Best Time to Book Flights for the Holidays

Planning on traveling for the holidays? Better book right away! The prices tend to go up the closer it gets.

Travelocity helped provide some tips on when the best time to book for the holidays is. Using their winter date, the site determined that the average round-trip domestic airfare is $450, up 7.5 percent from last year. The international airfare average is also up slight to $1,016, which is a 2.5 percent increase from last year.

When it comes to hotels, the average daily rate for domestic hotels this winter is $204 and $342 for international. Travelocity says these are the prices to beat, but if travelers book early and can be flexible with their travel dates, the prices tend to be cheaper.

According to Travelocity, which took three years of holiday booking data into consideration, travelers should try to book their Christmas flights by November 12 for the best deal. However those who still aren't sure of their travel plans may have a chance to get a deal later in the season. The data shows that there is usually a drop in fares three weeks before the holiday (around December 4 - 10) before it increases.

Here is the booking week fare data according to Travelocity:

Travelocity also says that certain travel days are cheaper than others. The site recommends that people should be flexible with their travel dates if they want to save money. Doing so can save travelers more than $350. The site says that travelers will play less if they leave for their Christmas vacation on Monday, December 23 or after. Flights on the weekend are more expensive. When returning, Travelocity says prices fluctuate about $100, with the highest prices being on Sunday, December 29 or Monday, December 30.