When is the best time to book a cheap winter holiday?

Escaping the British winter for sunshine and heat during the colder months can be expensive, but there are ways to bag cheap winter sun - including choosing the right time to book.

New research has revealed that the best time to book a winter sun holiday is between three to eight weeks and depends on the destination.

Global travel search website Skyscanner analysed thousands of flight searches from the UK to reveal when is the best time to book for the most popular winter city destinations.

Travellers thinking of spending winter in Bangkok should book their flights three weeks before travelling, while those looking at Miami should buy flights six weeks before their trip.

Sydney is extremely popular among winter sun tourists and holidaymakers can bag the cheapest flights to the Australian city by booking six weeks in advance. Those heading for Hong Kong will need to book eight weeks early if they want a good deal.

Skyscanner also analysed other popular winter destinations, including Geneva, which attracts skiers and tourists on Christmas market breaks. It found that booking three weeks in advance was best for the most affordable flights.

Berlin, which is one of the hottest city break destinations in Europe at the moment, should be booked five weeks before departure.

The destinations picked for the analysis were chosen as their popularity soars over the winter period, with the biggest increase in searches between August and December of all global cities.

Skyscanner told AOL Travel that the analysis follows a detailed study at the beginning of the year in which Skyscanner revealed that in general the best time to book for the best chance of cheapest fares is five weeks before travel.

However, the study also highlighted that it depends on the destination and analysed the top ten most popular country destinations including Spain, Greece, France and Portugal, typically popular summer destinations.

Mary Porter, at Skyscanner, said: "Without a doubt this is the most commonly asked question we get as everyone wants to increase their chances of getting a bargain.

"As always our advice if you really want to ensure you get a good deal is to track fares by signing up for price alerts on your chosen route."