Two of the biggest factors in most people’s holiday decision making is where to go and how much can they afford to spend.

Indeed, the chosen destination will often be dictated by the holiday budget, but it’s crucial to also remember that travel prices fluctuate with the seasons – so a third factor worth considering is also when to go on holiday.

As a general rule of thumb, summer is more expensive for holidays than most other seasons. This is due in part to the fact that summer secures the best weather across Europe and the rest of the world, but it’s also because it’s a time of year when many millions of children are at a loose end when schools close.

So with that in mind, it’s probably best avoiding Easter time too – some schools can be off for anything up to a month across the UK. High season madness is what many holidaymakers try to avoid and whilst temperatures might not quite reach the giddy heights of July or August, warm weather can be found across Europe and further afield at most times of year and the perfect weekend break or extended holiday can be little more than a hop, skip and a jump away.

There are disadvantages to travelling in low season too of course, with many places more or less closing down and little atmosphere to savour for thrifty tourists. The happy medium here is what’s known as the shoulder season – the period in between low and high seasons.

Shoulder seasons vary by country and holiday type, so it pays to do a little research before travelling, whilst ensuring the shoulder season doesn’t coincide with school holidays.

For those who like a little winter sport activity, ski resorts often open in later November but won’t hit high-traffic until close to the Christmas period – so hitting the slopes in early to mid December or late March/early April would be a good idea here (again, remembering to check when the schools are off).

If you’re more of a beach bum than a snow lover, then a good time to hit the Mediterranean sunshine is September/October – the weather can still be rather warm and most schools have returned by then, meaning you get all the benefits of a relaxing beach break without the crowds and for a lot less money.

So with your shoulder season holiday booked, all that leaves you to do is book your time off work and sort out some travel insurance. Happy holidays!