‘I’m a travel expert – don’t make expensive holiday mistake with four simple tips’

Travel experts have warned that there are certain dates in July when Brits should avoid flying due to sky-high prices, packed airports and “limited choices”

Holidaying abroad need not cost the earth with this handy advice from a travel expert (Image: Ulisberg Alves via Getty Images )

A travel expert has warned British holidaymakers should avoid making a very expensive mistake when planning their holidays this summer.

Jamie Fraser of Wild Packs American Summer Camp has pinpointed the reason behind extortionate prices for flights. His advice comes as travel company Expedia highlights the three dates families should avoid taking to the skies due to costs.

‌

All three dates land in July, perhaps unsurprisingly, given they fall at the start of the school summer holidays. Jamie says airlines are clued the fact parents are confined to a “short holiday window” and “tend to bump up their prices” accordingly during peak times.

‌

This is despite the fact that two-thirds (66 per cent) of Brits already struggle with the cost of holidaying abroad. Moreover, there’s been a 4.2 per cent increase (or £50 per person) in prices.

The three dates to avoid are July 22, 23, as it proves to be a time when demand skyrockets, according to Jamie. He explained: “July marks the start of the school summer holidays, which is when demand for flights takes off.

The school summer holidays sees demand for flights soar (stock) (Image: Getty Images )

Article continues below

“Parents with school-aged children are mostly limited to this short window, which makes it one of the busiest times to travel. Airlines know this and tend to bump up prices during these peak dates.

“This not only hits your wallet, but can make the travel experience more stressful. With so many people flying at once, terminals are at max capacity, and you’re more likely to face long queues at each stage of the airport, causing more delays.

“With the school summer holidays, you’re likely faced with limited choices when it comes to flight times, baggage options, and where you sit. It’s much harder to find convenient flight times, especially if you’ve booked late.”

‌

Jamie also shared four tips to help you save cash when you’re flying in July, reports Belfast Live. The first of these is setting up flight alerts using sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights. These sites will send you a notification when the price drops.

Heading abroad with family is stressful enough without unnecessary costs (stock) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto )

Secondly, he suggested flying on a Saturday, highlighting how Friday and Sunday are often the most expensive days to fly, with Tuesday usually being the cheapest. If you’re planning a weekend trip, flying on Saturday and coming home on Monday means you will miss one work day.

Article continues below

However, you will probably pay “much less” when compared to a Friday-to-Sunday journey. Jamie also said it’s worth checking out other school holidays.

He said: “Even if you’re tied to school holidays, it’s worth looking at when schools are off in other parts of the country. For instance, London schools might break up at a different time to those in the Midlands or the North, which could mean cheaper flights from a London airport if their term hasn’t finished yet.”

Finally, he recommended comparing the prices of smaller airports to the larger hubs. Airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester often have the most significant price rises during peak times.

The perfect summer trip is something most of us spend all year planning, whether it’s a relaxing summer house on the East Coast filled with family and friends, or a romantic getaway for two to a Greek Island. Near and far, these spectacular destinations are what we dream about all year long—and think of fondly decades later when reminiscing on vacations past. Now that we’ve left winter behind, it’s finally time to turn those dreams into reality and start booking, planning, and organizing.

Historically, Google searches for summer vacations peak at the end of March and beginning of April. According to the rental service Vrbo, the best dates to actually book your summer vacation are shortly after, and about a week later than last year—April 15 for Memorial Day Weekend travel, May 17 for Fourth of July, and July 22 for Labor Day.

If you’re still having trouble deciding where to go among the abundance of great destinations, we’ve got some suggestions. Some of the most popular US-based summer spots include the Outer Banks, Cape May/Ocean City, and Myrtle Beach. This year, according to Expedia’s flight data, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Napa County are trending domestically, while Japan has dominated internationally with people booking flights to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, as well as Edinburgh and Munich in Europe. With the summer Olympics scheduled for this July, there’s also a flurry of travelers racing to book their stays in Paris (Airbnb’s most searched city worldwide for this summer, the rental platform says). Similarly, people are heading to Germany to catch the kick-off of the Euro Cup.

Airbnb notes that it’s best to book sooner rather than later, especially if you’re planning trips for the Olympics or the Euro Cup where properties will get snapped up quickly. If you’re hoping to avoid the overwhelming crowds, Rosemary Beach, Florida; Glendale, Arizona; Columbia, South Carolina; and Saint Paul, Minnesota, are also trending.

