With the half-term break just around the corner (26th October – 3rd November), parents across the country are looking to book last-minute getaways without breaking the bank. 

While some may be worried that time is running out to scoop up the best deals, ticket experts at AttractionTickets.com have advised that there’s still a sweet spot to secure affordable flights to popular family locations including Universal Orlando Resort or Disneyland Paris. 

According to the experts, one day in October is the best day to find and book your last-minute break for maximum savings. 

Not only that, there are also specific days that are often cheaper to fly, with one day of the week saving up to 26 percent. 

Oliver Brendon, CEO of AttractionTickets.com, says: “Contrary to what many travellers believe, industry data suggests that booking flights within a window of 8 to 23 days before departure can offer some of the most competitive prices for international travel​, especially when it comes to places like Florida. 

“We also know through historical external data that travellers can sometimes save up to 24 percent on flights if they book them on a Sunday, particularly within this 8 to 23-day window.

“Given this timeline, the 13th of October falls perfectly within that range, making this the optimal date to secure those last-minute more affordable family holiday bookings ahead of this half-term.”

AttractionTickets.com’s research, which based its estimate on expertise and data, shows that families who have departures on a Friday can save up to 26 percent. 

Based on this data the experts recommend booking your flights on October 13 and actually flying on October 25, after school finishes.

For those that are already looking ahead to Christmas, the ticketing experts have delved into the data to discover the best times to book a last-minute Christmas holiday flight.

Brendon says, “Following the same 8 – 23-days prior to travel formula, and honing in on the Sunday bookings and Friday flights rule, we can already identify that the best dates to book a last-minute Christmas holiday are the 8th and 15th of December, and flying on either the 13th or 20th December.

“In my experience, prices at Christmas almost always tend to spike the week before, so you can avoid this by making sure you book ahead of 17th December. 

“Remember, it’s a risk to book things last-minute, so opt for using ticketing sites with fixed pricing models like ours and always do your research to get the best deals.”

AttractionTickets.com drew on expert insights and data-driven research from travel and ticketing platforms, with a focus on last-minute booking trends and optimal travel windows.