How to track a holiday price and get an alert when it changes

Step 1: pin down one specific holiday

A price only means something for one exact trip. Before you track anything, choose the details that set the price on the provider's own site:

• the dates, or the arrival date and number of nights
• the departure airport, for a package holiday
• who is travelling: adults, children and their ages
• the board basis, such as room only, bed and breakfast or all inclusive
• the room, lodge or cottage you would actually book

A hotel page with none of these chosen does not point at a single price, so there is nothing to track yet.

Step 2: copy the full link

Once the page shows a price for your trip, copy the whole address from your browser. Most holiday sites put your choices in the address itself, which is how a tracker knows which price to read. Do not shorten it, and do not copy a search results page.

We can read links from TUI, First Choice, Jet2holidays, Haven, Hoseasons, Norfolk Hideaways, cottages.com and Novasol. Each has a page explaining what a good link looks like, such as how to track a TUI price or how to track a Jet2holidays price.

Step 3: choose the alert that fits what you want

There are three alert rules, and the right one depends on your goal:

• Any change: you hear about every move, up or down. Good when you are undecided and want to see how the price behaves.
• Drops below a figure: you hear only when the price reaches a number you would be happy to pay. Good when you have a budget.
• Rises above a figure: you hear if the price climbs past a limit. Good when you have already decided to book and want to know if waiting is costing you.

Step 4: decide your "good enough" price

It helps to decide before the alert arrives what price would make you book. Compare per-person prices rather than totals if the size of your party might change, and check what the price includes: baggage, transfers, meals and deposits can differ between offers that look similar.

What to do when an alert arrives

Treat the email as a prompt to check, not a promise. Open the provider's site, confirm the price and availability for your exact trip, and decide. Prices can change between the moment we check and the moment you click, and a holiday can sell out. If it does, we tell you the holiday is no longer available so you are not left waiting.

Ready to start? Set up a tracker in a minute. You only need the link and an email address.

Common questions

• Is it free to track a holiday price?

  Yes. There is no charge and no account. You need a holiday link and an email address. See how the site is funded for how we cover our costs.

• How often is the price checked?

  About every 30 minutes. You are only emailed when your alert rule is met, not for every check.

• Can I track several holidays at once?

  Yes. Create one tracker for each holiday or each set of dates you want to compare, and manage them from the link in your emails.