moment. Should be booking one for next June in the next few days. Our holiday in July was booked back end of last year. But these are group holidays (3+ families) and were limited to kids holidays so things tend to get booked up sooner.
PeterG92@reddit
For expensive holidays it can easily be 9 months to a year before. Gives you more time to pay.
Weekend breaks usually 2-3 months before
toady89@reddit
Usually 3-6 months in advance but often up to 12 months, quite often I'm booking trips around gigs and festivals so as soon as I've bought the tickets I'll start looking at travel and accommodation. If I don't book in advance my weekends get filled up with other commitments.
leclercwitch@reddit
It depends. When I went to Zante (solo) I booked it 6 months in advance. Went to Paris with my other half over new years and it was only 2 months. We’re looking at doing two trips next year and will probably book those this year. I used to travel solo and now I’m with my partner we don’t have any kids so if we see a good deal it’ll get booked as soon as we can.
GlumAd9856@reddit
There has been strong demand in recent years for things like cruises. It means that prices tend to continually rise and sell out - rather than last-minute deals being offered. So, yeah, more people are booking up in advance as soon as holidays become available.
Some might say that this is a consequence of a boomer generation that has plenty of money and multiple decades of retirement to spend it . . . . .
Boredpanda31@reddit
Depends. If I wanf to save up / pay in installments, maybe a year? My last big holiday, I booked 13 months out.
I'm doing a European city break in June and haven't booked that yet. Will do soon.
Significant-Glove521@reddit
Depends on the sort of trip. If I am organising the flights and hotels etc. then flights will be booked about a year in advance (soon after they become available), other bits get left closer to the time. Shortest gap for (non-work) long haul trip was 5 months.
Cumulus-Crafts@reddit
I don't really go on holiday, but I do go to Comic Cons. As soon as the con is announced, I'm looking for hotel bookings near the con (usually a year in advance) as they get snapped up QUICK, and as soon as hotels know there's a con nearby, they put the price up.
For travel, I usually book that six months in advance. The price ends up being lower, and it ensures that I definitely get a flight on a service that only runs a couple of times a day from the airport closest to me. Sometimes I've had an issue where I try to book tickets so far in advance that the flights on those days haven't even been arranged yet.
Con tickets themselves, I end up putting off until the con puts up a post like "80% of weekend tickets sold" and then I go buy them. This year, I bought tickets in advance but was then offered a creator pass to a con, so I ended up selling my tickets to someone else cause they couldn't be refunded, haha
Princes_Slayer@reddit
If it’s something specific I know gets booked up, I’m doing it as soon as I can. If I’m just after a flights and hotel I’m less fussy and would just book once I’m happy with what I see for the price
lilangel437@reddit
usually around 6 - 10 weeks in advance
iamabigtree@reddit
About six months for just us. But we've had holidays with extended family that were booked 18 months in advance.
Batalfie@reddit
Between 3 years and one week.
Japan took some saving up and I planned it around a star wars event. Denmark I planned for a while too. But within the UK I'm much more spontaneous.
EvilTaffyapple@reddit
First week of January I book out all my known holidays for the year, barring Christmas.
jasmith2706@reddit
it depends when i'm going, I to go Tenerife in Nov/ Dec and I leave that till a couple of months before or so as flights usually go down by then. Conversely for bank holidays/ school holidays I will usually book a few months in advance as demand is at its highest.
Loubo17@reddit
For something in Europe, usually anywhere from 6 weeks to a week ahead. I did book a short trip the day before going at the start of the year, and I also booked another short trip yesterday for this Friday.
I did a trip to the USA last year and probably started booking that about 6-8 weeks ahead, and finalised the last hotels etc. about 4 weeks ahead.
poppyoxymoron@reddit
Really depends, sometimes 9 months, sometimes 3/4 days. I have no kids and all my friends are freelancers. WE always go on group holidays to lower the cost. If it is a £1000 + trip then it’ll need more planning but sometimes we can turn a holiday around a few days if we need to.
fgalv@reddit
Wife works in the airline industry and so we often fly standby/non-rev, so we usually book anywhere from 24 hrs to a month in advance.
TheHolidayArtist@reddit
It depends where I am going and how long I need to pay things off.
For long haul, generally 11 months in advance. Short haul probably 5 to 6 months.
If I need time to save and pay I often book up to 18 months in advance.
The sweet spot for long haul travel is around 11 months before. Generally when the schedule is released. Pricing usually tends to rise from that point.
Majority of my customers book around 6 - 9 months before travel on average, but I do have a few that prefer last minute and a few that book 1 - 2 years in advance.
Some of my regulars have all their holidays booked up till the end of 2028.
