It takes 42 days to plan the perfect holiday

Planning your trip 42 days in advance – exactly six weeks – offers the ideal balance between spontaneity and preparedness.

New research from Holiday Extras shows that this holiday planning timeline is the sweet spot – long enough to secure great deals and get organised, but not so long that you lose momentum or tie up plans unnecessarily.

Having a holiday to look forward to is half the reason we love them so much, and six weeks is the perfect amount of time to dream about the beach. Plus, 42 days is how long it takes to get everything ready hassle-free and without a rush at the end that spoils the whole experience.

Here's why six weeks is the magic number for UK travellers aiming for the perfect getaway.

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1. The sweet spot for savings

You're booking your flights and accommodation at the best time for savings and availability. Studies show you can save 48% on your flights by booking now – six weeks gives you plenty of availability and great prices for hotels.

But if you book further ahead than this, unless you're going somewhere ultra-exclusive or for a special event, you might miss out on late-release savings.

2. Just enough time to get in the holiday mood

At least half the fun of every holiday is dreaming about getting to that beach, that city, or that mountain. So it's no surprise that 97% of us say that having a holiday planned makes us happier.

Book for February half-term six weeks ahead and it'll get you through the post-Xmas blues. Book Easter 42 days out and you've seen off the darkest days of February. Six weeks is close enough that you can almost smell the sea air from the office, but far enough away to properly enjoy the build up to your big getaway.

3. Some things just take six weeks

Getting ready for a holiday isn't just fun though – there's a fair bit of work and planning to do.

Six weeks gives you long enough to do it all without a panic at the end, and also gives you time to sort out some of the longer-term paperwork. Need vaccinations? Takes about six weeks. Discovered your passport ran out last year? Six weeks gives you ample time to sort it out.

4. Avoid the last-minute rush

Organising a holiday in a rush doesn't just spoil the glow, it costs more too. 1 in 5 of us admit to leaving something important behind in the scramble for towels and suitcases, and when that happens it costs £140 on average to replace them.

Pack at leisure and you can get the suitcase out early, make a list, check the weather, do the washing, find your beachwear or your skis, and start your trip stress-free.

5. Spread the cost of your holiday

Brits spend more than £3,000 on the big annual holiday, so giving yourself time to book everything lets you budget and spread out all the little expenses.

If you pay for your flights, your extras, your insurance, your sun cream and three new summer outfits the week before you fly, you'll have nothing left on the day for sangria. Six weeks means you can spread the cost of the holiday over two or three paydays and hit the pool with holiday cash to spend.

6. Perfect time to sort your holiday extras

Finally, our own data shows that, on average, travellers really did book their holiday extras 42 days before they flew last year. You can't plan the perfect holiday without them – for a hassle-free trip, you'll need travel insurance, airport parking, airport transfers, and an airport hotel and lounge before you fly.

We helped 11 million people have a better holiday last year, and between them they decided that 42 days was the right amount of time to spend getting ready. We can't argue with that.

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So if you're planning a trip, give yourself 42 days to enjoy it. 42 days to plan and budget. 42 days of dreaming about sea and sunshine. 42 days to get the best price for your flights, your hotel and those holiday extras you need to make your holiday perfect.