Google Flights has the data on the best time to book your flight without breaking the bank. Yuttapon Busu/Getty Images

Planning a vacation is stressful and it can get pricey fast, especially if you’re traveling during high-traffic intervals like Memorial Day weekend. The good news is our CNET experts have compiled and explored a ton of travel tips on how to find affordable flights and properly prepare like a travel pro. This exploration includes reviewing key Google Flights data to help you make smarter decisions when reviewing airfare.

Google Flights has released a robust travel report after aggregating four years of airfare data and trends to provide US travelers with an overarching guide on finding the cheapest flights and the best times to book them. I have reviewed this report thoroughly and highlighted the most important take-aways below to help you find a flight in your budget and let you relax while traveling instead of stressing about money.

For more key travel tips, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also review CNET’s roundup of the best headphones for travel.

Watch this: How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro 09:29

What days are the cheapest to fly?

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If you’re planning to book a flight, you’re likely trying to find the most budget-friendly option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available when flying on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest day, according to the historical flight data.

Flying early- to midweek can save travelers 13% to 20% on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday the most expensive day to fly.

Do layovers on flights save you money?

It may come as no surprise that flights with layovers are cheaper than nonstop flights but you may not realize just how significant those savings can be. The Google Flight data shows that travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a layover instead of a nonstop flight.

Which day of the week is the cheapest for booking flights?

There are certainly cheaper days to fly, there aren’t really cheaper days to book. “There’s not much benefit to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week,” according to the Google report.

Google Flights does state that Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day of the week to book, according to the data, but Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday.

Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance?

To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it’s better to book your travel far in advance, especially if you need to fly on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to decide whether it’s better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations and dates of travel.

For domestic flights, the prices are generally at their lowest between 21 and 52 days before your trip — with 38 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average.

For international flights, the prices are generally lowest between 50 and 101 days before your trip, but it’s generally best practice to book as early as you can. According to Google, “Average prices don’t meaningfully drop anytime before departure but they usually do start to rise within 50 days of the flight itself” for international travel from the US.

Never miss out on the cheapest airfare again. Anton Petrus/Getty Images/Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET

When is the best time to book a flight in every season?

Here’s what Google says about the best times to book holiday flights and vacation trips to certain popular destinations.

Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 to 59 days in advance, with 44 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average.

Summer break: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 13 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day on average to book.

Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available 26 to 59 days in advance, with 45 days out being the cheapest — meaning it’s best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October.

Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights over the winter holidays are usually available 36 to 72 days in advance, with 58 days out being the cheapest. It’s best to book Christmas or holiday travel in the latter half of October.

When is the best time to book a flight to Europe?

International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper 50 or more days before departure, with 94 days out being the cheapest day to book on average. As with all international travel, it’s generally best practice to book as early as you can.

When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean?

International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the one exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. That’s because flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days out being the cheapest.

For more, check out CNET’s picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.

June is right around the corner, but there are still some great deals available if you’re looking to book your summer travel.

Typically the best summer airfare prices dry up by late May and early June, but 2025 isn’t shaping up to be like most years.

“At this point in the year, trying to get an affordable deal for July would [normally] be like finding a diamond in the rough,” Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going, tells CNBC Make It. Due to a number of factors, there are still great fares out there for travelers to find.

“It’s sort of a perfect storm of all these different factors,” Nastro says. “There’s some economic uncertainty, so people might be hesitating to book. There’s more flights on the schedule. Fuel is down a little bit as well. It’s really sort of this total perfect storm for cheap flights.”

For travelers hoping to book a last-minute summer vacation, Nastro has one key piece of advice: Flexibility is your best friend.

“If you’re flexible, you are really in a great position,” she says. “Not only in where you go, but also in your timing. There is widespread availability for multiple dates. August is your best target month if you’re looking to book something and you haven’t done so.”

If you’re looking for a summer travel destination that won’t break the bank, the experts at Going flagged five cities that have consistently had lower-than-average prices stretching into the fall. Take a look.

