Winter 2026 Travel: Smart Dates for Affordable Flights and Hotel Stays

Winter travel can be expensive, especially during the Christmas and New Year peak period, but choosing the right dates can significantly affect the cost of your trip.

New data from Expedia has revealed the cheapest and most costly times to fly and book accommodation over the coming months, as well as when airports and hotels are likely to be busiest.

The online travel agency’s “Winter Travel Outlook” looked at accommodation and flight searches made between July and October this year for winter breaks, compared with the same period in 2025. Here’s what the Expedia data revealed.

Best and worst times to travel this winter

“The period around Christmas and New Year is naturally one of the busiest times to travel, but for those with flexibility, going away in early December or taking a trip in February could offer significant savings on flights,” said Melanie Fish, travel expert and spokesperson for Expedia.

Expedia’s research also looked at the most affordable times to travel during a season that is somewhat complicated by the festive period.

In terms of the most affordable days to fly internationally over the winter months, savvy travellers should consider flights on 4 December or 18 February.

At the other end of the scale, the most expensive days to fly internationally were found to be 16 and 19 December.

If you dislike busy airports, you should avoid travelling on 18 and 19 December, as they were found to be the busiest days for international flights.

It’s also best to avoid staying at international hotels on 4 and 27 December, as that’s when they are the most packed.

To secure a relative bargain on accommodation over winter, opt for a stay on 7 and 13 January and avoid 26 December and 13 February, as that’s when places to stay are at their priciest.

The most popular winter destinations

Expedia’s findings also revealed the most popular winter destinations, according to year-on-year searches.

It appears that where people choose to go on holiday is split between two distinct directions.

Some travellers are chasing tropical beaches while others are seeking out snowy landscapes, Christmas markets and cosy European city breaks.

Paris, New York and Amsterdam topped the list of most searched-for spots, with Bangkok and Tenerife rounding out the top five.

Dubai, Tokyo, the Canary Islands, Barbados and Prague – all staples of winter travel – made up the rest of the top 10.

When it comes to trending destinations, though, there are a number of surprises.

Exuma in The Bahamas is at the top of the trending list, with a 115% growth in searches since last year.

Interestingly, it’s chilly spots which come in second to fourth places. Canada’s Quebec City has seen searches rise by 75%, while Malmö in Sweden and Hakone in Japan, famous for its hot springs amid mountainous landscapes, have seen increases of 45% and 40%, respectively.

The Caribbean island of Curaçao, known for its year-round tropical climate, also saw 40% more searches over the last year.

For travellers keen for winter sun, Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Martinique – both up 30% – are considerations, as is Ocho Rios in Jamaica, which is 20% more popular than last year, according to Expedia.

Meanwhile, those who prefer embracing chilly weather are searching for festive breaks in Zakopane, near Poland’s border with Slovakia (+20%), and Turin in Italy, known for its Christmas markets (also up 20%).

“From Caribbean sunshine to Christmas markets in Poland and Sweden, people are choosing trips that help them enjoy the season rather than simply endure it,” said Fish.

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