While the last vestiges of winter often linger deep into April, May is right around the corner. The year's fifth month brings not just the return of hope, but the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day. That means summer vacation isn't too far off—and you'll really want to book your trip soon to save big, based on the latest summer flight price data from Hipmunk.
According to a price analysis by the travel booking site, booking during the week of April 23 saves you 12 percent on flights for June, July, and August. During that week, the average domestic flight costs $279, and prices keep climbing, peaking at $316 the week of June 18 and continuing to hover around the $300 mark for the rest of the summer.
Even more incentive to book sooner rather than later: Overall, domestic prices for summer travel are up four percent compared to 2017, and flights to Europe from the U.S. for summer travel are up two percent.
Still, not all hope is lost, says Hipmunk spokeswoman Kelly Soderlund. “Last year summer saw a drop in international flight prices—it’s up slightly overall this year, but there are still some amazing deals to be found, especially in cities where new flight routes have opened."
Tickets to Singapore, for example, are 30 percent cheaper in 2018 than they were in 2017, and fliers can also get from the U.S. to Buenos Aires for around $1,240 round trip (a 14 percent drop), to Hamburg, Germany for $1,017 round-trip on average (a 25 percent decrease), and Great Exuma Island for $529 round-trip, a 28 percent dip. Looking outside of the summer steals, the ten most popular international destinations include London (no. 1), Paris, Rome, Dublin, Athens, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. The only non-European cities in the top ten? Cancún, Tokyo, and Manila.
If your dates aren't flexible, and you're still looking to travel during summer holidays but missed the April 23 window, adhere to the general rule of thumb and book three weeks ahead of your departure date. Bottom line? Don't procrastinate, especially when it comes to vacation.
This article was originally published in 2017. It has been updated with new information.