Top Easter destinations that won’t break the bank, revealed
Yes, you can still score a cheap(ish) break over the peak season. But you'd best book quick.
Now that January is over and done with, the next big holiday to look forward to is just weeks away. Hopefully, you've booked your Easter leave already but if not, make sure to check out our clever holiday hack where you can turn 7 days of annual leave into a 16 day holiday.
FYI the Easter long weekend this year is 19-22 April 2019.
Not surprisingly, Skyscanner has found that flights over the Easter holiday are likely to be 24% more expensive than during the rest of the year. Luckily, if you're still in the market for a bargain, the travel site has revealed the top destinations to consider and the ones to avoid due to price hikes.
Value destinations to explore this Easter
Although holiday periods are notorious for sky-high airfares, especially when coupled with school holidays, Skyscanner's data reveals that there are still some top international destinations that don't bear an inflated price tag over the season.
With savings of more than $200 (29%) Manila tops the list. Taipei also offers similar savings making it 15% cheaper than during other points of the year.
These are all the cities that are cheaper over the Easter holiday compared to the rest of the year with savings estimated from Sydney.
Money-saving destinations to visit this Easter:
| City | Estimated savings on airfare |
|---|---|
| Manila | 29% |
| Beijing | 19% |
| Shanghai | 18% |
| Kathmandu | 18% |
| Taipei | 15% |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 7% |
| Bangkok | 6% |
| Kuala Lumpur | 5% |
Pricier destinations to avoid paying a premium
While it's usually a given that travel costs tend to increase during Easter, Skyscanner's data also reveals certain hotspots that see price hikes up to 30% more than other travel periods.
The most significant differences tend to be for interstate travel and New Zealand, with Christchurch, Queenstown and Hamilton Island being the key culprits, all with more than 15% increases in airfares.
Here are some of the more popular destinations where travellers can expect to pay a premium, from Sydney:
Destinations to avoid this Easter:
| City | Estimated hike in airfare |
|---|---|
| Christchurch | 20% |
| Queenstown | 17% |
| Hamilton Island | 16% |
| Ballina | 13% |
| Port Vila | 10% |
| Gold Coast | 10% |
| Tokyo | 6% |
| Hobart | 5% |
| Cairns | 4% |
| Perth | 3% |
| Sunshine Coast | 3% |
Aussie staple Bali is another top offender during this period, with airfares to the Indonesian island increasing by almost a third (30%) for travellers from Adelaide, and over 10% from Melbourne and Perth.
What deals are still available?
Skyscanner has also scoured the Internet to find some great deals for those still looking for your Easter destination.
Think fares like Adelaide to Melbourne from $188, Brisbane to Hong Kong from $599, Perth to Kuala Lumpur from $659, Sydney to Los Angeles from $819 and Melbourne to London from $999.
Check out all the recommended routes and sale fares through Skyscanner here or search for your Easter flight below.
