3 May, 2019 By: Ross Cooper
Use our travel tips and you could save hundreds on your next holiday.
If you want tips on saving money on your next trip, then it pays to ask the experts. Our travel agents book hundreds of holidays every year and whether its booking at the cheapest time or holding out for a last minute special, they know how to make your holiday money go further.
So we asked our RAC Travel team for their best suggestions. Here's their top three tips for getting the best value for money for your next big holiday.
Book early for 15% off and free flights
If you want to make a big dent on the cost of your holiday, pre-release savings are the key.
A pre-release is when a travel provider releases the dates to book for the next travel year. Getting in early is one of the best ways to save the most on a river cruise or guided holiday. The catch is that you'll have to commit a long way out, sometimes more than a year in advance and need to be organised.
But the benefits are financially worth it - you can get up to 15 per cent off the cost off the trip, and sometimes even bonus offers such as free flights, saving you thousands.
If you miss the pre-release, don't panic. Although the discounts and bonus inclusions slowly reduce in value as you get closer to the departure date and places start filling, you can still get great deals even up to six months prior to departure. Speak to your travel agent and they will be able to get you the best deal.
| Destination | Pre-release dates |
| Canada & Alaska | April & May |
| Europe (Summer) | July & August |
| North America | June & July |
Book flights 10 months in advance
Booking flights can be confusing with different websites showing different prices for the same ticket, so it can be hard to really know if you are getting a good deal. However, there is one simple rule for staying at the top of the clever booking pack.
As airlines fill their seats on a first in, best dressed policy, in order to get the cheaper prices you need to be at the front of the line. As the cheaper seats sell out and the plane fills up, the price you pay will rise.
So to get the best price on the day you want to travel (especially in peak season) you should book around 10 months prior to departure.
So, for example, the Japanese ski season runs from December to March, so start looking from February to May to secure your flights and get the best deal possible.
Avoid the crowds
Peak season can be hard on your wallet when popular destinations are busy. But if you are flexible with your timings, the savings are huge.
What you are looking to avoid are times like school holidays, or when there is major sporting, cultural or historic events at the place you want to go. Summer can also be pricier due to the increased demand.
If you book outside of these peak periods you can find great savings and often last minute deals. According to our travel agents, this is where to go and when during the year:
| Destination | Peak period | Best time to go |
| UK & Europe | July, December | May, August, September |
| North America | July, December | May, August, September |
| New Zealand | January & February | November, March |
| Japan | January to March (Skiing) & May (Cherry Blossoms) | March (skiing), October (Autumn leaves) |
| Bali | School holidays | Any-time outside of key dates |
| South America | December to February (Antarctica season) | Any-time outside of key dates |
| Singapore | September (Grand Prix) | Any-time outside of key dates |
What if you can't avoid peak season?
For all the teachers and parents out there, if you can't avoid the school holidays, don't worry - you can still save. The tip is to book early, around a year ahead, when travel bookings open. So if you can jump on it straight away, you can save hundreds.
And the last tip to improve the value of your holiday? Make the money you've spent work hard by having a really great time.
| Destination | When to book |
| Easter | Easter previous year |
| Northern hemisphere summer | September / October - previous year |
| Christmas | February / March |
Get the best deal for your holiday
You can't always guarantee it won't rain in Spain, but you can make the most of every deal out there. RAC Travel & Cruise have branches around the Perth metro area and are waiting to help you book your next trip.
