Expedia has shared its top tips and tricks to help you go on holiday for less in 2022.
As Half Term, Easter and the Summer holidays race towards us, more of us are starting to scour airlines and travel websites looking for a bargain break.
The online travel company has teamed up with Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for the seventh year in a row to share their ultimate travel hacks guide.
“As travellers continue to plan their future trips, we want to help make the process as easy as possible, while helping them save a few extra pounds on the way,” Niamh Jenkinson, PR Manager for brand Expedia, said.
A plane flying across the sky. Credit: Canva
Ms Jenkinson added: “We know planning a holiday can be stressful at the best of times, though by being flexible and applying these handy hacks, we hope travellers will feel more confident and ready to travel again.”
Whether you’re planning on bringing the whole family with you or you want to do some exploring on your own, we’re here for you.
Here are some of Expedia’s top travel hacks on how to save on your flights and accommodation so you have more money to spend on your adventures.
Expedia’s top flight booking hacks
Flights have hit their lowest levels over December 2020 and January 2021, according to ARC data.
As travel confidence grows, they look set to shoot back up to pre-pandemic levels.
Lucky for you, you can be prepared for the increase with these flight hacks from Expedia.
Best days and months to travel and book graphic. Credit: Expedia
1. Optimal Booking Window
Brits have started to book their domestic trips further out in advance.
Flights booked 9 and more weeks in advance increased from an average of 20% in 2019 to an average of 25% in 2021.
For international flights, travellers booking their tickets 9 and more weeks in advance increased from an average of 40% in 2019 to an average of 45% in 2020 and 50% in 2021.
2. Ideal day of the week to book
Expedia has revealed that the ideal day to book a domestic flight is Sunday, and not Friday, where travellers can save around 20%.
For those flying internationally, they can save 15% by booking on a Sunday instead.
3. Ideal day of the week to travel
The ideal day to travel domestically is Friday and not Tuesday, and it could save you 20%.
By starting your international trip on Friday, and not a Wednesday, you could save 10% on your booking.
4. Best month to travel
The best month to travel varies whether you’re jetting off domestically or internationally.
For domestic flights, the best month to depart is November, you can save up to 45% compared to travelling in March.
For international flights, September is the ideal month, where you can save almost 40%, compared to travelling in December.
5. Splurge and go premium
Expedia says that tickets in premium economy have never been cheaper and have become more affordable over the last couple of years.
In 2021, premium tickets were only 250% more expensive than economy tickets, whereas in 2020 premium tickets cost 275% more than economy tickets.
Looking at pre-pandemic levels, premium tickets in 2019 cost 380% more than economy tickets.
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Expedia’s top accommodation hacks
Expedia’s top accommodation hacks. Credit: Expedia
Now that you’re all set to save on your airfares, let’s turn our attention to how we can secure a bargain on our staycation and international stays.
1. Ideal day of the week to book
Book your domestic holiday on a Friday since this is when the lowest average daily rate (ADR) for accommodation tends to be.
Travellers could save 5% compared to booking on the most expensive day, which is a Sunday.
Looking internationally, book on a Wednesday, not on a Saturday, to save 5%.
2. Ideal day of the week to stay
The ideal day to start your staycation is a Monday, you could save 20% compared to the most expensive day – a Saturday.
For international trips, starting your holiday on a Monday can save you 10% compared to starting on a Saturday.
3. Down-star accommodation to save
Expedia recommends down-starring on your hotel to save a few extra pounds.
You can save almost 50%, on average, by simply opting for a 4-star property over a 5-star.
And if you book a 3-star hotel instead of a 4-star, you could save around 30%.
4. Car Rental
The travel website has also noted a trend of even more people opting for road trips since the beginning of the pandemic.
Expedia has looked at its data to help you book a car rental for less.
If you’re booking a car for staycation exploration, it recommends you book it on a Monday.
For international holidays, you should book a hire car on a Saturday to save you a bit of cash.
The website also suggests that the cheapest day for domestic car rental is a Tuesday, while a Sunday is the best day for international trips.
5. Bundle and save
On Expedia, travellers can unlock deeper discounts by simply booking their flight and hotel together, rather than booking separately.
On average, Brits can save up to 10% by bundling their flight and hotel together in one transaction, that’s money that can go towards other experiences.
Sign up to Expedia
A woman carrying her suitcase, ticket and passport. Credit: Canva
When it comes to booking travel, it pays to be loyal.
Travellers can benefit from a loyalty programme for future trips, as they book their current one.
By signing up to Expedia, travellers will receive benefits as soon as they join, including access to member-only prices and earn Expedia points on every trip.
Silver and Gold members who book Expedia VIP Access hotels can also score extra perks such as room upgrades or spa credits, where available.
Additionally, if you sign up to the Expedia App, you will not only have the ultimate travel companion at arm’s reach but can also unlock up to 10% savings with mobile-exclusive hotel deals, as well as earn double Expedia Rewards points on every App booking.
You can even make the most of helpful alerts on their travel itinerary as an Expedia member.
Expedia also reminds customers to stay up to date with the latest government and travel advisories.
For the latest information, Expedia’s new COVID-19 Travel Advisory tool helps travellers search for travel advisories around the world, including regulations for destinations, and safety and health guidelines, or visit Expedia’s COVID-19 Travel Guide.
