Travel experts say it’s not too late to book a Christmas getaway and save money as you can cut costs by up to 24% on flights
With Christmas on the horizon, families and solo travellers might fancy ditching the shopping and planning to jet off on a festive break instead. While the countdown is well and truly on and holiday costs are starting to climb, travel experts reckon there’s still an opportunity to snap up a bargain getaway whilst keeping costs down.
Stacey Hamilton, a travel expert at Private Tours England, reckons a brief window in early December presents the prime opportunity for securing an affordable Christmas escape. Even better news – that golden window is now open.
It’s a widespread rumour that December flights come with eye-watering price tags, but fresh research reveals a surprising price drop in the weeks leading up to the festive period, reports the Express.
According to Stacey, the most budget-friendly booking period for Christmas 2025 falls between December 2 and December 17 – a timeframe she claims most holidaymakers completely ignore.
She explained: “People tend to check prices very early or extremely last-minute, but they overlook this eight-to-23-day window where airlines often reduce fares to fill remaining seats. If you want Christmas savings, this is the period you need to keep your eye on.”
What’s the most cost-effective day to secure a Christmas holiday?
Within this sweet spot, Stacey highlighted two particular standout dates: Sunday, December 7 and 14, 2025. She revealed that Sundays consistently deliver below-average prices for both UK and overseas travel, with this pattern being particularly pronounced during the fortnight preceding Christmas.
She said: “Booking on a Sunday is one of the simplest ways to save. In many cases, travellers can cut costs by up to 24% without changing their destination or travel dates.”
Once you’ve secured your booking, Stacey suggests the next move is to pick the right day to jet off. For Christmas 2025, she recommends considering Friday December 12 and 19, two dates that consistently fall within a lower-demand period.
She said: “Flying on a Friday just before the peak Christmas travel week can cut your fare significantly. The 12th and 19th sit at that ideal point where demand hasn’t yet hit its highest level. They’re brilliant for keeping costs down without compromising on dates.”
However, she cautioned that the price rapidly shifts after December 17. She warned: “Once you get inside the final week before Christmas, most airlines increase fares in line with demand.
“Christmas 2025 falls on a Thursday, so that final weekend is going to be extremely busy. If you wait until then, you’ll almost certainly pay more.”