If you’re the kind of person that loves to make their way out of the daily grind to explore what the world has to offer, then you might already know the tricks of the travel trade. However, they’re constantly changing, and it seems as though deals are off and on again more than your average light switch. One of the biggest questions people ask when they are in the process of booking their vacation is whether they should book their flights and accommodation ahead, or wait until the last minute. Well, here’s your ultimate guide.

Figure out your timings

Before you book anything for your vacation, you need to really think about your timings. After all, if you’re planning a vacation over the holiday period, there’s a high chance that you’re going to have to book your flights and accommodation way before you would normally do so. During busy periods, it’s always better to book ahead to ensure that your vacation as a whole can go ahead. The last thing you want to do is promise your parents that you’ll join them on their winter holiday before realizing that everyone has booked flights and accommodation for their own jolly jaunts. Of course, if your vacation is due to take place when it’s not so busy, you have more flexibility to play around with your booking antics.

Booking your accommodation

Nowadays, there are so many different types of accommodation for travelers to choose from. You could stay in a hotel, you could stay in a hostel, or you could even take advantage of an Airbnb. While hotels aren’t quite as popular as they used to be, it’s fair to say that people still love to find a deal – which is why you need to know when the right time to book a hotel is. According to Trivago, the cheapest time to book your hotel room is around one month prior to your vacation. This changes when you venture into the world of hostels and hotels, however. While it’s important to book your Airbnb well in advance if you know exactly where you want to stay, those without too many requests and those who want to stay in hostels can normally leave it to the last minute.

Booking your flights

Unfortunately, there is no one answer when it comes to booking your flights – and that’s because it depends where you are flying to. If you are looking to embark on a domestic flight, then it’s best to book your flight around seven and a half weeks before you want to head off on your vacation. For international flights, the choice is yours. You can either choose to book in advance and resign to the fact that you may have got a cheaper flight if you had booked later, or you could book last minute and be able to cope with the idea that you might not be able to book the flights you need.

At the end of the day, booking a vacation is down to chance and what risks you are willing to take.