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With holiday prices varying so much from season to season, bargains can be hard to pin down. But according to global traveller data, it’s possible to book an affordable holiday based on the month you visit, with significant savings of up to 92%. Here’s a month-by-month guide to the best travel accommodation deals.* January - Stockholm, Sweden See the old town, Gamla Stan, coated with a fresh blanket of snow Stockholm in January means affordable accommodation, plenty of culture, ‘mysigt’ (a Swedish word that roughly translates to cosiness) and the chance to see the city beneath a fresh blanket of snow. Take a walking tour of the old town, Gamla Stan, and visit all the museums (with free entry) before stopping for ‘fika’, a Swedish tradition of coffee and cake (a cinnamon or cardamom roll is a typical choice) intended to make you slow down, sit with others and appreciate the simpler things. Warm up after a day outdoors with an evening at the theatre. Or sample craft beer and jazz at the warmly-lit and cluttered cellar bar, Stampen. January is also prime time for a Swedish sauna, Swedish massage, or – if you’re feeling brave – a sauna plus icy dip in the lake at Hellasgården, just outside the city (take a short bus ride to get there). The average price of accommodation in Stockholm in January is 41% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Check into the Castle House Inn, right in the middle of the old town. February - New York, USA A festive, February scene of frozen ponds and blue skies in Central Park February in New York may be chilly but, provided you wrap up warm, you’ll be able to enjoy its myriad advantages, too. As well as being the city's cheapest month of the year for accommodation, there’s ice skating, romance everywhere for Valentine’s Day, the Lunar New Year taking over Chinatown, and Restaurant Week (when the city’s finest restaurants offer discounted prix fixe meals for the first week of the month). February in New York is 92% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Stay moments from Central Park at the Chambers Hotel. March - Lisbon, Portugal March's milder weather makes it easier to walk the hilly, cobbled streets of the Alfama district March sees Lisbon transition into spring, with warm, dry weather and bright, clear days. It’s also shoulder season, so accommodation is 35% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. The milder weather makes it easier to walk the hilly, cobbled streets of the Alfama district, where you’ll find key sights like the Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), with shorter queues than in midsummer. And during March, it’s still warm enough to sit outside at a bar, drinking Portuguese wine and listening to some of the city’s traditional fado music. The central Alfama location and views of the port from your balcony make a stay at Alfama by Lisbon Inside Out a savvy option. April - Istanbul, Turkey Flowers blossoming in Sultanahmet Park in April The beginning of spring is ideal for a city break to Istanbul, with warmer temperatures (though the evenings do get much colder), flowers blossoming in Sultanahmet Park and cheaper accommodation rates; April in Istanbul is 21% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. It’s warm enough to wander from the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque to the Grand Bazaar, or to visit flea markets like Feriköy or Bomonti, stopping at the Galata Tower and tasting Turkish coffee in little cafés en route. Finally, head to Ortakoy Square to join the locals eating baked potatoes by the Bosphorus, before taking a boat trip along the river. Stay in the Taksim neighbourhood, not far from both flea markets and next door to a Turkish hammam, at Hammamhane. May - Kyoto, Japan Witness Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri, a festival that falls on the 15th May each year Cherry blossom or ‘sakura’ season in Japan is, admittedly, sensationally pretty. And though May usually marks the departure of this natural spectacle, you may still catch the tail end, while enjoying significantly cheaper accommodation prices and mild weather. May in Kyoto is 39% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Visitors will also get to enjoy Aoi Matsuri, a festival that falls on the 15th May each year, bringing a parade of people in kimonos and traditional costumes from the Imperial Palace to the Shimagamo Shrine, where dancing and games begin. Stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan just a 17-minute walk from Shimagamo, at Marikoji Inn Kyoto. June - Singapore, Singapore Singapore's Botanic Gardens is home to 10,000 species of flora Towards the end of Singapore’s high season, June is a savvy time to visit price- and