Winter travel cheat sheet: Best days to save, busiest to avoid for UAE travellers

Dubai: UAE travellers are planning winter getaways with value, variety and ways to save firmly in mind — and new Expedia data shows exactly how to time your trip for lower rates and which destinations are rising fastest in popularity.

With cultural capitals, snowy ski towns and warm island escapes all trending, this winter travel cheat sheet breaks down the smartest days to stay, the busiest dates to avoid and the places UAE residents are booking this season.

Top UAE travel trends

Expedia’s Winter Travel Outlook shows a sharp rise in interest across three types of winter breaks:

1. Cultural city escapes: Madrid (+165%) and Amsterdam (+155%) stand out as the strongest European cultural draws, fuelled by winter markets, festive events and architecture that stays impressive long after peak season crowds fade.

2. Alpine and winter-sun extremes: Searches for St. Moritz are up 125%, driven by UAE travellers looking to swap desert heat for the Swiss Alps. Cold-weather favourites like Prague (+50%) and Toronto (+35%) are also gaining momentum.

3. Tropical island breaks: For travellers chasing warmth, Thailand continues to dominate. Phuket and Bangkok remain among the most-searched destinations, while Krabi’s interest surge of 135% shows strong demand for short-haul sunshine.

“This winter, UAE travelers are embracing variety like never before, from tropical escapes in Thailand, festive European cities in Madrid and Amsterdam to ski adventures in St. Moritz,” said a spokesperson for Expedia Group.

“To make the most of these trips, timing is key; staying on February 3 or 15 can unlock the best rates, while bundling flights and hotels can save hundreds.”

Best days to save — busiest to avoid

Expedia’s data points to clear booking patterns this winter:

• Cheapest days to stay: February 3 and 15

• Least busy days: January 3 and 4

• Most expensive days: December 21 and January 2

• Busiest travel days: December 22 and 28

For UAE travellers balancing budget and timing, these dates offer a blueprint for planning smarter and avoiding peak crowds.

Where UAE travellers going this winter

Cultural hotspots

• Madrid (+165%) – strong demand for festive markets, museums and food culture

• Amsterdam (+155%) – winter lights festivals, canal views and culture-packed weekends

Snow escapes

• St. Moritz (+125%) – ski slopes, winter sports and luxury alpine stays

• Prague (+50%), Toronto (+35%) – cold-weather cities rising in popularity

Warm-weather favourites

• Krabi (+135%), Phuket, Bangkok – strong demand for short-haul beach and sun holidays

Traveller tips:

• Use Black Friday / Cyber Week deals: Expedia is offering up to 50% off thousands of hotels between Nov 20–Dec 2.

• Bundle flights + hotels: This can save hundreds on longer trips.

• Leverage public holidays: UAE National Day (December 1–2) gives travellers a chance to take a short break while preserving annual leave for the festive period.