UAE residents are discovering a clever way to slash their travel expenses by simply adjusting their holiday dates. Shekhar Kumar, an Indian expat and digital marketer, initially planned a trip during the UAE National Day break but was deterred by the steep costs. After consulting three travel agents, he found that booking packages independently would still cost him between Dh2,700 and Dh3,000. However, by shifting his trip by just six days, he managed to secure flights and hotels at nearly half the price. This strategy is not unique to Shekhar; two of his colleagues have also joined him on this cost-effective journey. According to Khaleej Times’ analysis, airfare and hotel rates can drop by up to 100% when traveling immediately after the National Day holiday. For instance, round-trip airfare to Caucasus destinations during the holiday window ranged between Dh2,700 and Dh3,000, but dropped to Dh1,300 to Dh1,500 for departures a week later. Similarly, mid-range hotel stays that cost Dh480 to Dh800 per night during the holiday period fell to Dh230 to Dh380 post-holiday. This trend is consistent across major online travel platforms like Skyscanner, Cleartrip, and Wego. Residents with flexible work arrangements are increasingly adopting this ‘post-holiday’ travel strategy to maximize savings. Rashed Mohammed, another Dubai resident, saved over half the cost of his Baku trip by moving his travel dates from November 29 to December 7. This approach has become a routine for many, offering the same destination and experience at a fraction of the cost.