How to Save Money at Expedia

When is the cheapest time to book?

According to research by ARC (Airline Reporting Corporation) and Expedia, the cheapest time to start your journey is on a Thursday or Friday, which were cheaper by up to 10%. The most expensive day to begin your journey is Sunday, when average ticket prices rise. Yet Expedia also says the cheapest day to book a flight is Sunday, which is more affordable by up to 36%, which is pretty confusing, so let's take a look at it:

Going by the Expedia website for flights from London to Alicante in June or July, the average 

price for a flight per day for a Monday is £75.66, Tuesday £70.70, Wednesday £84.22, Thursday £95.12, Friday £87.62, Saturday £88.22, Sunday £80.70. 

So, in these months, it appears that flying on a Monday or Tuesday rather than a Sunday is cheaper, which shows that there isn’t always a magical cheaper flight day and researching and comparing different flights ahead of time is the best way to save.

However, flight prices vary daily, season to season, and country to country, so there are too many variables to guarantee which days are cheaper. Instead, it is more affordable to be flexible with your booking. This way, you’re more likely to pick up last-minute flights for cheaper or tickets that have been suddenly cancelled, saving you money. 

A more reliable way to know the cheapest time to book flights is to use the Skyscanner savings calculator to figure out how much you can save with your travel plans. 

Is it Cheaper to Book Flights in Advance?

Research conducted by Expedia Group indicates that booking flights three weeks before departure is optimal for securing the best deals. However, the Airline Reporting Corporation claim that booking a flight 60 days beforehand is optimal for international flights and booking 28 days in advance is optimal for domestic flights. 

Although many travellers arrange their flights far in advance to ensure their travel dates, the data shows that two months before travel is the best period to achieve the cheapest airfare rates. However, travellers should be careful not to book more than four months ahead, as flight costs peak this far in advance.

Contrary to popular belief, there are better ways to score a deal than booking flights last minute. Despite companies like Trivago and Lastminute.com specialising in last-minute holidays and offering good deals, research shows that flight prices tend to rise as the departure dates approach. 

So, in general, it is cheaper to book in advance, but there is no “secret best time to book”, and the costs vary depending on the season, number of people, country and company.

Are Package Holidays Cheaper?

This is a tricky question because it can go both ways. Expedia claims that their bundles can be up to 48% cheaper. Still, I have personally been on holidays to Morocco, Croatia and Ireland, where the individual method of booking was more affordable, so let's test it:

Using Expedia, I checked for flights from London to Alicante on the 21st of July and Returning on the 25th of July. The price came to £169.09

The cheapest Hotel (Hotel Leuka) I could find was £185 without breakfast. (This does not include the price of a taxi from the airport to the hotel, which is a 16-minute drive) bringing the total cost to £354.09 for flights and hotel. 

However, the same room at the same hotel on the same dates as part of a package deal came to £372, which is £18 more expensive than an individual. It also took roughly the same time to book and doesn’t include extra luggage or a taxi from the airport. 

So, £18 in savings is probably better spent on transport. This also proves that getting a package deal isn’t always cheaper. Instead, you should always compare the two methods and choose the best value. 

Accommodation Tips

Opting for a lower star rating on your hotel can save you loads of money without affecting your quality of stay. Hotel stars do not work like product reviews on an online store. Instead, they are mainly given for the amenities they offer, and if you’re like me, you will never use the majority of them.

For example, according to Which? 3-star hotels must include: 

• Access without a key from 7 am to 11 pm and access with a key at all other times
• Dinner served six evenings a week, and snacks on the seventh evening
• Room service for drinks and snacks during daytime and evening
• All bedrooms en suite
• Internal telephone system
• Wi-fi in public areas
• Good guest service and staff should provide prompt, courteous and efficient service.

While a 4-star hotel must include all of the above plus:

• 24-hour room service with full breakfast and dinner
• Restaurants open to residents and non-residents for breakfast and dinner every day of the week
• Higher staffing levels
• Wi-fi in bedrooms
• 24-hour access facilitated by on-duty staff
• Ensuite bathrooms with thermostatic showers
• Enhanced services such as afternoon tea, luggage, assistance or meals at lunchtime

So, aside from being able to order room service at midnight and having someone potentially carry your bags, there isn’t much of a reason to choose a 4-star hotel over a 3-star one. 3-star hotels already have ensuites, room service for most of the day, wi-fi in most areas, and good guest service. 

This is why many companies such as TripAdvisor, Travelocity and Booking.com give independent reviews based on customer experience rather than a star system tailored to checking boxes. Consider downgrading your hotel star rating, where you can save up to 30% by opting for a 3-star over 4-star.

Use a Discount Code from MyVoucherCodes.

MyVoucherCodes always aims to save you money. That’s why we have a helpful list of Expedia discount codes on one convenient page, making it easy to save on your holiday. We also offer discount codes on everything from fashion to technology and beauty. 

How to Save Money on Baggage

On a cheap flight, the baggage fees are where they get you. You purchase a flight ticket for £40 and end up getting charged £30 for luggage. Cabin bags come with your seat and often have a weight limit of 10kg and size limit of around 50cm in length and 35cm in width, but this varies depending on the flight company. Here are a few helpful tricks to fit the most in your carry-on bags to save money and avoid fees.

Packing Cubes: Packing cubes are a lifesaver for getting the most out of your baggage. Frantically stuffing things into a bag wastes space and often causes your bag to be an odd shape, which may lead to extra charges. With packing cubes, you can Tetris all your clothing and toiletries into your bag for maximum efficiency. They’re pretty cheap, too, with prices from Temu ranging from £5-10 for six cubes.

Avoid Buying Travel-Sized Toiletries: Travel-size toiletries can be super expensive. So, grab some small clear bottles, give them a good wash and dry, and fill them with your regular toiletries. You can also use those free mini bottles you snagged from hotels last time you went somewhere.

Use Soft Cases: If possible, avoid using hard case travel bags. They are heavier and have less give; you can stuff more into a soft case, and they are more forgiving when they need to fit into the overhead.

Book Luggage in Advance: Sometimes, you can’t avoid paying extra for luggage, but instead of paying the fee at check-in, book it online when you purchase your flights. You can save up to 50% depending on the flight company. 

The above table shows an overview of the policies for hand luggage size, weight limitations, and fees for checked and oversized bags for the top UK airlines to be used as a guide so you aren’t caught off guard. As you can see, booking in advance has substantial savings compared to paying at the check-in desk.

Shopping in Incognito Mode

We tested five flight companies to determine whether Incognito mode was cheaper or more expensive than regular web browsing. The results were the same across the board, so you can use whichever web browsing method you prefer without worrying about losing out on savings.

The Verdict

There we have it. If you wish to save as much as possible on Expedia and similar holiday companies, you are more likely to save money by booking around 60 days before your travel, flying on a Tuesday (or being as flexible as you can), booking a 3-star hotel instead of a 4-star one, paying for luggage in advance, and finally, if you see a bundle you like the look of, compare the individual prices first. Enjoy your holiday!