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As we move into spring, March 2026 holiday prices have edged down slightly, with Cheekytrip’s latest analysis showing an overall 2.7% decrease compared to March 2025.
While this marks a return to falling prices overall, the data reveals a mixed and increasingly divided market, with clear contrasts between booking windows, destinations, and travel types.
Booking Window Breakdown - Mixed Picture Across Timeframes
- Holidays departing within 1 week: up 4.2% year-on-year
- Holidays departing within 1 month: down 2.1%
- Holidays departing in 6 months: down 9.2%
This highlights a familiar trend in 2026 so far: last-minute demand remains strong, pushing up immediate prices, while those booking further ahead are benefitting from increasingly competitive deals.
Short-Haul vs Long-Haul Trends
- Short-haul holidays: down 9.0% compared to March 2025
- Long-haul holidays: up 6.1% year-on-year
This widening gap continues to define the market, with European destinations offering better value, while long-haul trips, particularly popular winter and spring sun destinations, are seeing price increases driven by demand.
Destination Breakdown - Winners and Losers Emerge
March shows a clear split between rising and falling destinations, with some seeing sharp increases while others offer significant savings.
Notable Price Increases
- Cape Verde: nearly +25%, the biggest riser once again
- Bulgaria: +15.1%
- Caribbean: up year-on-year
- Mexico: up year-on-year
- Canary Islands: up year-on-year
Notable Price Decreases
- Malta: -29.1%
- Greece: -15.6%
- Spain: down year-on-year
- Portugal: down year-on-year
Cape Verde continues its strong run of price increases, while Malta and Greece stand out as some of the best-value destinations currently available.
Expert Commentary
Steve Campion, Managing Director at Cheeky Trip, commented on March’s trends:
“March reinforces what we’ve been seeing throughout the start of 2026: a market that’s far from uniform. While overall prices are down slightly, there’s a clear split between destinations and booking windows.”
He added:
“Short-haul holidays are offering particularly good value right now, down 9% year-on-year, while long-haul prices continue to rise. Destinations like Malta and Greece are presenting real opportunities for savvy travellers, especially those willing to book ahead.”
Summary
March 2026 highlights a balanced but divided travel market, with a slight overall price drop masking significant differences across destinations and travel types.
For holidaymakers, the message is clear: flexibility is key. With some destinations rising sharply and others falling significantly, there are still excellent deals to be found, especially for those planning ahead or considering alternative locations.
Where are you planning your next trip? Let us know in the comments! ✈️
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