Why should I book my summer holiday early?

There’s a lot to be said for spontaneity. Surprise bunch of flowers delivered? Lovely. Unexpected catch-up with friends? Nice. Last-minute road trip to the beach? Perfect.  

But when it comes to booking a trip, there’s definitely a case for getting in there early. Because when you get your summer holiday locked down in advance, there’s more to pick from – from seats on the plane to your top-choice hotel. And, even better, you’ve maximised your prep time, so you can research and plan every bit of your trip to make sure it’s a perfect fit for you. Here are some of the pros on the booking early list… 

There’s less pressure to book something fast 

Hate that hurried feeling? When it comes to booking a holiday, there’s something to be said for being able to take your time piecing together all the elements of your trip. That way, you can relax knowing you’ve lined up a holiday that’s exactly right for you, in your own time. 

There’s more to pick from 

Hotels. Room types. Experiences. Booking early puts you first in line for just about everything, like camping out the night before a festival to pitch up in the best places. You’ve got the pick of the lot, so there’s no need for any compromises.  

You can get a free child place 

We give away loads of free child places on holidays to our most family–friendly destinations, whether you fancy the Canary Islands or somewhere like Greece. But they’re first-come, first-served. Booking early means you can secure a free place for your little one and save on the cost of your holiday. 

You can spread the cost of your holiday 

Not got the funds right now? Not a problem. We offer lots of ways to pay, so you can get a great deal and spread the cost of your trip. Options include booking with a partial deposit – or a £0 deposit on some holidays – and the rest won’t be due until later. You can only make the most of these if you’ve got a fair amount of time before you set off, so it pays to get in there early.  

You get more time to get excited about your trip 

Start researching the best places to eat. Start planning your holiday wardrobe. Start sending sunshine emojis to the holiday group chat. The earlier you book, the longer you can bask in that pre-holiday glory. 

Want to start searching? Take your pick from our holiday deals for next summer. 

For more holiday inspo, take a look at the best activities to try on holiday and the best beaches in Europe. 

Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.  

Author: Katie Gregory 
Last updated: 23/04/24