Anyone planning a vacation in August and willing to show a little flexibility with dates will find a surprising opportunity: the days around Tisha B’Av (August 3) are the cheapest time to take a summer holiday. A Ynet review reveals price differences of dozens of percentage points on flights, vacation packages, and hotel stays—just because of the calendar.
“Vacation prices are driven by supply and demand. During the period around Tisha B’Av, religious and ultra-Orthodox travelers rarely vacation, which immediately affects pricing,” explains Tamar Garzon, CEO of Gulliver. According to her, those who seize the opportunity can enjoy savings of dozens of percentage points. Indeed, Gulliver is offering a flight to Burgas with Blue Bird on August 1–4 for $344, compared to $544 a week later—an increase of 58%. A week earlier (July 25–28), the price stands at $402—an increase of 17%.
A flight to Crete with Blue Bird on the same dates costs only $291, while a week later it rises to $471—an increase of 62%. Vacation packages follow the same trend: a half-board stay in Rhodes at the 4-star Cathrin Hotel on Tisha B’Av costs $630 per person, compared to $736 a week later—a gap of 16.8%. In Tbilisi, a package including accommodation at the Astoria Hotel costs $542, compared to $809 a week after—a gap of 49%.
Eshet Tours is also offering deeply discounted packages for the dates July 31 to August 3 or August 3–7, to destinations like Batumi, Larnaca, Athens and Budapest—with significantly lower prices compared to the weeks before and after.
Airlines are also showing the trend. A flight to Tbilisi with Georgian Airlines between August 1–4 is offered at $435. A week later, it jumps to $477, and a week earlier, $534—a gap of up to 23%. A flight to Larnaca with Arkia on August 1–4 costs $278, compared to $365 a week later—a gap of 31%. El Al offers a flight to Batumi on the same dates for $497. A week later, the price jumps to $653 (a 31% gap), and a week before it’s $560 (a 13% gap).
“This year, Tisha B’Av falls in early August, just before the end of summer camps—and it’s excellent timing for those looking for a relatively cheap vacation,” explains Shirley Cohen Orkaby, deputy CEO of Eshet Tours. According to her, the lower demand around this date is also reflected in Israeli hotel prices. Israir confirms the trend.
“Vacation package prices abroad tend to be lower from the Three Weeks through Tisha B’Av, compared to August, which is the peak of the summer season,” says Hila Harmolin Ronen, VP of Marketing and Sales at Israir. According to her, the company is offering special deals for customers looking to seize the opportunity.
According to a review by the site lastminute.co.il, in the days before Tisha B’Av (August 2–3), there’s a notable drop in prices on short-haul flights, compared to August’s average. Reductions range from 10% to Barcelona, up to a peak of 27% to Heraklion in Crete. For example, for destinations like Larnaca, the price on Tisha B’Av is $240 per person, compared to an average of $280 during other August dates—a gap of 14%. For a destination like Batumi, the price on Tisha B’Av averages $522 per person, compared to $620 on average during August—a gap of about 16%.
Discounts are also available within Israel. Yoni Waxman, deputy chairman of Ophir Tours, emphasizes: “This year, Tisha B’Av falls right before a weekend—and this creates particularly attractive packages, both for hotels in Israel and abroad. We’re seeing a clear trend of rising demand specifically during this week—from audiences taking advantage of the opportunity.”
Through Gulliver, on Tisha B’Av (July 31–August 3), a room at the Brown Lighthouse Hotel in Eilat is offered at $592, while the same room costs $778 the week before (July 24–27)—a gap of about 31%, and $784 the week after (August 7–10)—a gap of about 32%.
At the Ibis Hotel in central Jerusalem, a room for two with breakfast on Tisha B’Av (July 31–August 3) costs $482. That same room a week earlier (July 24–27) is $572—a gap of about 19%, and a week after (August 7–10), it’s $718—a gap of about 49%.
At the Leonardo Club Hotel in Tiberias, an all-inclusive double room on Tisha B’Av (July 31–August 3) costs $879. A week earlier (July 24–27), the same room costs $974—an increase of about 10%, and a week after (August 7–10), it costs $1,030—an increase of about 17%.
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“There are dates in the calendar that consistently trigger price drops—and Tisha B’Av is one of them,” says Oren Cohen Meguri, VP of Marketing at Flying Carpet. “Even if the date itself doesn’t fall on the travel day, its proximity to the fast has a major impact.” According to him, the currently weak U.S. dollar also allows travelers to find especially attractive vacation deals.
Shiri Ventura, VP of Marketing at Africa Israel Hotels, adds: “Fasting begins on Saturday night—allowing for a long weekend at a discounted rate. The price gaps range from 12% to 28% between Tisha B’Av and nearby weeks.” According to their data: Vert Dead Sea Hotel is offered on Tisha B’Av at $312, compared to $383 on another date—a gap of 23%; Vert Eilat: $322 compared to the regular price of $444—a 38% difference; Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv: $400 versus $491 (19%); Poli House Tel Aviv: $331 compared to $392 (15%).