Cheapest dates to book summer holidays including 'golden week' rule
School holidays have always been an expensive time away, but a travel specialist says there's a way to make the price a little cheaper if you can be flexible and select a 'golden week'
Once May half-term is over, many parents will be bracing themselves for the six-week summer holidays ahead, and that means making travel plans.
Unfortunately, as any parent with school age kids will tell you, going away during the summer break is a costly undertaking. Research shows that holidaymakers will pay an extra £388 per person on average during the school holidays when compared to term-time breaks. July and August tend to be when the price hikes are the highest for both staycations and overseas holidays.
However, one travel specialist says there are ways you can bring the costs down a little, and it simply takes some flexibility. Dawn Morwood, co-director of Cheap Deals Away UK, previously shared some tips, claiming: "Most people assume all summer flights are expensive, but there are specific days that offer much better value."
The key, according to Dawn, is found when you look in price fluctuations from recent years. She said: "The summer flight market follows predictable patterns. Prices peak during school holidays in late July and early August, but there are pockets of opportunity both earlier and later in the season."
Dawn highlighted that the most expensive days to fly away on a summer holiday tend to be July 22, 23, and 29, when flights can cost up to 40% more on average. "If your travel dates are flexible, shifting even a day or two could save you a significant amount.", she added.
Check your child's school holiday dates on GOV.UK. Some schools break-up a day or two early due to inset days, meaning you can sometimes get away earlier than expected before prices rise.
Many parents try to book holidays in the first couple of weeks of the school holidays, but if you can wait until later in August, you can get some great deals. The last two weeks of August are often dubbed the 'golden weeks', usually because of drops in prices for flights and package holidays. August 28 is often around the time prices drop as it's the final weekend of most school holidays, so if your child doesn't go back until around the 3rd or 4th, you may be able to get a short break in the sunshine for cheaper.
As an example, a family of four travelling to Globales Binimar & Aqua Centre Waterpark in Menorca with Jet2 departing on July 25, the start of the school holidays for many kids, would pay £2,679 for their break.
However, if they can depart on July 23, they'd save £279 in total, and if they wait until the end of the holidays and leave on August 27, they'd save £543.
Families who live close to the Scottish borders can also make the most of the difference in dates between England and Scotland. Scottish schools have their summer holidays from late-June until mid-August, so if you fly from a Scottish airport later in the summer it can work out much cheaper.
You may also be considering a term-time break, and Dawn advises: "Early June hits that sweet spot between good weather and good prices." However, parents should keep in mind that most councils have hiked their fines for unauthorised term-time absence up to £80, and it's paid per parent per child, meaning a family of four can pay this four times over.
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