Why you should book your holidays on a Thursday at 3am

A study has pinpointed the precise time in the week you’ll find the best deals on holidays. But there’s a pretty big catch.

There’s not a lot we’d voluntarily wake up for at 3am on a weekday. But when it comes to the best deals on holidays, you snooze, you lose.

Thursday at 3am is the precise time in the week we should be booking trips if want the lowest prices, according to kayak.com.au.

The travel search engine pinpointed the time after analysing millions of its search queries over the past two years.

Because while they say nothing good happens after 2am, it turns out 3am is when prices for flights drop the most.

Bali remains the number one holiday destination for Australians. Picture: iStock

Using its search data, kayak.com.au has also come up with a list of the best times to book, and the best months to travel, to our favourite destinations if you want to shave even more bucks off the cost.

The destinations are ranked according to their popularity with Australian holiday-makers, with Bali surprising no one by being top of the list.

1. Bali, Indonesia

Best time to book: 3.5 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 15 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: November

2. London, UK

Best time to book: 4.5 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 12 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: November

3. Los Angeles, US

Best time to book: 2 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 10 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: November

4. Auckland, New Zealand

Best time to book: 1 month in advance

Potential savings: Up to 21 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: May

Flying to LA is cheaper if you do it in November.

5. Singapore

Best time to book: 3.5 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 42 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

6. Bangkok, Thailand

Best time to book: 1 month in advance

Potential savings: Up to 15 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: October

7. New Delhi, India

Best time to book: 2 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 17 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

8. Tokyo, Japan

Best time to book: 3.5 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 14 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: November

9. Phuket, Thailand

Best time to book: 4.5 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 35 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

10. Manila, The Philippines

Best time to book: 3 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 18 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: November

Melbourne is the most searched domestic destination on kayak.com.au. Picture: iStock

Kayak.com.au has also done the same for domestic destinations, with Melbourne topping the list as the most searched city in Australia.

1. Melbourne

Best time to book: 1 month in advance

Potential savings: Up to 26 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

2. Sydney

Best time to book: 1 month in advance

Potential savings: Up to 26 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

3. Brisbane

Best time to book: 1 month in advance

Potential savings: Up to 20 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

4. Gold Coast

Best time to book: 1 week in advance

Potential savings: Up to 9 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: November

5. Cairns

Best time to book: 1.5 months in advance

Potential savings: Up to 20 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: May

You can actually score great deals on trips to the Sunshine Coast at the last minute.

6. Perth

Best time to book: 2 weeks in advance

Potential savings: Up to 18 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: May

7. Hobart

Best time to book: 1 month in advance

Potential savings: Up to 14 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: May

8. Adelaide

Best time to book: 2 weeks in advance

Potential savings: Up to 21 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

9. Sunshine Coast

Best time to book: Last minute

Potential savings: Up to 8 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August

10. Canberra

Best time to book: 23 weeks in advance

Potential savings: Up to 18 per cent

Cheapest month to travel: August