When is the Best Time to Book?

If you have school-age kids and are looking to book a UK "staycation" holiday in July or August, should you book early and pay a premium-rate, or leave your plans on hold and wait for a late discount?

It's a balancing act between price to pay, accommodation choice, and the best locations.

For peak-season summer holidays, you are likely to get better accommodation choices in the best spots at this time of year in any of the UK's holiday favourite destinations.

But the best accommodation in your price bracket is likely to be at a "standard" rate at this time of year.

By waiting until closer to July or August, you may find owners offering discounts; but the choice of property will diminish rapidly; so you may end up sifting through the leftovers.

Summer dates in holiday hot spots like the North York Moors and Yorkshire coastal towns and villages from mid-July tend to sell-out quickly earlier in the year.

In 2014, for example, we'd "sold out" half of June, all of July and August, and half of September by the opening week of May.

So, the advice is simple; book now to get your dream holiday cottage - but at full price; or wait until the start of summer and risk ending up with shoddier accommodation in a poorer location.