No matter how hot the summer was – and how much we complained about the stifling heat – as soon as winter comes around, most of us are immediately ready to get on a plane in search of sunnier shores. I, for one, can only endure the winter until the end of December thanks to the lovely Christmas markets and twinkly lights making the cold a lot more bearable. But when the clock strikes midnight and January finally arrives, I’m ready to pack my bag and get out of here.
The problem is that I’m hardly the only one wanting to escape the rain, so this time of year can be one of the most expensive to travel. Thankfully, there are some tricks we can use to find travel deals, and knowing which dates to avoid is one of the best ways to save money on a dreamy winter escape – no matter where you want to go.
According to new research from Expedia, some departure dates offer better value than others. The travel company’s latest Winter Travel Outlook has identified the cheapest, most expensive and busiest days to fly internationally and domestically between December 2026 and February 2027.
For those planning an international getaway, 4 December 2026 and 18 February 2027 are the cheapest days to fly, according to Expedia’s findings. Meanwhile, travellers staying closer to home should consider 4 or 7 February 2027, which emerged as the most affordable dates for domestic flights.
At the other end of the scale, 16 and 19 December 2026 are the most expensive days for international flights, coinciding with the run-up to Christmas. For domestic travellers, 3 and 13 January 2027 are the priciest departure dates.
The festive period also features prominently among Expedia’s busiest travel dates. According to the research, 18 and 19 December are the busiest days for international departures, while 2 and 3 January are the busiest for domestic flights.
“The period around Christmas and New Years is naturally one of the busiest times to travel, but for those with flexibility, going away in early December and in February could offer significant savings on flights,” says Melanie Fish, travel expert and spokesperson for Expedia.
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