"Save Big This Holiday Season: Expert Tips to Avoid Costly Booking Mistakes!"

I work in travel and look at holiday pricing data every single day – and there are a few patterns that I see constantly.

Small that feel completely normal, but quietly push prices up. We’re not talking about a few quid either. Get these wrong, and you can end up paying 20–30 per cent more for the same .

Holiday Expert Rob Brooks sees countless holiday mistakes made – here’s how to avoid them Credit: Rob Brooks

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Here are the three biggest – and exactly how to fix them.

Bad Habit No.1: Booking in the morning rush

This one surprises people the most.

Booking your first thing – on your commute, before work, or when you sit down at your desk – feels productive.

But it’s actually one of the worst you can choose.

According to the , the most expensive time to book a holiday is between 9am and 10am.

In fact, booking in that window came in at around 30 per cent more expensive than the time of day, which is actually 2:47am.

And it makes sense when you think about it – because that’s a peak demand window when everyone is at once.

prices react to this demand first, then package holiday prices follow.

So while you think you’re being organised… you’re actually booking at the busiest, and often most , moment of the day.

In one example, I found a 5-night all-inclusive stay at the Catty Cats Garden Hotel in Turkey was priced at £133pp in the early hours – but just a few hours later, that had jumped to £165pp for the exact same holiday.

That’s a 24% increase (£64 more for two people) simply from booking later in the day.

Bad Habit No.2: Waiting after finding a good deal

This is the classic “I’ll just check again later” : you find a good price, but instead of booking it, you leave it.

You come back later. Maybe the next day. Maybe after asking a few people.

It feels like you’re being careful or , but the data shows the opposite.

Every search feeds demand into the system, demand pushes flight prices up, and push package prices up.

But the reality is: if you’ve found a l, it’s very likely other people have found it too.

So while you’re waiting, those seats and rooms are disappearing, filling up and pushing up the cost pretty quickly.

In one real example, a luxury all-inclusive stay at the Titanic Deluxe Lara in was priced at £558 per person.

But after waiting just 24 hours, that same increased to £606 per person.

That’s an extra £48pp – or £192 more for a of four – just for not booking when the price was lower.

Prices change, availability drops, and that you liked is gone forever.

Rob recommends putting flexible dates into the search bar to find cheaper deals Credit: Alamy

Bad Habit No.3: Being too rigid with dates and nights

This is where people leave the biggest on the table.

I see it every day: most are locked into the same dates, same duration, no flexibility.

But doesn’t work like that – it fluctuates constantly based on demand.

and hotel combinations are constantly shifting, and the price you see is based on very specific availability – not a fixed “cost” for that trip.

That means sticking rigidly to one duration can actually stop you from seeing options.

Sometimes, adding or removing just one night can completely change the price – because it opens up different combinations or cheaper room availability.

In one search I did for a Corfu holiday , a 7-night stay was coming in at £874 per person.

But by simply increasing the stay to 8 nights, the price dropped to £720 per person for the same package .

That’s a of £154pp – or £308 for two people – just by adding one extra night.

It goes against what most people expect, but it shows how really works.

You’re not just paying for nights – you’re paying for the combination of flights and availability behind them.

Yet most people never check – they search once, see one price, and assume that’s what the costs.

Good Habit No.1: Use price alerts instead of repeatedly searching

One of the easiest ways to is to stop manually checking prices over and over again.

Every time you search, you’re adding to demand signals – and you’re far more likely to miss the moment a .

Instead, set up price alerts or track a and let the price come to you.

That way, you’re not feeding the surge – and you’re ready to act when the price is right.

I sometimes see short-term dips of up to £50 per person on the same when demand softens briefly – but these windows can last hours, not days.

The people who catch them aren’t constantly searching – they’re notified. But how do you actually do it?

At On the Beach, if you save a , you’re automatically tracking it, and they’ll email you to let you know when the price changes.

On Google Flights , you can search your route, then just toggle “Track prices” – then you’ll get email alerts whenever fares move up or down.

On , hit the heart or bell icon on a flight, and it’ll notify you when the price changes.

It takes about 10 seconds – and it means you’re not guessing when to book.

The cheapest time to book is 2:47am, although you don’t need to wait up late Credit: Alamy

Good Habit No.2: The 33-day booking rule

There’s no perfect moment to book – but there is a bit of a .

According to the data, booking around 33 days before departure can unlock of up to 10%.

That’s because it sits between two high-demand groups: early planners who book far in advance and bookers chasing limited availability.

In this middle window, demand is lower, and prices often reflect that.

Which means on a £700 holiday, that 10% means paying around £630 instead – a £140 saving for a couple without changing anything else.

It’s not about waiting as long as possible. It’s about timing it right.

Good Habit No.3: Switch airports, not just dates

Most people have a “default ” – the one they always fly from without really thinking about it.

But sticking to the same can quietly cost you more than you realise.

Flights to the same can vary massively in price depending on where you depart from – even on the exact same day, for the exact same hotel.

And often, the cheaper option is only a short drive or away.

In one search I did this week for a family holiday to , the same 5-night stay at the Sea Club Mediterranean Resort was priced at £260pp flying from .

But switching to for the exact same trip brought the price down to £235pp.

That’s a saving of £25 per person – or £100 for a family of four – just by changing the departure .

It’s a simple check most people skip, but it can make a real difference to the total cost.

A Holiday Expert’s bottom line:

These aren’t big sacrifices, and you’re not downgrading your or cutting your trip short. You’re just booking smarter.

But these small tweaks of timing, confidence and flexibility can easily save you over time.

And once you see how the pricing actually works, you won’t book the same way again…

Rob recommends letting the pricing guide your dates, so you can browse for the cheapest deal Credit: Alamy