Book early or wait for a last-minute deal?

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

Should you book early or wait for a bargain? The answer depends on when and where you are travelling.

When to book early

• Peak seasons: Christmas and New Year, Diwali, summer school holidays and long weekends. Good-value rooms and flights sell out first.
• Festivals: Pushkar, Hornbill, Durga Puja, Yi Peng and cherry blossom.
• Limited-capacity experiences: safari permits, toy trains, Machu Picchu entry and Jungfraujoch slots.
• Visa destinations: Europe, the UK, the USA and Japan need time for visas.
• Small or unique properties: Maldives water villas and heritage hotels.
• Groups: large groups need blocks of rooms and seats.

When last-minute can work

• Off-season travel to destinations with plenty of hotels.
• Flexible travellers who can go wherever there is a deal.
• Short trips within India, when you are not tied to specific hotels.

Flights

Fares often rise as the date approaches, especially on popular routes and dates. Booking a few months ahead usually gives better choice.

Hotels

Many hotels offer flexible rates that allow free cancellation up to a point; these give you security while you keep watching prices.

Our advice

For peak dates in places like Goa or the Maldives, book three to six months ahead. For off-season trips, six to eight weeks is often enough.

See our Short breaks and Budget holidays pages.

Protect yourself when booking early

• Choose refundable or flexible rates where the price difference is small.
• Buy travel insurance as soon as you book.
• Check cancellation terms carefully.
• Keep dates flexible by a day or two if you can; it often unlocks better prices.