Summer holidays can feel far off in January, but flight prices rarely wait for you to be ready. If you already have a rough idea of when you want to travel, booking early can be one of the simplest ways to keep costs under control. The trick is knowing when airlines and search platforms tend to show their friendliest numbers, and when demand starts doing the heavy lifting.
Travel specialists from Kayak suggest that the first two weeks of January are often a prime window for hunting down cheaper summer flights. In that period, travellers can find lower prices for return tickets in economy class before fares begin to climb. Once that early January stretch passes, the competition for popular dates tends to ramp up and prices can follow.
February is frequently described as the most expensive month to book, which can be frustrating if you are still deciding on plans. The good news is that missing January does not mean you are locked out of deals forever. Another wave of better value can appear in May, when some travellers spot more reasonable prices again, especially if they are flexible with flight times and days of the week.
If you are still choosing where to go, a few sunny ideas come with plenty of atmosphere. Travel journalist Alice Penwill recently visited Koh Samui in Thailand and highlighted the mix of upscale resorts, white sand beaches, and night markets that keep evenings lively. She also pointed to simple, affordable pleasures like sticky rice with mango for about 1.90 euros, plus cocktails around 2.30 euros, and the ease of finding favourites such as pad thai and spicy tom yum soup.
Penwill also recommended Puerto del Rosario in Spain, the capital of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. It is the kind of place that suits travellers who like to explore on foot, from a harbour that dates back to the late 18th century to busy streets filled with everyday local life. One of the city’s liveliest stretches is Primero de Mayo, lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes that make it easy to build a slow afternoon around wandering and people watching.
For anyone tempted by a trip to the United States, Tampa, Florida is often chosen as a base that can pair beachy downtime with big day trips. Orlando is roughly a two hour drive away, making it possible to add famous theme parks like Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios without staying right in the thick of it.
When do you usually buy your summer plane tickets, and have you noticed a month that consistently gives you the best deal? Share your go to booking strategy in the comments.
