Everybody loves to get away from modern life once in a while, even if it is only for a few weeks every year. What nobody loves is having to spend hours online hoping and trying to find the best holiday deals, only to find out a few days later there was a better deal to be found somewhere else.

Luckily, there are ways to avoid losing out on the huge amount of holiday deals available online. The best way to find great holiday deals is to have a checklist of everything that you need for your own person dream break. Ask yourself the most important questions: Do I want a package deal? Do I want an all inclusive break? When am I realistically able to leave?

Answering only these three questions will narrow down your search instantly and enable you to quickly check which holiday deals measure up.

The cheapest holidays are generally those that are the most popular. If your holiday is considered ‘typical’ then you are likely to find that a good package deal is your best option. A typical holiday is normally one that lasts either 7, 10 or 14 nights and travels to a popular tourist destination. If you don’t think that your ideal break fits into those parameters, don’t worry – you can still find good holiday deals by booking your own flights and hotel and comparing the best prices.

Although it isn’t always the case, booking last minute is great for package holidays, while booking in advance works best for flights. Package holidays will sharply reduce their price in order to fill up spaces. On the other hand last minute flights to popular destinations – especially cities – will actually be more expensive due to airlines pushing the price up to accommodate business passengers.