'I found £50 return flights to Italy using travel expert's holiday trick'

A travel expert has revealed seven tips that could help you score cheap flights for your next holiday. The advice was shared by Ryan Pearson, Regional Manager for the UK and Ireland at Booking.com. While it's important to recognise some of the tips won't be applicable to everyone — families, for instance, might not have the choice to be flexible with their dates — many of the pointers could still be helpful.

When I set aside a few minutes to browse Booking.com, I found return flights to several European destinations at £60 or less using Ryan's advice to look for mid-week flights a month from my imaginary departure date.

I set up my search for mid-week trips departing from London airports in mid-May that returned one week later, and I found flights to more than one of my bucket list locations. For instance, I could fly to Rome and back with Wizz Air for £50.56, holiday in Barcelona with Vueling return flights for £58.83, or travel to Bucharest and back with Wizz Air for £50.56.

It's worth noting that the flights included early or late starts, which could add to your expenses when booking airport transfers, and only one personal bag was included. But it could be ideal for someone with a flexible schedule who is happy to travel light, and, of course, these were just a few examples I found with a quick search.

Whether or not those trips sound like your cup of tea, the expert advice is clear: being flexible with your booking can pay off. You can also utilise loyalty programmes, explore bundles, and shop around to save on your flights, as Ryan explained.

Ryan said: "While flight prices can fluctuate throughout the year, for travellers looking for a good deal, it’s helpful to keep timing in mind. It can be best to get in there early to secure your travel date and lock in a good price, however there are often last minute deals a month before departure date."

"Consider booking flights that depart mid-week, as you may find lower-price tickets on the least popular days to travel," the expert suggested.

"When booking flights, it’s worth playing around with dates and times to find the most affordable options," said Ryan. Explaining how users can set up alerts on Booking.com he added: "All logged in Genius members can set up Flight Alerts. When a price changes, users are notified or if we find a better price on alternative dates (+/-3 days), we notify users."

"Keep an eye out for special deals and bundles which are often advertised throughout the year, for example Black Friday and January Sales," said Ryan.

"When looking for flights, don’t just assume that your nearest major airport is the best option. Regional airports can sometimes offer lower fares, and they might be more convenient too, with shorter security lines and easier parking. It’s always worth using filters to widen your search across multiple airports to see if you can find a better deal," the expert advised.

Ryan added: "Travelling to off-the-beaten-path destinations means embracing flexibility, and if you opt for shoulder seasons when flights and accommodation are cheaper, you’re likely to get an authentic and budget-friendly experience. Look for lesser-known gems like Luang Prabang instead of Bangkok, Albania’s Ksamil over Greece’s Santorini, or Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán rather than Costa Rica’s Arenal.”

"Joining programmes like Booking.com's Genius Loyalty Programme can unlock exclusive discounts and perks," the expert explained.