Amid the kickoff of the summer travel season, south suburb travel agents say concerns about the economy and inflation are weighing on the minds of some clients.

But people are still planning to take summer vacations even as they look for ways to cut costs, and savvy travelers can find good deals.

“They are a little more cautious,” said Corrine Wilkerson, owner and CEO of Homewood-based travel agency MacTravel Services. “People are still traveling but prioritizing how they travel.”

Pam Carroll, owner, president and CEO of Palos Hills-based travel agency Gadabout Travel, observed that as well.

“They are not giving up the ocean view,” Carroll said of lodging preferences. “Very rarely does someone want a garden view or standard room. They want the deluxe, but instead of seven nights, they might do five.

“I do think people are concerned about the economy and their 401ks,” she said.

People are looking to get more bang for their buck, and some are opting for cruises because they can be a less expensive vacation option. The cruise industry has recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Cruises have picked up substantially,” said Carroll. “You can jump on a cruise for maybe $1,200 for a week. That includes all your food and sometimes it includes the drinks. Five years ago, no one was thinking that cruises would ever bounce back.”

Surveys and forecasts are sending mixed signals on how overall summer travel will ultimately shape up. Fewer Americans are planning summer vacations compared to last year, according to a survey conducted in March by consumer finance company Bankrate. Forty-six percent of survey respondents said they plan a summer getaway, down from 53% last year, the survey found.

Among those opting not to travel, 65% said the reason is they can’t afford it. Within that group, 68% said everyday life is too expensive, and 64% said travel is too expensive.

AAA projected 45.1 million people would travel at least 50 miles from home Memorial Day weekend, setting a record for the holiday weekend. That surpassed the previous high of 44 million in 2005.

The forecast reflected an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year. In Illinois, 2.1 million people were projected to travel over the extended holiday weekend, 50,000 more than last year, said Molly Hart, spokeswoman with AAA, the Auto Club Group in Chicago.

Despite the higher Memorial Day travel numbers, the summer season is still a question mark, Hart said. Here in the U.S., some aren’t yet ready to lock in their vacations because of economic concerns, she said.

Meanwhile, there has been a dip in travelers coming into the U.S., which has been blamed on unpopular, controversial Trump administration policy decisions. As a result, the travel industry is seeing more availability than they ordinarily would. That’s creating discounts and other incentives to fill those vacancies, Hart said. Deals are available on cruises, guided vacations and at resorts.

“You can save hundreds of dollars,” Hart said, while advising consumers not to procrastinate because deals will likely go quickly.

Searches on global travel and technology company Expedia are showing travel will thrive this summer, said Expedia travel expert Melanie Fish, who noted in general air fares are looking lower than last year.

Round-trip domestic airfare for this summer is averaging $265 per ticket, down 3% compared to the same time in 2024, according to the Summer 2025 Travel Outlook released earlier this month by online booking provider and travel data company Hopper. Round-trip airfare to Europe is averaging $847 per ticket, down 8% from last year. Airfare to Asia is averaging $1,337 per ticket, down 14% from last year, Hopper reports.

Travelers can save on air fares by being flexible with travel days and airport choices, Wilkerson said. Check fares out of Chicago, Milwaukee and Gary, she advises those traveling from the metropolitan Chicago area.

Summer vacationers traveling mid-week on Tuesday or Wednesday can save an average of $67 on round-trip domestic flights, $166 per ticket to Europe and $126 per ticket to Asia, according to Hopper.

Travelers can also save big money by letting technology do the work, using apps like Expedia and Hopper to book flights, hotels and rental cars and get fare alerts on the best time to book.

Regarding air fares on the Hopper app, deals listed are specific to certain routes on certain days, so the prices will vary based on what days one is searching, said Hopper senior manager Ellie Breslin.

“Airfares change constantly as tickets sell, departure dates approach and airline revenue managers adjust inventory available based on demand,” Breslin said. “A price that is available one day may no longer be available within hours. This is why we recommend travelers use a price monitoring tool like the Hopper App.”

Last week, Hopper shared these summer air fare deals that were available to book from Chicago. They included roundtrip flights to:

New York City for as low as $102

Atlanta for as low as $109

Los Angeles for as low as $110

Orlando for as low as $110

Cancun, Mexico for as low as $210

San Juan, Puerto Rico for as low as $232

Saint Thomas Island, United States Virgin Islands for as low as $293

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for as low as $301

Deals on Expedia’s app last week included $350 roundtrip flights to Mexico City, which is 55% less than typical, and $200 round trip flights to Toronto, which is 50% less than typical, said Fish. Expedia’s app uses artificial intelligence to find flights that are not only lower in price than typical, but are good flights as far as short layovers or direct flights and at times when you actually would want to fly, she said.

Hopper’s summer forecast found rates at domestic hotels in line with last year, averaging $237 per night. Vacation rentals are averaging $172 per bedroom, per night, or about $340 per night for multi-bedroom homes.

That’s in line with last summer. For international travelers, hotels in London, Paris and Barcelona are among the priciest, averaging $350 to $400. Rates are cheaper in Asia, averaging $206 per night in Tokyo and $116 in Bangkok, Hopper notes.

To save money on domestic hotels, skip the hotel stay from Friday to Saturday nights and instead stay Sunday and Monday night. You’ll save an average of $86 on your stay, said Hopper. In popular destinations like Las Vegas, Miami or Nashville, one can save between $146 and $296, said Hopper. Booking lodging outside weekends could also give you better hotel choices, Wilkerson said.

Rental car prices in the U.S. are averaging $47 per day, mirroring last summer, according to Hopper. Rentals in Florida are among the most affordable, averaging $26 per day or less in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. Prices are highest in remote tourist destinations including Bozeman, Montana, where the average rental is $145 per day; and Anchorage, Alaska at $105 per day.

Fish advises bundling your summer vacation to curtail costs.

“If you book your flight and hotel at the same time, you can save an average of $580 on that bundle,” she said.

Also keep in mind, travel advisers could have access to different promotions and discount codes, so seek their help to save money, said Wilkerson.

Fish advises traveling in early summer or in the last half of August.

“Those are the times when crowds are lighter and prices are lower,” she said.

Francine Knowles is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.

Thanks to the recent sunshine, all I’m thinking about is my summer holiday. I’ve booked to go away during the May half term to Mallorca with my family, and along the way found some incredible holiday deals to share with you.

From all-inclusive affordable trips to Spain to swanky Canary Island resorts, there’s so many holiday bargains to be had – you’ve just got to know where to look.

I’ve found TUI to have some of the best summer holiday deals for 2025, and in the name of research (and holiday inspiration), I’ve searched through the hundreds of incredible holidays on offer that TUI are serving up right now to bring you the best.

The best TUI holiday deal 2025

As always with TUI, there’s lots of holiday deals to choose from and they change continuously, so if you have a destination in mind, it’s worth keeping an eye on the prices.

The hottest right now is that you can save £100 per booking on selected last-minute package holidays departing between May 1– June 30 2025 – all you have to do is join MyTUI. You must be logged into your account to book the holiday to see the saving, but you’ll find other great benefits from being a MyTUI member so it’s worth it.

Another offer is an incredible saving of up to £600 per couple on selected holidays to Greece, Turkey and more. The offer is for holidays in May and June, so ideal for those last-minute trips you’re in the mood to take.

Another good deal to browse is the long-haul discount. You can save up to £800 per couple on long-haul holidays to Jamaica, Mexico and more, from now to October 2025.

TUI’s last minute holiday deals section is worth browsing, as that’s where you’ll find some of the best bargains for your next holiday. One such deal is 50% off a holiday to Rhodes, Greece, this month; if you’re looking to jet off ASAP it’s a great area on TUI to explore.