Sltre101@reddit
Genuinely depends what sort of holiday. For big trips we’ve been tending to book around late December/January for whatever time of the year we’re planning on going when there are lots of sales on. For European trips can be anything from a few weeks to a few months depending on how far ahead we’re planning.
We love Florida and have been a few times. I see regularly people talking about booking for two, three years in the future and honestly it’s not worth it. Until the flights are on sale (10-12 months prior) you can’t know the real price, so prices will always be more expensive to factor that uncertainty in. Better off saving and booking closer to the time.
tyr3lla@reddit
I'm booking a year ahead usually but that's generally because I'm trying to go on a photography workshop and those release early and fill up quickly. So I'm going to the South coast in October and I booked it back in December.
However I do also like getting the holiday paid off in advance and getting it for a cheaper price. I've booked a week self-catering in Galway for next April for £400; if I booked closer to the time it'd be more expensive and I'd have less choice.
Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit
years in advance seems really silly. I've known dudes who just quit their jobs and sodded off to thailand for 6 months on a whim, 4 years for a week in tenerife is insane overkill in comparison
MidasToad@reddit
1-3 months for trips within Europe.
2-6 months for trips outside of Europe or trips with people outwith my immediate family.
Triordie@reddit
Doesn’t seem like a good price now but might be in four years when all the prices are up by 40%. Basically an option to lock in at current prices if you have the money spare now.
Purp1eMagpie@reddit
For a "big" holiday like when we've been to Mexico or something then it's usually about a year, maybe more, in advance. No longer than that, though
sharpied79@reddit
Depends.
Caribbean cruise? Book at least 18 months to 2 years beforehand.
Week in Benidorm? The Saturday before 🤣
constipated_coconut@reddit
Depends, I booked one a week in advance, I leave tomorrow lol
George_Salt@reddit
2-6 weeks, but we're generally booking ferry-only or a last minute flight and hotel deals. Never package holidays.
Artificial100@reddit
Depends what sort of trip it is. Somewhere in Europe / short city break - 1-3 months in advance. Somewhere further afield - 6 months to a year.
chokeyourselftosleep@reddit
In general we book a few months in advance. Sometimes we’ve booked a city break on a whim a few days in advance, the longest we’ve booked ahead was 15 months. It was to Florida and we booked so far ahead of time to save as much as we could for park tickets and spends.
The holiday we’re going on soon has been booked for almost a year, but that’s only because we’re going away as a family for MIL’s 70th birthday and the villa we like to stay in gets booked up for the summer months as soon as the dates are released.
geeered@reddit
Not usual it'll be a week or two before - sometimes a few days before!
And very common that's just the flight, getting other stuff sorted on the day of travel and while there.
Nym_Nightingale@reddit
We usually book our big summer vacation around Christmas, when christmas bonuses hit. Any smaller vacations only a few weeks prior. We also got a primary school kid so we'll have to be extra sensible about deals etc.
Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit
6 months or so in advance usually. But if there's something specific, then probably as soon as flights open so I can snag the reward flights.
We did a safari holiday last year which we booked about 10 months before so we could get mega cheap flights to South Africa.
Mrmagicdan@reddit
We hate coming back to the UK after being away somewhere nice so we tend to get straight into looking for the next one. A few weeks later and we end up booking something for the following year. Works well as you can go for something quite fancy and pay monthly for it.
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
I do tend to book a bit more in advance for my more long haul holidays because, well, luxury product verses real time expenses…
I’m probably with you in terms of short haul, though… I only really book further in advance when I’m treating my Mum but she loves the whole old school visit to a travel agent to choose etc.
AwkwardTie9427@reddit
Several months to a year
Sarcastic_Rhubarb@reddit
I think you'll get different answers from people depending on whether they have kids. Summer holidays will get booked up quickly.
Pre kids we never booked a trip more than 2-3 months ahead (exception was group ski trips which generally got booked about 5-6 months out). Now we've got kids we had our summer holiday booked in October, and another trip sorted already to see my brother and his kids who live in Oz at a mutually convenient location in January. I don't know who I am any more!
shaneo632@reddit
A few months, a few years is just way too much of a commitment for me - I have no idea what I'm gonna be doing in 4 years.
Single-World-8787@reddit
2 or 3 months usually.
Maleficent_Fee8889@reddit
Normally a few months, but this year I’m doing it further ahead just in case flight prices go up due to the oil situation.
LiamoLuo@reddit
Usually a few months ahead. I think the booking really far ahead is used by families who may need to spread the cost out as you said. The longest we booked a trip out was a cruise 10 months ahead of departure for our honeymoon.
Whodeytim@reddit
Normally about a month but I go for city breaks
Harrry-Otter@reddit
Anywhere between about 6 months and 2 weeks.
The holidays I’ve booked far in advance were ones where they were more complexity (multiple hotels, internal flights…)
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