Thousands of Irish people will be looking to head to sunnier climates over the summer months, as consumer confidence skyrockets post-Covid.
Over the last two years, many have been bound to their homes as measures to curb the spread of the virus put a halt on the annual family getaway.
Now that the EU has agreed on a set of travel rules, making breaks away much easier for those who have received their vaccinations, plenty of passengers are already planning out their upcoming trips.
So whether you’re headed away in May, June, July, or August this summer, if you can agree on a week that suits this far in advance, you’ll bag a major bargain from Irish airliners.
We have researched all of the cheapest flights to Spain, Italy and France this summer before prices begin to fluctuate, so here’s everything you need to know:
All flights are based on travelling from the 11th - 18th of each month.
Spain
Plenty of popular Spanish holiday destinations are located just a drive away from the city of Malaga, so securing flights well in advance of your holiday could save a fortune.
In mid May, the cheapest return flights currently available are with Ryanair for just €73 if you’re willing to arrive as late as 11:45 pm and arrive home at 10:15 am.
For the more popular early out flight and late home, the cost with Ryanair remains the cheapest at €117.
June is a much more popular month for couples to jet off for some much-needed R&R, and so flights are that bit more expensive.
For the middle of the month, you can bag a return trip with Ryanair for €154, while the cheapest option with Aer Lingus is at €221 for the same timeframe.
July is the month that most families head away after schools have closed, and so again, flights jump in cost.
The most budget-friendly option with Ryanair will set you back around €177, and with Aer Lingus you’ll pay up to €323.
As the high-season winds down in August you can generally expect to find some great deals on round trips to European destinations.
The cheapest option at the moment for those headed to Malaga is €96 with Ryanair, and with Aer Lingus over and back it will be around €218.
France
As for those headed to the coasts of France this summer, the same cost fluctuations apply to popular destinations.
For example, in May you can head to Bordeaux on a return trip with Ryanair in the middle of the month for as little as €41, and with Aer Lingus for €104.
In June, your return trip with Ryanair will set you back around €100 and with Aer Lingus, €173.
July will set you back slightly more with the current mid-month flights priced at €123 for Ryanair, and €206 for Aer Lingus.
August once again proves to be the cheapest month for those heading away for some sun, with a seven-day round trip with Ryanair mid-month costing €57 and €121 with KLM.
Italy
For those dreaming of heading away on a break to a city like Rome, the month of May seems to be the most budget-friendly.
In May, if you were to head to Ciampino (the cheaper option as opposed to Fiumicino) there are currently Ryanair flights available, out on May 11 and back on May 18 for just €61 with Ryanair.
In June it’ll be €95 with Ryanair, while July for the same period of time is currently around €158.
August is at €89 at this point with Ryanair, however, prices are bound to fluctuate as the summer months grow closer.
Passengers headed to any of the aforementioned countries are reminded that they should check all of the required documents and testing needed for entry on arrival.
Your vaccination cert must be no older than 270 days from your final dose - unless you’ve received a booster, and in that case have no expiry date.
Those travelling on a recovery cert have 180 days before vaccination is vital for travel.
