How to book the cheapest summer holiday

Families with the patience to wait can make a saving on their holidays this summer, whether they’re after a trip to the sun or a UK cottage break.

The most expensive weeks for taking a summer package holiday, or booking a cottage in the UK, are from 27 July to 3 August and from 3 to 10 August. They’re the first two weeks after most English children break up.

The cheapest week in the summer holidays for a package break is the last one, when most children are still off – that’s 24 to 31 August.

The cheapest week for cottages varies across different parts of the UK – but it’s never the first week of the English and Welsh holidays.

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When and where are the cheapest summer package holidays?

A package in the last week of the English summer holidays is £123 cheaper per person than a break in the first week, on average. It's £129 cheaper than a break in the second week.

The last weeks were cheaper for all the big package holiday destinations we looked at – Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, Malta and Morocco.

Average prices for all-inclusive holidays

Dates highlighted in yellow are when most English schoolchildren are on holiday. Prices are per person, based on two people sharing – double or twin room.

Cheapest package holiday destinations

The cheapest package holidays on average were in Morocco (£962) and the most expensive we looked at were Portugal (£1,344). However, these figures will depend on what kind of holidays are available in each country. Where there are more luxury hotels prices will be higher overall – even if there are bargains available elsewhere.

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One week’s all-inclusive package holiday, summer 2024

When are the cheapest summer holiday cottage breaks?

The first week of the English school holidays - which are from around 24 July - 1 Sept - is the most expensive for English cottages and for the UK as a whole on average. 

England, Wales and Scotland all have different weeks when cottages are at their cheapest, with Northern Ireland providing the largest savings depending on when you book.

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Cheapest cottage breaks in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

For English properties there was a £91 difference between the most expensive summer holiday week – from 27 July – and the cheaper week starting 3 August. For Wales that difference was £85. 

In Scotland you’d be best off travelling on 24 August – which was £85 cheaper than 27 July.

For Northern Ireland there was an even bigger difference – cottages were £178 more expensive the week of 27 July than 24 August. 

For Welsh properties it’s £85 cheaper on the last week of the school holidays than the first.

Overall Northern Ireland had the cheapest summer holiday cottages from mid July to early September. They were £367 cheaper than the most expensive country – Scotland.

How Scottish and Northern Irish families can save

Holiday prices are at their highest in August – but in Northern Ireland and Scotland most children are off much earlier in July, when prices are cheaper.

If you’re lucky enough to be able to take your trip on 13 July, you’ll save £217 compared with peak rates. Cottages from 31 Aug are even cheaper – but almost all UK children are at school by the end of that week. 

Holiday cottage prices for summer 2024