Have you ever wondered when is the best time to book trips for summer 2025? If you’re planning an upcoming vacation, knowing when to book your flight and hotel can have a huge impact on the price. Booking too early may limit your flexibility, as deals and promotions tend to pop up closer to the travel date. But booking too late can also be expensive (or sold out altogether) if the demand is too high.
Therefore, it’s important to know the right time to book. In this article, we’ll cover this and other useful tips for planning a trip for this upcoming summer.
What to Know About Travel Pricing
Before we get into the nitty gritty of booking a trip, there are a few things to know about how airlines and hotels work.
- Flights are usually released a year ahead of time, but it’s common for airlines to change details as the date approaches. This is because they rely on an algorithm based on supply and demand. For example, if a certain flight isn’t as popular, they may cancel it and rebook you on another flight.
- Prices fluctuate throughout the week. It’s believed that the cheapest flight deals can be found on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Early morning and late night flights are often cheaper than mid-day flights due to the demand. The same goes for traveling on the weekend, which tends to be more expensive.
- Don’t just go with a budget airline. Between the extra costs for luggage, seat selection, and food, their prices may add up to be more expensive than a traditional airline.
When Is the Best Time to Book Trips for Summer 2025?
Your destination plays a huge role when determining the timing of when to book your trip. Therefore, you’ll need to decide first if you’re planning a domestic getaway or an international adventure.
When to Book Domestic Travel
Because domestic trips are closer to home, they don’t need to be planned as far in advance as international ones. A good rule of thumb is to book your trip roughly 1 to 3 months in advance (springtime). However, you may find some great deals earlier in the year as part of the business’ New Year promotion. Cruise companies also have their biggest sales around the New Year. This can also be a good time to book a trip if you know your vacation days in advance!
When to Book International Traveling
International trips should be booked anywhere from 4 to 6 months in advance. This would mean to start looking at flights and hotels between January and March. It’s strongly advised not to wait until the last minute to book your trip. Airlines are well aware that people have urgent travel plans, so they tend to increase the prices as the date gets closer.
Keep in mind that other countries may have different summer break schedules. For example, southern European countries have 10 to 13 weeks off in the summer, while northern Europe may only get 6 weeks! Knowing the schedule of your destination can help you avoid expensive flights and hotels when the locals may also be traveling.
When NOT to Book Trips for Summer 2025
Besides last minute and too early, there are a few other situations that could drive up the price of your vacation. Booking on a major holiday can also be costly, as people have the time off to start planning their summer vacation. The same goes for the weekend. As we mentioned earlier, booking during the week usually has the biggest cost savings on flights and hotels.
You’ll also want to avoid booking when school schedules are released. A lot of families book vacations at this time, which could hike up the prices of flights and hotels. If you’re someone traveling with kids, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind!
Tips for Not Missing Deals
Summer is a busy time to travel, but there are some tips to keep in mind if you want to save money on your family vacation.
- Use price alerts. Websites like Google Flights and Skyscanner are great for tracking flight prices. All you have to do is set your destination and dates and you’ll be notified if the price drops or increases.
- Book package deals. Combining your flight with your hotel stay can help you save hundreds of dollars on your summer trip.
- Consider an all-inclusive stay. Because food, drink, and activities are included in the nightly rate, you won’t have to budget for all those extras on vacation.
- Use loyalty points. Most airlines and hotels offer loyalty programs where you can earn and redeem points for travel. You can use these points for upgrades or even free nights and flights.
- Last-minute deals usually only work with hotels. It’s a big risk, but hotels may end up lowering their prices last minute to fill unsold rooms.
Knowing when to book your summer vacation can make a big difference in how much you end up paying. So when is the best time to book trips for summer 2025? Domestic trips should be booked in the spring, while international trips can be planned a bit earlier in late winter.
