Booking your first holiday online can feel like a lot. There are dozens of websites, endless hotel choices, and prices that seem to change every time you look. A holiday package is meant to make this simpler: instead of booking everything separately, you buy the main parts of the trip — usually flights and a hotel — together in one booking, sometimes with extras like airport transfers or checked baggage included.
This guide walks through how to find cheap holiday packages step by step, what to compare, and which details to check before you pay, so you can book with confidence rather than guesswork.
What a Holiday Package Actually Includes
Not all packages are the same, and this is where many beginners get caught out. A typical package includes return flights and accommodation. Beyond that, things vary a lot from one deal to the next:
- Baggage: Some packages include a checked suitcase; others only include a small cabin bag, with hold luggage added for a fee.
- Transfers: Some include a coach or taxi between the airport and your hotel; with others, you arrange and pay for that yourself.
- Board basis: The room might be room-only, bed and breakfast, half board, or all-inclusive — very different total costs once you add food and drink.
- Flight times: The lowest price often comes with early-morning or late-night flights.
The lesson is simple: never compare two packages on the headline price alone. Compare what is actually included, like for like.
Start With Dates and a Shortlist of Destinations
The two biggest influences on price are when you travel and where you go. Peak periods — school holidays, public holidays, and the height of the season for a destination — are almost always the most expensive times, simply because demand is highest.
If you can, stay flexible. Being open to two or three destinations instead of one fixed place gives you far more chances to spot a good price, because one resort may be heavily booked while a similar one nearby is not. Travelling just outside the busiest weeks, often called the shoulder season, can also mean lower prices and quieter resorts, while the weather in many destinations is still pleasant.
Compare Packages on More Than One Website
The same holiday can appear on several booking websites, and the totals are not always identical once fees and extras are added. It is worth checking at least two or three sites before booking.
When you compare, write down the total price for the whole trip — not the per-person headline — and note what is included each time: baggage, transfers, board basis, and flight times. Watch the checkout screen carefully, because optional extras such as seat selection, priority boarding, and travel insurance are sometimes added along the way. Add them if you genuinely want them, but do not pay for them by accident.
Be Flexible Where You Can
Flexibility is the closest thing there is to a reliable money-saver. Many booking sites offer a calendar or flexible-dates view so you can see how the price changes across a month. Departing midweek can sometimes be cheaper than leaving on a Friday or Saturday, and shifting your trip by a day or two either side can change the total more than you might expect.
Consider nearby airports too, both at home and at your destination. A short extra transfer can occasionally unlock a noticeably cheaper package — just check the transfer time and cost so the saving is real.
Read the Small Print Before You Pay
Before you enter any payment details, slow down and check:
- The exact baggage allowance, and what extra bags cost.
- Whether airport transfers are included, and how long they take.
- The room type and board basis you are actually booking.
- Cancellation and change terms, in case your plans shift.
- Whether anything is payable locally, such as a city or tourist tax, which in some destinations is charged by the hotel rather than in the package price.
Five minutes here can save a lot of frustration later.
Bring the Cost Down Before You Book
Finding a cheap package is easier when the money is ready. Starting a small holiday fund a few months ahead spreads the cost and stops the trip landing on a credit card at the last minute. Many of the habits in our guide to smart ways to save money on everyday shopping — comparing prices, cutting small regular leaks in spending, planning purchases — work just as well for building a travel pot.
It also helps to think in totals: a slightly cheaper package with no transfers, no baggage, and pricey food at the resort may cost more overall than a package that looks a little dearer at first glance.
Keep Your Home Safe While You Are Away
A good trip deserves a worry-free homecoming. Before you leave, set timers for a light or two so the house does not look empty, lock up carefully, and ask a neighbour to keep an eye out and take in any post. If you are curious about simple gadgets that help with this, our beginner’s guide to smart home gadgets covers the basics, including smart plugs and bulbs you can control from your phone.
Final Checklist
- Compare total prices on two or three websites, like for like.
- Check baggage, transfers, and board basis before paying.
- Use flexible dates and nearby airports where you can.
- Read the cancellation terms and note anything payable locally.
- Book only when the details — not just the price — look right.
Finding cheap holiday packages is mostly about patience and comparison rather than luck. Take your time, check what is included, and the good prices become much easier to spot.