Nov 13, 1:01 PM
Expedia Report Identifies Cheapest Dates for Winter Flights and Hotels
Data shows peak airport traffic on 18 December alongside rising interest in alternative cold-weather destinations.
International air passengers seeking lower fares during the winter season will find the cheapest rates on 4 December and 18 February, according to data published by the online travel agency Expedia. The company's annual winter travel report, compiled from accommodation and flight searches conducted between July and October, identified 16 and 19 December as the most expensive dates for international departures.
Airport congestion is expected to peak immediately before the holidays, with 18 and 19 December recorded as the busiest travel dates for international flights. Expedia spokesperson Melanie Fish noted that travellers with flexible schedules could secure significant savings on airfare by choosing departures in early December or mid-February rather than during peak festive windows.
Accommodation pricing follows a distinct schedule from air travel across the season. According to the data, international hotels will reach their highest occupancy levels on 4 and 27 December, while room rates are projected to peak on 26 December and 13 February. Travellers seeking lower hotel tariffs are advised to book stays on 7 or 13 January.
Search patterns indicate a division between travellers seeking tropical locations and those opting for traditional cold-climate city breaks. Paris, New York, and Amsterdam were the most searched destinations overall, followed by Bangkok and Tenerife. The top ten overall list was completed by Dubai, Tokyo, the Canary Islands, Barbados, and Prague.
Exuma in the Bahamas recorded the highest growth in consumer interest, with search volume increasing by 115 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Cold-weather destinations also saw substantial gains, with searches rising by 75 percent for Quebec City, 45 percent for Malmö in Sweden, and 40 percent for Hakone in Japan. The Caribbean island of Curaçao also recorded a 40 percent increase in searches.
Additional search growth was registered for tropical destinations including Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Martinique, both up by 30 percent, while searches for Ocho Rios in Jamaica rose by 20 percent. European locations featuring festive attractions also drew higher interest, with searches up by 20 percent for both Zakopane in southern Poland and Turin in northern Italy.
Written by Sandy van Dongen sandy.vandongen@alpineweekly.com
