Many of us may have put off travel while waiting for the right time to take off work, to save up more money or to work around other plans for the summer, but if you're hoping to travel this year you haven't missed your chance.
Finding the right trip for you can take some effort, especially as inflation has caused the cost of travel to increase. According to the CSO, the cost of package holidays have risen 43.2% since June 2022, as of 2023.
So are there still savings to be made in package holidays?
Povey said it depends on the kind of holiday you're looking for. "If you're looking for a classic seven nights away in a popular destination like Spain with the kids, the travel agents do tend to have the better deals."
As well as having access to perks like free room upgrades, and taking care of the booking catered to your dates and budget, Povey added that this way your booking is protected should anything go wrong.
Travelling outside of peak times can save you a few bob, too, she added. September will typically be cheaper than August, she said, as children are back to school so there's less demand for trips.
There's a lot of debate on how early you should book your holidays, with many people believing that the earlier booked, the cheaper. Povey said she's more of a last-minute booker, saying:"I can't really plan my life in advance, maybe two or three months in advance.
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"But with flights traditionally, yeah, they are cheaper the earlier you book in advance. With hotels and that kind of thing, it's not really the case. You tend to get a better deal the closer you leave it with hotels."
Ultimately, though, it "depends on the destination you're flying to", she said, and trying to find the "perfect booking window". This could be anything from two months in advance to two weeks in advance.
"The best way to get around it, I think, if you have a set destination in mind, is to set an alert for the flight prices for that destination and then you'll get an email [when they're lower]."
Making the most of sales, in January and Black Friday, is another way to make savings on travel, being "one of the cheapest times to book flights". Keep an eye out for flash sales throughout the year across the airlines, Povey said. Signing up to newsletters will help keep you informed on when certain routes are on sale.
Flying into a lesser known airport is another travel hack that can save you money, provided you're content with taking potentially longer to reach your final destination. Povey said she often does exactly this, booking a cheap flight to London where "there's a much bigger variety than we would get in Dublin, of package deals, destinations available from one of the six various London airports".
For example, Povey flew to Mauritius in 2021 and saved €500 by booking a package airline deal from London.
Booking your accommodation during off-peak times will also save you money. Povey points to secretflying.com, where they offer cheap flights and error fare prices, where a company has made a mistake listing the price of a room or flight, which can be extremely budget-friendly – once you're willing to be flexible.
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