We know the costs of travelling are increasing every year. And while some of us would like to book our next international holiday soon, we know that the money we shell out for that flight ticket comes out of our grocery budget.

If, however, you are planning to book a local holiday this year (visiting family, perhaps?), then we have good news for you!

New data from a travel agency reveals the cheapest months for travelling domestically.

Cheap flights and hotels are the two things that every traveller knows are important. So, being informed of the best time to book your travel plans is a must.

Previously, we wrote about the best days of the week to score cheaper flights. According to travel experts, booking flights on Sundays instead of Fridays can cut your travel costs by an average of 20 per cent on both domestic and international flights.

Travellers who schedule departures on Saturdays instead of Mondays also save 20 per cent for domestic flights.

For international flyers, departures on Fridays instead of Sundays can save you up to 10 per cent on flight costs.

The full story, including information about which airlines run sales on a specific day of the week, can be found here.

Are you planning a holiday soon? Credit: Jess Bailey Designs/Pexels

Aussies who are looking to take a break somewhere within the country can take advantage of some great savings by booking in the right month.

According to online travel agency KAYAK, travelling interstate during March or May can help you save big.

If you plan on flying, you can save around 28 per cent on average economy tickets – which are currently sitting at around $350 – providing you with around $36 on average off the normal price.

On the other hand, booking a hotel stay in May can get you a massive 50 per cent off the annual rate, bringing your average expenditure down to $221 per night.

According to KAYAK, the cheapest months to travel are March and May. Credit: Pixabay/Pexels

The most expensive time to travel is, unsurprisingly, December – with return flights costing around $487, and hotels requiring a hefty $390 per night, on average.

So, if you’re looking for an inexpensive adventure, but don’t want to spend too much on international flights, maybe a domestic holiday is just the thing for you.

KAYAK Brand Director Nicola Carmichael said: ‘The average international flight price has increased around a steep 51 per cent versus 2019, whereas domestic flight prices increased only half this rate by about 24 per cent.’

Additionally, KAYAK also revealed the top Aussie destinations for travellers this year. For flights. Aussies are keen to head to the Gold Coast to bask underneath the sun.

Interestingly enough, an exciting city break to Melbourne is proving most popular when it comes to hotel stays, according to KAYAK.

Based on the travel agency’s data, here are the top 10 most searched flights and their average prices:

1. Gold Coast, QLD – $301​

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2. Sydney, NSW – $327​

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3. Sunshine Coast, QLD – $334​

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4. Brisbane, QLD – $344​

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5. Hobart, TAS – $344​

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6. Melbourne, VIC – $357​

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7. Adelaide, SA – $386​

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8. Cairns, QLD – $432​

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9. Darwin, NT – $524​

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10. Perth, WA – $671​

For hotel stays, here are the top 10 most searched destinations plus their average prices per night according to KAYAK:

1. Melbourne, VIC – $215​

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2. Sydney, NSW – $246​

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3. North Sydney, NSW – $225​

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4. Pialligo, ACT – $248​

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5. Brisbane, QLD – $198​

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6. Perth, WA – $208​

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7. Terry Hills, NSW – $227​

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8. Adelaide, SA – $216​

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9. Surfers Paradise, QLD – $284​

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10. Hobart, TAS – $200​

Comparison website Finder said that the travel trends this year have changed ‘immensely’ because of the pandemic. For many, it’s given them space and time to focus on what’s important.

For the travel industry, it has made flexibility of options and safety and hygiene mandatory.

Based on what they’ve said, here are their travel trends predictions for 2023:

Where’s your dream destination? Credit: Catarina Sousa/Pexels

Spending time in nature:

Forests, cabins and the countryside are taking the front seat as people prioritise switching off devices and surrounding themselves with nature. The top travel activities predicted are wildlife spotting and hiking, according to the travel agency Skyscanner.

Splurging in the name of quality:

‘No regrets’ is something you’ll be hearing from travellers this year, as people with money to spare will add luxuries to their travel itineraries.

According to Ms Carmichael from KAYAK, travellers are expected to prioritise the quality of their travel experiences and carefully invest in the choices that are ‘right for them’ to ensure they’re making the most out of the travel opportunity.

This statement is supported by Skyscanner’s data from 2019-2022, where the travel agency has seen a 250 per cent surge in seat selection purchases. Booking.com, one of the world’s largest travel booking sites, said that 46 per cent of Aussies plan to splurge cash to ensure every experience while travelling is the best one they get.

Longer holidays:

Slow travel is on the rise. This is the idea that spending more time in one place and immersing yourself in the destination rather than hopping across several destinations is more fulfilling. According to Booking.com, 48 per cent of Aussies would rather take one long trip than several short ones.

Reconnecting with family, friends, and workmates:

Because the pandemic took so much time away from us, many are now wanting to book flights to go see their loved ones. According to Skyscanner, 55 per cent of Aussies are headed abroad to reconnect with family and friends.

Booking.com is also seeing a trend in employee-organised trips to bring remote workers closer together.

Key Takeaways

• March and May are the cheapest times to travel interstate this year, while December is the most expensive.
• Return flights currently cost an average of $350 in March, and hotel stays in May cost an average of $221 per night.
• Domestic travel may be an appealing option for Aussies who don’t want to break their budget on an international trip.
• Gold Coast is the most searched destination for flights and Melbourne is the most searched destination for hotels.

Members, do you have tips for getting a good deal on flights and accommodations? Do you have any upcoming holidays? Let us know in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you!

 

[Ricci]

If I was to be planning a holiday (which I'm not) then it would be a road trip. You can get a lot of road miles out of the cost of an airline ticket and who knows what wonders you will see on the way. Also I believe the small towns and villages need our patronage and if we can spend a few dollars here and there along the way it would help those communities enormously.