Whether you plan to stay domestic or go international, we’ve found over 100 great vacation rentals to pick from for every type of traveler, age group, and interest. So without further delay, find dozens of excellent vacation rentals to take over this summer below. —Jamie Spain

For the first time in more than 10 years, Independence Day falls on a Friday in 2025. While Fourth of July is always a busy time for travel, the long weekend means travelers should prepare for larger crowds. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record number of passengers during the 2024 July Fourth weekend, and those records might be broken again in 2025.

According to a new forecast from AAA, a record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 6. That’s a 2.4% increase over 2024, with both road and air travel expected to reach all-time highs.

But some days of the holiday week are less crowded (and cheaper) than others. If you can be flexible with your travel schedule and fly out on one of those less-crowded days, you could save money and avoid peak airport chaos.

Here’s what you need to know to fly smarter over the Independence Day travel window in 2025 — and potentially save money on airfare.

The best and worst days to fly over Fourth of July weekend in 2025

NerdWallet analyzed airfare price data provided by Expedia and TSA data showing the number of passengers screened at its U.S. checkpoints to predict the best and worst days to fly for July Fourth. We focused on a 15-day period including the week leading up to Independence Day, the holiday itself and the week following it. Here’s what you can expect in 2025.

The worst day to fly on or before Fourth of July

Friday, June 27: To avoid crowds and save money, don’t fly the Friday before. Last year, the Friday before July Fourth was the busiest travel day in the week preceding the holiday.

Expedia expects that Friday, June 27, will be the most expensive day to fly in the seven-day window ahead of July Fourth.

The worst days to fly after Fourth of July

Sunday, July 6: For post-holiday travel, the Sunday after Fourth of July ranks as the busiest day to fly. In 2024, the Sunday after the holiday, July 7, marked the first time more than 3 million people passed through TSA checkpoints in a single day. About 36% more people passed through airports on that day compared to Fourth of July.

We expect similar patterns with a Friday holiday as people look to return home from the long weekend.

Friday, July 11: Along with July 6, this is one of the two most expensive days to fly in the seven-day period after July Fourth, according to Expedia. TSA data from the past six years shows that Fridays are typically the busiest day of the week throughout the year, so it’s no surprise that prices will be high.

The best days to fly on or before Fourth of July

Friday, July 4: Typically, Independence Day is the least busy day to fly. We expect that pattern to hold, even though the holiday falls on a Friday this year — and Fridays are typically busy days for flying. Last year, airport crowds on July Fourth were 24% smaller than they were on the busiest travel day in the week ahead of the holiday, which was the Friday before.

Fourth of July is also one of the cheapest days to fly in the week leading up to the holiday, according to Expedia — a sign of lower demand.

Monday, June 30: If you’d rather spend July Fourth celebrating — and not in an airport — turn to Monday, June 30. According to Expedia, Monday, June 30, will be the cheapest day to fly in the week leading up to the holiday. Booking a flight on this date gives you a head start on your vacation while avoiding the higher prices seen later in the week.

The best days to fly after Fourth of July

Monday, July 7, and Tuesday, July 8: These are the two cheapest dates to fly in the week after the holiday, according to Expedia. In general, Tuesday is also the least busy day on average at airports, according to a NerdWallet analysis of TSA data over the past six years.

Optimize your Fourth of July itinerary

Avoid the July Fourth crowds and save money by traveling during less-crowded times.

For longer trips, fly earlier in the week. If you want to extend your trip, consider leaving on Monday or Tuesday ahead of the holiday, rather than Friday, June 27. For your return trip, try flying out on Monday or Tuesday following the holiday weekend.

Travel on July Fourth. Whether you’re arriving home or jetting off, flying early in the day on July Fourth might be a smart move. About 86% of flights departing between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. from major airports left on time, compared to just 71% of flights departing between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to Department of Transportation data from December 2024, the most recent data available.

Cheap last-minute flights can feel like an oxymoron in the travel world. Every avid traveler has become all too familiar with the disappointment of wanting to book an impromptu getaway somewhere fabulous, then scrapping the idea after catching a glimpse of the sky-high airfare.

It doesn’t help that flying has become increasingly expensive. According to a report from Hopper, airfare in January 2025 started at about 12% higher than it did a year ago, with prices expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until at least mid-year. And since last-minute flights usually require forking over exorbitant fares, a spur-of-the-moment trip could cost even more than usual.

