Paying too much for a holiday is something that no one wants to do, but the good news is you don’t need to. Planning means you can often save far more money than you’d think on your next getaway.

Some simple, hands-on strategies for scoring a deal.

Before you start looking

It is fun to shop, but it can be easy to get obsessed when you start scrolling through dreamy pictures. Before you dive in:

Establish a budget you feel comfortable with so that you don’t find yourself in the position of booking something you will later regret.

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Clearly, having a budget makes it clearer for you too when coming to compare like-for-like, and even room for negotiating if booking through an agent.

When to book

According to Google, the best timing for booking ranges anywhere between 3 months and within two weeks of arrival.

When you’re confident of your destination, early booking tends to bear fruit, especially when flying. Early-bird deals can come out as early as 6 to 9 months.

If you have some flexibility, late deals can be fantastic. Generally discounted three or four times before departure, deals become more common around 8 to 10 weeks out, and if you really don’t care where you’re going, bargains are sometimes available right up until the day.

Booking It

However, destinations trend as much as anything else. If somewhere is less popular, you may find it cheap and quiet, which is a win-win.