Travel experts have revealed that early September is the best time to book your holiday, with Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th being the optimal time to travel for those not tied to school holidays.
Holiday Extras, the UK market leader in extras such as airport parking, lounges, hotels and more, notes that five different travel factors line up on this specific weekend to make it the best time to travel.
1. Cooler air, warm seas
This summer has been incredibly hot throughout the Mediterranean, which has seen wildfires and evacuations in destinations. However, in early September, the weather begins to correct itself – rapidly reducing the risk of wildfires. Fortunately, water retains summer’s heat longer than air does, meaning sea temperatures stay close to a glorious 25 to 27°C in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Italy.
2. EES Flexibility comes to an end
The EU’s Entry and Exit System (EES) became mandatory this April, however, border authorities have been allowed to temporarily ease biometric checks at busy crossings to keep queues moving. This flexibility, which has made travelling a smoother and faster process, comes to an end on 6th September. This means that travelling before 6th September could lead to a shorter waiting time at the border before the EES checks are enforced once more.
3. Prices begin to decrease
With Scottish schools already back in mid-August and schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland returning from 1st September, there will be a sharp drop in flight demand by families – and flight prices usually follow. Industry pricing data consistently puts September rates 20 to 30% below August across the Mediterranean. Some routes and hotel categories drop even further after the first week back at school.
4. Fewer tourists allowing more space and maximising relaxation
A clear upside of the summer crowd heading home results in an overall better experience for you. Think shorter queues, quieter flights and hotels, and it’s much easier to book a restaurant table or find the perfect spot by the pool.
In addition to this, 2026 has been a year of growing concern over overtourism across southern Europe. Destinations such as Barcelona, Amsterdam and Santorini have all put measures into place to manage visitor numbers and prevent overpopulation of popular tourist hotspots. Spain has even seen protests in which locals try to highlight the pressure that peak-season tourism puts on local communities. Travelling after school holidays helps spread the demand more evenly, and you will often find quieter attractions and a more relaxed atmosphere.
5. Airline fuel hedges are still holding, for now
Jet fuel prices have been volatile throughout 2026, with industry data reflecting that European airlines have hedged, on average, 80% of their fuel needs for this year. This has helped keep the summer’s fares more stable than raw oil prices would suggest. That protection does, however, become thinner next year. Many airlines have secured a smaller share of their expected 2027 fuel needs, which has left fares more exposed if fuel prices do remain high. It isn’t a reason to fly on its own, but it is a nudge in favour of going now rather than waiting for prices to creep up.
Seamus McCauley, Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras, said:
“You don’t often get five separate factors pointing at the same few days on the calendar, but that’s what’s happened here. The EES flexibility runs out on 6 September, prices drop as soon as the school holidays end, and the crowds thin out with them, which matters this year more than most given how much of the summer has been dominated by overtourism protests and new visitor caps across Spain, Greece and Italy.
“On top of that, after the heat and the wildfires this summer has brought, the cooler air that September usually delivers is going to feel very welcome, and the sea’s still at its warmest. Add in the fact that airlines are still comparatively well hedged on fuel for the rest of this year, and the case for the first weekend of September builds itself. If you’re not tied to school holidays, this is the weekend to book.”
For more information and to book your Extras, visit: https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-blog/sep-5th-2026.html
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