That said, armed with the right strategies and tools, savvy travelers can still find last minute flight deals. Thanks to a growing number of apps and other tech-centric resources that use robust, data-driven prediction tools and technology, it’s easier than ever to know when to buy that ticket (or wait). Factor in a few proven guidelines, and snagging a good deal—even at the 11th hour—can be a lot easier than you think.

If you feel like you’re the only flier still paying full-price for airfare–or feeling overwhelmed by all the newsletters and flight deals to keep track of—don’t fret. Below, we’ve assembled the best tips and tricks from frequent travelers and flight gurus on how to find cheap last-minute flights.

Take advantage of tech tools

Before you dig in, having a basic grasp of how airlines determine their ticket prices can be very helpful. Increasingly, airlines are implementing what’s known as dynamic pricing, a model used by hotels and other segments across the travel industry. With dynamic pricing, prices go up or down depending on market conditions, which means the same seats on the same flight can be sold for many different prices. Tech tools can be a traveler’s secret weapon to tracking these price fluctuations and using them to your advantage.

Several platforms feature data-driven technology that can help you save big. According to Julian Kheel, founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that inserts points prices next to Google’s cash prices for easy comparison, Hopper is the “gold standard” for prediction tools. “Over the years, the company has amassed an enormous database of flight prices, and developed the technology to accurately predict when an airfare is likely to rise or fall,” Kheel said.

Via Hopper’s “Price Prediction” tool, passengers can choose whether to “book now” or “watch this trip.” Hopper also has a “price freeze” feature that helps ensure travelers pay the lowest amount. For a fee, travelers can “freeze” the price of a flight, and if it increases before purchase, Hopper will cover the difference. If the price drops, you’ll pay the lower one.

Another fan favorite: Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), which delivers flight deals straight to your inbox. Since launching its app a year ago, Going has uncovered $6.3 million in flight savings, and even free-tier limited members save about $350 per round-trip ticket, according to a company spokesperson. But for the most serious savings, consider the Premium or Elite membership options, the latter of which also includes screaming deals on business class fares.

If you didn’t know, Virginia isn’t just for lovers—it’s also for wine lovers. Virginia is home to some of the best wineries in the country, and Loudoun County is a prime spot. Located just 25 miles outside of Washington, D.C., Loudoun boasts more than 40 award-winning wineries and 30-plus craft breweries, as well as farm-to-table dining on actual farms. There are also historic villages and charming small towns to visit, including Middleburg, the capital of Virginia horse country.

Salamander Resort & Spa, tucked into the grasslands in Middleburg, is an ideal place to stay in the area. The spacious resort offers horseback riding, fishing, falconry, biking, ziplining, archery and ax throwing. You’ll also find indoor and outdoor swimming pools, programs for kids, an immersive spa and several dining spots that highlight the bounty of the county’s wineries, breweries and farms.

Pros:

More than 40 top-notch wineries and breweries, which often feature local musicians

Dirt Farm Brewing, which will have live music, a bluegrass brunch and a wide selection of brews and food all weekend long

The popular Tarara Winery Summer Concert Series, which features fun cover bands that specialize in ’70s through ’90s music

Con:

You’ll need a designated driver, since there are no shuttles to and from the wineries

How we chose the best Memorial Day weekend getaways

To find the best Memorial Day getaways, we consulted with travel experts across multiple platforms, including Priceline, Chase Travel, Booking.com and Expedia to find out the top trending destinations for the start of summer and where the best deals are.

Expedia Travel Expert Christie Hudson gave us these cost-saving tips: “The optimal booking window for summer flights typically falls between 21 to 60 days before departure, yielding approximate savings of 15% for both domestic and international trips.”

Want to keep the Memorial Day weekend fun going? You’re not alone says Karen Magee, president of Chase Travel Group’s Valerie Wilson Travel, who says “travelers are eager to kick off their summer plans, with many extending their holidays and taking the full week for vacation.” Sounds good to us!

About the experts Christie Hudson is a travel expert and head of public relations at Expedia.

is a travel expert and head of public relations at Expedia. Karen Magee is the president of Chase Travel Group’s Valerie Wilson Travel.

is the president of Chase Travel Group’s Valerie Wilson Travel. Angela Cavis is the head of communications in North America for Booking.com.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate. For this piece on Memorial Day weekend getaways, writer Melissa Klurman tapped her experience as an award-winning travel journalist, along with interviewing travel experts Christie Hudson, Karen Magee and Angela Cavis. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources: