If you haven’t booked your summer vacation yet, don’t panic. While some of the cheapest summer travel dates are already here—June 3 and 4 according to Expedia’s latest Summer Travel Outlook Report—there’s still good news for procrastinators. The online travel company says August 11-17 is currently shaping up to be one of the most affordable stretches of the summer travel season.
More importantly, the report reinforces something budget travelers have known for years: flexibility can save you a lot of money. According to Expedia travel expert Melanie Fish, travelers are becoming increasingly savvy about finding deals. Instead of picking a destination first and then searching for flights, many are now letting airfare determine where they go.
They’re also bundling flights and hotels together to unlock package discounts and using fare-tracking tools to identify destinations where airfare is trending significantly lower than normal.
I’ve found this approach works especially well for families. Over the years, some of our best travel bargains have come when we started with the airfare and built the trip around it rather than falling in love with a destination first. Sometimes the difference can be hundreds of dollars per ticket.
Why August Could Be a Sweet Spot
The biggest takeaway from Expedia’s report isn’t necessarily the specific dates themselves. It’s what those dates represent. The beginning and end of summer are often when travelers can find the best values.
By mid-June, schools are out and families begin traveling in large numbers. Popular destinations become more crowded, flights fill up, and hotel prices climb. The same thing happens around major holiday weekends.
But by mid-August, the travel landscape often begins to shift. Some families have already taken their big summer vacation, and many schools around the country are preparing to start classes again.
That can create opportunities for travelers who have flexible schedules.
The Rise of “Domestic Drops”
Another trend Expedia identified is something called “domestic drops.” A few years ago, travelers embraced what became known as “destination dupes,” less crowded and less expensive alternatives to famous tourist hotspots. Now travelers are applying the same strategy closer to home.
For example, someone who originally wanted to visit New York City may choose Philadelphia instead, where accommodations can be 20% to 30% cheaper. Likewise, travelers seeking a beach vacation may find Puerto Rico offers a similar tropical vibe at a significantly lower price than Hawaii.
According to Expedia, Puerto Rico can be about 40% less expensive than Honolulu while still offering beautiful beaches, warm weather, and island culture.
The Travel Lesson
The lesson here isn’t that everyone should rush out and book a trip for August 11-17. It’s that travelers willing to be flexible with both their dates and destinations often find the biggest savings. If your summer plans are still up in the air, consider looking at trips later in August, explore destinations that aren’t at the top of everyone’s wish list, and use fare alerts to monitor prices.
You may not end up exactly where you originally planned, but your wallet will probably thank you. And in today’s travel environment, that’s a vacation win all by itself.
