Holiday hacks: How to book like a pro

When's the right time to book your next holiday? These simple travel hacks could save you a whole lot of money.

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WHOEVER coined the phrase “a change is as good as a holiday” never went on a proper getaway. For most of us, nothing compares to the thrill of travelling to exotic locations, exploring enchanting new parts of the world, and taking a physical and mental break from the daily grind.

But before you embark on the trip of your dreams, you first must master the art of — getting there. It takes a special type of person to get excited about the planning element of a holiday, and what should be a quick and easy endeavour can suddenly become stressful and tedious. But by following some sneaky tips and tricks of the trade, you’ll save yourself a bunch of time, energy, and money. Here’s how.

EARLY BIRD GETS THE DEAL

The minute you decide where you want to go and when, don’t waste any time. Just book your flight. Convert that awesome decision into a purchase. Booking your flights ahead of time is the most tried and true piece of advice there is when it comes to planning your holiday, and the further ahead you book the better. If you’re heading overseas for a holiday five months away, book your ticket that far in advance and reap the benefits — to the tune of upwards of hundreds of dollars. If it’s impossible to plan that far into the future, just book as soon as you can. It really does pay to plan ahead — your wallet, and the peace of mind, will thank you.

THE TIME ISN’T ALWAYS NOW

While booking your flight in advance is the guaranteed best way to save money and secure the best seat, for some of us, planning what to cook for dinner tonight is a big enough task as it is. So, if organisation isn’t exactly your strong suit, there are some other factors to take into consideration if you have left it a little closer to lift off. The hot tips are to stay well away from booking a flight on Saturday, because that’s when interest and demand is highest. Most people spend the weekdays researching deals for their trip, and then spend Saturday morning discussing options with their travel partners before heading online to book.

Another helpful hint when it comes to timing is to book during the week — research suggests Tuesday or Wednesday to be the best days to seal the deal — and try not to fly on a Sunday, because everybody else has the same idea. While we’re talking about the best times to fly, it’s worth factoring in the time of the year you’re thinking of traveling, too. Flying mid-year is often your cheapest option, and it should come as no surprise that December is the most expensive. Around the Christmas holiday period, there’s an estimated 30 per cent spike in ticket prices, so try to be flexible with your travel dates if you can.

ENTER SUPER STEALTH MODE

Not to get you paranoid or anything, but you’re being followed. At least online, by the sites you’ve been checking out in planning your trip. That’s why it’s important to turn on private browsing when you’re searching for flights, and to delete your browser history.

Both airlines and booking sites install cookies on your browser and record your search history. Once they know you’re looking to book a flight to a particular location on a specific day, chances are they’ll hike the price up once you return to actually lock in the purchase.

GET ALL YOUR FINANCIAL DUCKS IN A ROWOnce you’ve booked your tickets and accommodation, there are a couple of admin tasks that you need to lock down before you get on that plane. First things first, notify your bank of your travel dates so they don’t make any hasty security decisions when some questionable purchases start rolling in from your account. If you plan on using your mobile phone while you’re overseas, make sure you talk with your provider to get international roaming sorted on your phone, or you could be eating beans out of a can for a year upon your return.

On a similar note, think about getting travel insurance for the duration of your trip, too, or the same dinner options could apply once you’ve made it home. An unexpected accident or medical emergency in a foreign country could set you back significantly, so the old adage that it’s better to be safe than sorry definitely applies here.

SEE HOW THE OTHER HALF FLY

While there’s a million secret tips and rumoured loopholes to help secure yourself a spot in the luxurious land of Business Class, the simplest and most effective way to upgrade your ticket is by putting your airline miles to good use.

Another helpful hint is to place a bid for an upgraded seat via your airline of choice’s upgrade auctions. Many airlines offer this, though few utilise the option — which could mean a really cheap win for you! If neither of these options works for you, you can always try to bargain on board. The handy hint when it comes to trying to charm airline staff into making your dreams of grandeur come true is to wait until the doors of the plane have closed, and start bargaining with the flight attendants once everyone has been seated.  

*Travel Insurance is issued and managed by AWP Australia Pty Ltd ABN 52 097 227 177 AFS Licence No. 245631, trading as Allianz Global Assistance (AGA) as agent of the insurer Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 (Allianz). Travel Insurance is underwritten by Allianz. Conditions, terms, limits and exclusions apply. We do not provide advice based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision please consider the product disclosure statement available at www.allianz.com.au. If you purchase this insurance, AGA will receive a commission that is a percentage of the premium. Ask us for more details before we provide you with any services on this product.

Originally published as Holiday hacks: How to book like a pro