Winter 2026 travel tips: The best dates to fly and book hotels

Winter travel can be an expensive business, particularly around the Christmas and New Year peak times, but choosing the right dates could make a significant difference to the cost of your trip. New data from Expedia has revealed the cheapest and most expensive days to fly and book accommodation over the coming months, as well as when airports and hotels are likely to be at their busiest.The online travel agency’s “Winter Travel Outlook” looked at both searches for accommodation and flights made between July and October this year for winter breaks compared to the same period in 2025. Here’s everything the Expedia data revealed. The best – and worst – times to travel this winter“The period around Christmas and New Year's 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,” said Melanie Fish, travel expert and spokesperson for Expedia.Expedia’s research also looked at the very best times to travel in a season which is somewhat complicated by the festive period.In terms of the most affordable days to fly internationally over the winter months, savvy travellers should plump for flights on 4 December or 18 February.