Many people have already made reservations for their 2026 holidays. Families in particular should plan carefully, because travel prices are constantly rising. At the same time, politicians in Germany want to bring some relief to the market by reducing the tax on airline tickets from July 2026.
Travel agencies are registering an exceptionally high level of interest, confirms Manuela Euler, who runs a small travel agency in Niederau, Hesse. Never before have bookings for summer holidays started so early, she says. "We reached the usual number of reservations two months earlier than usual", Euler told ARD.
Cheaper if you book early
The first inquiries came in already in the summer of this year - for trips next year. The reason: due to the sharply rising prices, customers want certainty when planning and, above all, they are trying to save on potential increases in the coming months.
Many families come to travel agencies with an average budget of around 5,000 euros, ARD reports. However, the expectations of the agency's clients often do not match the prices of the holidays they want. Those who book early, however, can still save: bookings for next year's autumn holiday are 500 to 1,000 euros lower than last-minute travel prices, according to Euler.
Bookings are already being taken for 2027
The Bassermann family also plans well in advance. Their dream: a cruise to the Caribbean on the ship "Aida". For 14 days, including airfare, they have to pay around 15,000 euros for four people. "You have to book early, otherwise the places sell out", Sandra Bassermann tells ARD. "If you have specific ideas, it's better to plan early", adds her husband. The fact that cruises for 2025 are already almost fully booked confirms their assumptions.
According to a recent travel analysis, as early as September 43% of Germans had concrete plans for a holiday next year or had already made reservations. Tourism expert Bente Grimm commented: "After food and entertainment, holidays have the highest priority in consumption. People consciously and happily spend their money on it - especially for longer trips.”
In 2024, around 56 million Germans travelled - more than ever before. A record amount of 90 billion euros was spent. Initial estimates show that the numbers will continue to grow.
Travel as a status symbol, even with very expensive plane tickets
Travel also plays an important role in social terms. According to Grimm, the opportunity to travel and talk about it is simply part of life. It is not only important whether you travel, but also where you go. On social media, photos from distant destinations are particularly well received. The demand for distant destinations is growing - despite the significant increase in the price of airline tickets. For the first time, more Germans have traveled by plane than by car to go on vacation.
Daniel de Carvalho from the airline Condor explains why it is expensive to fly from Germany. "A single flight from Frankfurt costs us almost 5,000 euros.” The cost of a plane landing at an airport in Germany's neighboring countries is significantly lower: in Austria 3,785 euros, and in Switzerland 2,861 euros. Madrid (660 euros) and Istanbul (522 euros) are particularly advantageous compared to German fees, for example. Germany is clearly uncompetitive for airlines, which is why many of them have moved their locations abroad, according to De Carvalho.
Now that has to change. The German government has decided to reduce the air transport tax from July 1, 2026, ARD recalls. This is a step that will bring relief to the industry, although with limited effect, according to De Carvalho. "Costs for German airports have doubled in five years", he says. For passengers, the change in the tax is almost imperceptible: depending on the route, the price of a ticket is reduced by 3 to 13 euros – amounts that are unlikely to be reflected in current airfares. Whether by plane, train or ship, travel remains expensive. At the same time, demand is growing like never before. Early planning is becoming increasingly important, the time for last-minute bargains is over.
Author: Anke Heinhaus (ARD)