The Cheapest Week to Travel This Summer, According to Experts

Summer is nearly here. Thanks to recent reporting, we already have a pretty good idea of when to buy the cheapest international flight tickets for summer travel. But the science of saving money on your next trip isn’t exclusive to one money-saving method. Rather, getting the lowest price on a summer getaway involves a multi-modal approach. Doing it on your own with nothing but guesswork at your back can feel a bit like the scene from It’s Always Sunny when Charlie Day stands in front of a board covered in notes connected by string, with a crazed expression on his face.

Given that you’re here, you are already in a better position than that. And now, with Expedia’s just-released summer travel outlook for 2024, we have even more intel on how to save the maximum amount of money for your summer travel plans. And beyond the best booking windows for summer travel, Expedia also has fresh guidance on which months, weeks, and days will be the cheapest for summer travel.

To start, consider staying grounded in late June and into July. Expedia reports that this is the busiest and most expensive time of summer for travel. The cheapest month to travel during summer is August. This is true whether you plan on traveling to Asia and Oceania, Europe, within the US, or to Mexico and the Caribbean. (Expedia didn’t provide data on travel to the Middle East, Africa, and South America.)

Expedia reports that you can save up to 55% on average ticket prices for flights to Mexico and the Caribbean in August, compared to July. You can also save 15% on domestic flights in August, 30% on flights to Europe, and 20% on flights to Asia and Oceania.

By waiting to fly until August, you’ll also experience fewer crowds at the airports and at your destinations. According to Expedia, the busiest travel dates for this summer are the last week of June (June 29 through July 3) and August 30, which is the Friday before Labor Day. The least busy travel date for the summer is anticipated to be the last week of August. So if you’re looking for a cheap, less crowded vacation, planning a trip between August 25 and August 29 will likely be your best bet.

To get even more granular with the travel planning advice, Expedia has also compiled very detailed charts that track the best day of the week to fly by price and by volume, depending on whether you’re planning to travel internationally or domestically.

If you plan on traveling domestically this summer, the cheapest day of the week to fly is Tuesday, which is also the least busy day to fly. For international flights, the cheapest day of the week to fly is Monday, and the least busy day is Tuesday.

Looking for more travel tips?

Whether you need help sneaking weed onto a plane, finding an airport where you can sign up for PreCheck without an appointment, or making sure you’re getting everything you’re entitled to when your flight is canceled, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for up-to-date travel hacks and all the travel news you need to help you plan your next big adventure.

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