By Leigh O’Connor.
Did you know 61% of us are planning to get away this Summer, but almost two-thirds have yet to book their getaway?
According to Skyscanner’s latest research, in association with OnePoll, only 3% of Australians take advantage of the cheapest week of the holidays to travel and by using a few tips families could save up to 32% on the cost of their flights this Summer.
With Skyscanner's Savings Generator tool, Aussies can find important cost-saving information for their trip such as the average travel price, the cheapest day of the week to book and how far in advance to book to get the best deals.
The world’s leading flight metasearch currently searches more than 80 billion prices every single day, so Skyscanner’s experts have crunched the numbers to share some simple dos and don’ts for grabbing the best bargain this Summer:
•Travel on a Tuesday – travellers who are flexible and can fly on less popular days of the week (such as a Tuesday) can save up to 18% on the cost of their flights this December and January. An added bonus is the airports are likely to be less crowded too, it really pays to do your research. For example, based on Skyscanner’s Savings Generator, flying to Indonesia on a Tuesday instead of a Thursday can save a family of four up to $1117 on average for return flights this December and January.
•Broaden your horizons – booking the right destination can be the difference between an expensive holiday and an affordable one. For example, if you want to go on a ski holiday, avoid the glitzy slopes of France and Italy and try out lesser-known resorts in Bulgaria or Slovenia, which are both great for skiing at a fraction of the price of their more expensive neighbours.
•Do your research! Discover where the Australian dollar goes further. Backpacker favourites like Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam offer a good exchange rate and this can help you feel more relaxed when you are there.
•Be flexible. The price of flights can vary considerably depending on the month, day or even time you travel; do your research and be flexible. Skyscanner lets you compare flight prices across a whole month so you can see the cheapest days to fly. Spoiler: weekends tend to be more expensive, so book your annual leave wisely.
•The first week of the holidays is always the most expensive and many Aussies make the mistake of travelling during the peak period when they could be saving big by extending the trip by only a few days. Skyscanner recommends travelling the last week of January, which could save you up to 32% on costs, equating to $1220 for a family of four.
Aussies make sacrifices in order to save money for a holiday, but if you know the right hacks and tools, you will save big without having to go to painful lengths to save some bucks.
Often in the lead-up to a holiday, we are tempted to buy new outfits and shoes to show off on vacation, however, you can beat the baggage fees by travelling light. No matter where you are travelling, you only need enough items to see you through and we all have these in our wardrobes already – save your money for the trip!
Don’t leave things to the last minute as it gets more expensive. The best time to book international flights is 22 weeks in advance – the earlier you buy your plane ticket the easier it will be on your wallet. For example, if you are a Sydneysider up for a cosmopolitan getaway in Hong Kong you can save up to 12% on airfares when you book 23 weeks ahead.
Bon voyage and have fun!