And if you are travelling with kids, it’s always worth checking TUI’s free kids places, which seem to apply to more and more holidays every single year, even in peak times like school holidays. The free kids places often can be used with discounts or the holidays on sale too, saving you even more. At the last count, there were almost 100 holidays with free kids spaces.

Are there any other benefits of booking with TUI?

TUI actually has a ton of benefits, from deals to kids places to its choice of hotels.

TUI’s range of family-friendly hotels is one of the best. The family-friendly hotels in its TUI BLUE collection have everything from Kids’ Clubs to waterparks and activities. TUI also prides itself on having lots of flexibility in terms of its flight times, and with TUI Flex, you can make fee-free changes right up until 28 days before from flights to passenger name.

Another TUI benefit is that they take off from local airports, from more than 20 airports. Plus, when you’re travelling on a TUI Airways flight to a long-haul destination, you’ll have the chance to upgrade to Premium, which gets you loads of extras like UK airport lounge access and 25kg of luggage. Plus, TUI’s online chat is available 24/7 meaning you have access to chat to a TUI rep whatever the time.

How I chose the best TUI deals

Personal experience : I’ve been covering TUI’s deals for years at HELLO!, and can sniff out a brilliant holiday discount when I see one.

: I’ve been covering TUI’s deals for years at HELLO!, and can sniff out a brilliant holiday discount when I see one. Availability : Every holiday or deal listed is still available, with holidays ready to book between now and dates this year – and beyond.

: Every holiday or deal listed is still available, with holidays ready to book between now and dates this year – and beyond. Deals : I scoured the TUI website to highlight the best of their deals. There’s a lot on there, so a good search is always needed.

: I scoured the TUI website to highlight the best of their deals. There’s a lot on there, so a good search is always needed. Holiday type: From family-friendly to adults-only, I’ve included holidays and deals to cater for every type of holidaymaker.

From family-friendly to adults-only, I’ve included holidays and deals to cater for every type of holidaymaker. Reviews: I only ever highlight the holidays that get four or more stars on Tripadvisor.

We hope you love the holidays within this article created in collaboration with our brand partner TUI. Our team of expert editors and writers has independently selected the inclusions for this promotional piece. We will receive compensation for this article, and commission when you click on the links or purchase. Prices accurate and items in stock at time of publication.

With the summer travel season just around the corner, travel services website Kayak has released its list of bargain deals to take advantage of this year, with a look at the cheapest domestic and international destinations, on average across the U.S.

While temperatures are beginning to heat up nationwide, prices on summer flights have cooled for many locations, with many of this summer’s domestic bargain flights coming in the southern U.S.

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Leading the pack in a two-way tie is Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida, with both southern cities boasting an average summer airfare of $262.

Joining the two cities with average airfares under $300 include Raleigh, North Carolina, Orlando, Florida, Minneapolis, Minnesota and New York City.

For those wanting to get out of the U.S. for a little bit, it was a pair of Canadian cities leading the list for cheapest international destinations, with a third city landing in the top five.

Toronto leads the way with an average airfare of $331, with Calgary joining as the only other city below $400, with an average price of $366.

Rounding out the top five were three destinations just over $400, with San Salvador, El Salvador, Mexico City and Montreal completing the list’s top five.

As far as the best time to fly this summer, Kayak recommends hitting the skies from either May 19 to June 8 or from Aug. 11-31.

Although not among the most inexpensive destinations, price drops have been seen with popular tourist destinations worldwide, cities in Asia, Europe and Africa are all cheaper when compared to 2024 prices.

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As for cities worldwide that saw the most significant price drops, Sydney, Australia led the list with airfares approximately 23% cheaper than they were last summer.

Hong Kong, Stockholm, Oslo and Milan were among popular international destinations with price decreases at or above 15%, with Sacramento and Detroit seeing the most significant price decreases among domestic cities.

More information on Kayak’s findings for this summer can be found here.