A travel expert has named their top money saving tips if you're looking for some winter sun or want to go skiing in the coming months. Is it better to book a flight on this side of Christmas? Or perhaps wait until January? Is skiing totally out of reach for most families? Speaking to the PA news agency, an industry guru has answers.

One of the biggest issues is knowing when to book. However, Cat Jordan, travel expert at Travelzoo, says January is ideal. "The post Christmas peak means that you will find some big brands pitting themselves against each other and trying to capture your attention to book.

"A great example is 'kids go free'. Booking in January can help control and stagger your holiday payments and so your holiday is easier to pay off."

There are always bargains to be found around Christmas, but Jordan believes you have to shop a lot harder to find them. She explains: "Instead, I would recommend travelling the second week of January as hotel prices tend to drop off on January 3. Traditionally the few days before Christmas the airports will be jam-packed with the sheer volume of people which makes Christmas travel a lot less enjoyable."

Looking for deals out of season is often key to getting the prices. Jordan says: "For example, somewhere like the Canaries will be much cheaper to visit January to March, before the Easter break. In the winter there are always some bargains to be had in locations that are still warm (and gloriously crowd free). I was in Turkey last week where it was 25 degrees heat and glorious."

Researching alternative airports is also a big factor. For instance, taking a look at flights from nearby airports rather than the one you always fly from. The larger airports are not always the cheapest.

For those looking for a ski trip, which can be notoriously expensive, try looking at alternative resorts. Jordan says: "I've heard great things about Bulgaria which is much cheaper. So, research, speak to an expert about new and upcoming resorts outside of the main Alps locations."