Early bookers secure big discounts and the widest selection. Those who go for last-minute deals are banking on remaining availability.
Should you book your 2027 summer vacation now, or is it better to wait until just before departure? The answer depends primarily on how flexible travelers are regarding their destination, hotel, and travel dates. If you have specific preferences or are tied to certain dates—such as school vacations—you should book as early as possible, advises tour operator alltours.
Early bookers benefit twice over: from significant discounts and the widest selection of hotels, rooms, and flights. “Those who go for last-minute deals and book just a few weeks or even days before departure are gambling on remaining spots—with no guarantee of a lower price or the perfect hotel,” says Uwe Mohr, Managing Director of Sales at alltours.
For summer 2027, alltours is currently offering early-bird discounts of up to 50 percent on select hotels. The biggest savings are generally available when booking by the end of December 2026. Depending on the destination and hotel, early-bird discounts may extend through the end of March, and in some cases even through the end of April 2027. As a general rule, the earlier you book, the higher the potential early-bird discount.
Waiting can be costly
“Only those who are very flexible in their vacation planning and willing to compromise on destination, hotel, and flight times should consider booking at the last minute. Depending on the season, however, last-minute prices can also rise significantly. We’re currently seeing this with airfares, which can spike sharply at short notice due to fluctuating jet fuel prices,” explains Mohr.
