Travel brokers urging households to swap summer time breaks for Easter holidays to save lots of money
Families could be saving thousands of pounds by switching their usual August holidays for breaks earlier in the year, and it could even mean taking fewer days of annual leave
Families could save a fortune by making April the new August and booking holidays at Easter instead of in the summer, experts say.
Brits are already rethinking holidays to Spain thanks to a new border rule. And some are ditching sunshine holidays in favour of ski trips instead – but many people could still be saving a lot of cash.
Trips come out around half the price in April, meaning a saving of thousands, according to travel agents. It also means taking two days less of annual leave because of the double bank holiday.
In recent years Europe has become unbearably hot, with temperatures soaring to more than 40C. But families could save cash and enjoy more pleasant weather just by shifting their annual holiday by a few months.
Zoe Harris, of On the Beach, said: “Due to the incredible demand for holidays during summer, and limited availability, prices are increased by hoteliers and flight providers and this cost is passed on to the customer.
“This is the latest that Easter has fallen for five years. Holidaying during the break means you can enjoy highs of up to 30 degrees in Egypt, 24 degrees in Greece and the Canaries and 22 degrees in Turkey.”
The soaring cost of summer holidays has meant many parents simply can not afford to take their children abroad.
Niamh Sweeney, of the National Education Union, previously blasted “rip off” price hikes. She added: “It’s so unfair, sometimes you see them double. If they evened it out a bit that would make a hell of a lot of difference.”
But savvy bookers are clocking they can get a better holiday for cheaper if they book earlier in the year. April bookings have spiked by 40% since 2022, according to On the Beach.
An ABTA spokesperson insisted prices are “governed by supply and demand”.
They said: “School holidays fall at already busy times of the year when demand is high. Most of Europe takes a break in the summer, especially August, which puts further pressure on prices.
“We would encourage families to book early to get the best deals and consider a package holiday, as tour operators will often offer discounted child fares and free child places.”
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