It’ll cost up to 40 percent more if you’re late for 2024: book your holiday early or pay extra

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Snow, rain, cold: Summer holidays still feel like an eternity. Still, if you want to spend the best time of the year as you wish, you should take action during the winter months. At least that’s the assessment of TUI’s Celina Calvetti. To him, it’s clear: “In today’s travel industry, the sooner the better; in other words: first come, first served.”

Reasons for changing booking behavior

A development that started after the pandemic. “While flight and hotel capacities remain at a fairly stable level, many people’s desire to travel has increased significantly again,” said TUI’s marketing director. “It is therefore important to secure the best locations as quickly as possible.” So if you serve the “buffet” early, you’ll not only have the widest selection, but you’ll also have the assurance that the accommodation, rental car, flight or all-inclusive travel packages you want are still available.

Another point fueling this development is costs. Traveling has become more expensive in general, and prices change throughout the year. They increase significantly as summer approaches. You will find better offers on this if you get there early. Especially since many organizers offer the most generous discounts in the first weeks and months of the year. For example, savings of up to 40 percent are possible at TUI (see box).

“Due to this change, the rate of early bookers is increasing,” says Calvetti. “Many people block holidays very early in their work schedules and know exactly where they want to spend the best time of the year.”

Causes of obstacles: indecision and “fear of commitment”

It’s a determination that creates problems for others, too: They can’t or don’t want to decide months in advance when and where to go. “Sometimes they don’t see eye to eye with their partner,” Calvetti says.

A look at bridge days may help with the question of when this year: In 2024, not a single public holiday will fall on a weekend. An example: In some cantons, May 1 is a public holiday. And one Wednesday. In other words: You have a very long weekend with two extra Fridays. If you also take advantage of the rest of the week around Ascension Day, May 9, you will have a total of 12 days off thanks to the six-day holiday. It offers a valid summer holiday alternative in less than two weeks: Early registration discounts are generally valid from 15 March to 31 October.

But indecision isn’t the only obstacle to booking early: Some people are also afraid of making an early commitment. After all, who knows what will happen in the long run until the holiday? The so-called Flex tariff can help here. It guarantees that you can protect yourself against unforeseen situations and cancel your trip in case of emergency without bureaucracy.

Breaking news is no longer as attractive as it used to be

What about last minute? Will you never be able to go on a spontaneous holiday anymore due to the new situation in the travel market? According to Celina Calvetti, this is still possible and suitable offers are still available. But: “You have to be able to afford it.” What this means is that due to the increasing desire to travel in Europe, there are no longer many travel options for those making decisions on short notice. “Last-minute deals are no longer as cheap as they used to be,” she says. “The golden age of super bargains in this region is over.”

Calvetti therefore advises that it is better to be on the safe side and be there on time to avoid getting into trouble. But when exactly is it on time? “Early bird discounts are offered mainly in January and February,” he says. “If the quotas are filled, new ones will not be created.” But for some destinations it’s worth going a little faster. This applies to the top destinations of 2024: Egypt, Greece, Mallorca and Turkey. “The most popular hotels there sometimes fill up to capacity in mid- or late-January.”

Solution: If you book early, you can save yourself the stress or disappointment that your dream holiday is already sold out or too expensive. Additionally, if you realize your dream holiday early, you can look forward to the best time of the year for longer. Calvetti: “After all, waiting is the greatest happiness!”

Source : Blick