How to find 'The One': Step 5
So many people overpay for their holiday. Don't be one of them.
Timing matters more than luck. This is how to book without regret.
By the time you reach this stage, you’ve done most of the hard work.
You’ve filtered the noise, ditched the catfish, and you’re left with one or two holidays that actually fit. This is the moment most people slip up.
Not because they rush, but because they guess.
This step is about understanding why a price is what it is, spotting genuine value, and making sure you never overpay for the holiday you’ve already nailed down.
The things most people don't realise
Here’s something most people don’t realise: holiday prices aren’t random, but they’re not obvious either.
A price can look cheap and still be bad value. A price can look expensive and actually be spot on.
Most people don’t overpay because they’re careless. They overpay because they don’t understand why a price is what it is.
And once you understand that, everything changes.
Why holidays cost what they cost (in plain English)
Here’s the simple version. A package holiday is basically two things stuck together: the flight + the hotel.
And the final price is driven by three main factors:
🚦 Availability: how many seats and rooms are left.
🔥 Popularity: how many people want that exact week.
🛫 Flight frequency: how often airlines fly that route.
So when you see a price, sense-check it like this:
If you think the hotel is great, but the dates are popular and flights are limited - it suddenly makes sense why the price is what it is.
If the holiday looks great but the price feels high - check the dates. Is it a bank holiday? A peak weekend? A school-adjacent week?
If the price feels surprisingly low - do one last sweep of the reviews. Make sure nothing obvious is missing.
Always check what's actually included
Before you decide whether a deal is “good” or “bad”, make sure you’re comparing like for like. Double-check things like:
Is “all inclusive” properly all inclusive?
Have you added extras, like transfers?
Are there any free Perks baked in?
For example, we’ve recently re-launched Perks on loads of holidays like Free Airport Lounge Access on 5* holidays and Free Weather Protection on 3* holidays (which is literally cash back if it rains on your holiday).
That’s instant added value people miss all the time.
The most important question to ask yourself:
Before you book, ask yourself this, honestly:
“Would I be annoyed if someone else got this cheaper next week?”
If the answer is yes, pause. You’re not wrong… you’re just not ready to book yet.
This isn’t about waiting forever, but it’s about booking with confidence instead of blind hope.
The free hack everyone misses: Price Drop Protection
Here’s the thing that completely changes how you should book a holiday - and almost everybody misses it.
Price Drop Protection.
It’s included for free when you book with On the Beach, and it does exactly what you wish booking sites always did.
Once you’ve booked, the price of your holiday is tracked for you automatically, every single day. If the exact same holiday (same hotel, same dates, same board basis) drops in price after you’ve booked? You can claim the difference back.
No cancelling. No rebooking. No stress.
So instead of thinking, “What if this gets cheaper next week?” you can just… book.
Because if it does drop, you still win. And if it doesn’t, you’re already sorted.
It completely removes the fear of booking “too early” or “at the wrong time”. Honestly, once you know about this, you’d never book without it.
And now, it's over to you...
This step is about removing regret - understanding why the price is what it is, making sure you know what’s included, and using a safety net that means you literally can’t overpay.
Once that’s done, there’s only one thing left. Actually pressing book. And that’s where most people stall.
Which is exactly what Step Six is all about...