weather-wise. Temperatures range between the early and late twenties and the air is humid, but with less rain than the monsoon months of November to January. It’s also 15% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. In between fine dining and exploring the city’s nightlife, visit the Botanic and National Orchid Gardens, where you’ll find 60,000 orchid plants consisting of 1000 species. Stay in a contemporary, slate-hued suite at Le Grove Serviced Residences, just a short walk from the gardens. July - Amsterdam, The Netherlands Bask in the sun in Vondelpark in July Summer is a glorious season to stroll around Amsterdam’s whimsically pretty canals. Yet surprisingly, July is still 12% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year (thanks to King’s Day falling in April – a nationwide celebration that turns the city into a giant party). Sample the best apple pie in the city and sit canalside at Winkel 43, bask in the sun in Vondelpark, or head to Amsterdamse Bos (a forest just outside the city centre) to kayak and swim in rivers and lakes. Make yourself at home in this canal studio apartment, just around the corner from Winkel 43. August - Berlin, Germany Deck chairs line the river in summertime Berlin August in Berlin can be very sunny and hot, meaning visitors will get to enjoy swimming in the lakes just outside the city, or picnicking on the Tempelhof, an abandoned airfield turned public park frequented by joggers, kite-flyers and rollerbladers. Summer in the city also sees numerous boat parties and al fresco bars, where you can revel in the balmy weather and party until dawn. August in Berlin is 44% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. Check into Orania.Berlin, a historic hotel in Kreuzberg, not far from the Tempelhof. September - Orlando, USA September is prime time to visit Walt Disney World and its famous Cinderella castle September in Orlando is 37% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. And since most children have gone back to school by this point, the city’s main attraction – Walt Disney World – will be far quieter. Once you’ve breezed through the park’s shorter queues and enjoyed all it has to offer, visit Orlando’s Wekiwa Springs State Park for some gator-spotting or Church Street Station for dinner and shopping. Stay a 10-minute drive away from Walt Disney World at Marriott's Harbour Lake, where a pirate-themed activity programme will keep children entertained. October - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October brings good weather to Rio, and avoids the Carnival tourist rush Though you will miss Carnival, October is just on the cusp of summer in Rio and is a great time to go. The cultural calendar kicks off at this time of year (check out the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival), accommodation prices are 39% cheaper than the most expensive month, and the spring weather is warm and dry. Plus, you’ll have more space to stretch out on the beach with fewer tourists in the city than during peak season. Sitting by the outdoor infinity pool shrouded in greenery at Casa Geranio, you'll find it hard to believe you're in the city. November - Los Angeles, USA Spend sunny November afternoons on the beach in Santa Monica November in Los Angeles is 24% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. The autumn weather is also pleasantly mild, with temperatures hovering around the mid twenties and – while it can be rainy – the sunshine is still warm enough for walks and sunbathing on the beach. Your trip will also coincide with the city gearing up for Thanksgiving, with parades, events and luminescent displays. Check into the The Charlie West Hollywood, a luxurious hotel once home to Charlie Chaplin. December - Valencia, SpainA Christmas fair in The Modernisme Plaza of the City Hall of Valencia Though December is one of the coldest months in Valencia, the Mediterranean climate means it’s still relatively mild – as well as being 40% cheaper than the most expensive month of the year. The city’s Gothic and Renaissance buildings and monuments are spotlit in festive colours, ice skating rinks and Christmas markets pop up throughout the city, and you’ll have an excuse to stuff your face with turrón (a Valencian sweet and typical Christmas treat not dissimilar to nougat). Stay in a minimalist suite just 250 metres from Valencia Cathedral at L'Esplai Valencia B&B. **The data analysts at Booking.com looked at internal pricing data across 2018 for the most-booked destinations by Booking.com customers. They then established the average price of accommodations per month (taking into account only completed stays), and compared these to find the most affordable month to visit. Share |
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