May, June and September the cheapest months to travel long-haul this summer

All-inclusive holidays to Turkey are the best value

Turkey offers some of the cheapest all-inclusive package deals this summer (iStock)

May, June and September are the cheapest months to travel long-haul this summer, according to exclusive research.

These “shoulder months” are when long-haul destinations are quieter and cheaper, according to Emma Coulthurst, travel commentator at holiday comparison site, TravelSupermarket – excluding bank holidays and half-term week.

May is also the cheapest month to get away on a short-haul break, said TravelSupermarket, with package holidays to Europe up to 50 per cent cheaper. A three-star, seven-night package holiday starts from as little as £125.

It comes as the price of summer package holidays to Europe has dropped year-on-year, with concerns over Brexit and last year’s heatwave beginning to bite.

Holidays to some of Europe’s most popular spots such as Portugal’s Algarve, Mallorca and the Greek islands of Zante and Kefalonia have dropped in price by as much as 20 per cent compared to last year. Packages to Sardinia, Corfu, Crete, Malta and Sicily are also cheaper this year, said the price comparison website.

However, Turkey still represents the best value for an all-inclusive holiday.

“The price of all-inclusive holidays to Turkey is a key factor in its renaissance,” said Coulthurst. “Turkey offers a lot more stars for your money than any other destination from the UK. Nowhere else from the UK will you find five-star, seven-night, all-inclusive holiday packages this summer starting from just over £250pp each.”

She added that there has been a spike in interest from UK holidaymakers in all-inclusive holidays since the Brexit referendum in 2016, with an 8 per cent jump in searches on TravelSupermarket.

Top tips for getting a cheap summer holiday

1. You can sometimes get a cheap last-minute deal if you don’t care about where you go.
2. Fly mid-week or at off-peak times, such as first thing in the morning or last thing at night, for a better deal.
3. If you’re flying to a less mainstream summer holiday destination, book early as there are fewer packages and flights on offer.
4. Consider external factors: last year’s heatwave meant many unsold package holidays at the end of the summer, and tour operators have priced them more competitively to encourage travellers to book earlier.
5. Generally, the earlier you book, the greater the number of holidays to choose from. But if you need to book during peak season (such as during the school holidays), then book as early as possible.