When you decide to fly can make a big difference to how much you pay. Some holiday-goers arrange to travel on Christmas Day expecting it to be a bargain, only to find it's not. The Friday before Christmas Day is another day to avoid as it's usually very busy, and the same is true of 16th December.
That said, the 23rd December is usually affordable, and 28th to 31st December is also a good time to fly. Many destinations get ready for Christmas as early as 25th November, so you can potentially save on Christmas holiday deals by taking your holiday early. Think of it as a way to recharge your batteries before the family obligations of the Yuletide season, plus it's an opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping and pick up some unique gifts to go under the Christmas tree.
It's also important to consider where you're going. For example, Bulgaria can be more affordable than some other ski holiday destinations, and the Algarve and Costa del Sol are more of an entry-level option for a winter sun holiday than Thailand. If you're keen to holiday in the sun on a budget, prices tend to drop as the Advent period approaches, so it's well worth holding off and seeing what lastminute.com has to offer.