Merry Christmas! It’s July, so it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the holiday season, right?
(And I’m not talking about buying all your Christmas gifts now – although there’s nothing wrong if you want to do that….).
Nope, it’s time to plan your holiday travel. Because while the early bird generally always gets the worm when it comes to travel, that’s even more true this year than usual. And here’s why.
Many Destinations are Nearly Booked – When I’ve had people recently inquire about holiday travel, they’re usually shocked when I share how little is available in some places through the fall and into December. Many places are either completely sold out already, or have extremely limited availability. And there are several reasons for this. First, a lot of folks who initially had travel plans for last fall or winter, just moved their dates to this year. Secondly, many destinations are still limiting capacity. And lastly, people are ready to travel, and those that may have waited too long to book the trip they wanted this summer, decided instead to plan a Christmas or winter getaway.
Now that is not to say that there isn’t *anything* available for the holiday season, but depending on where you want to go, there may be limited options as to room type. So booking now for late fall and into the winter – and especially for the popular Christmas holiday weeks – is crucial, because the more time that goes by, the fewer options you’ll have (and the more you’ll pay).
Need a Passport? It Will Take a While – The United States State Department recently advised that, due to a massive backlog of passport applications, travelers who need a new passport or need to renew an old one, should expect it to take as much as 6 months. And even if you want to pay an additional $60 for expedited processing, that is still taking up to 12 weeks. So if your holiday or winter travel plans include heading out of the country to a nice, warm Caribbean island, make sure your passport is up to date (most countries require it to be good for 6 months after your trip), and if not, start the process asap.
Now I hear you saying, “Christmas is 5 months away, so what if my plans change?”
The good news is that deposits are generally refundable up to a couple months before your trip (every destination is different so be sure to ask your travel advisor for specifics). So if something comes up and you can’t travel when you wanted to, in most cases you can either get a refund or move your trip to new dates.
Whether you’re considering a visit to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando to see how they celebrate the holidays (hint: it’s spectacular!); or would like to relax on a tropical island and get away from the cold, snow, and ice; or you’d just like to see how someplace else celebrates the most wonderful time of the year – experiencing the Christmas season in a new destination can be a special way to celebrate.
And who knows, you may just start a new tradition in the process. Happy Holidays!
Learn how the FREE services of a travel agent can make planning your vacation simple and STRESS FREE!
Planning a vacation this year? Get your questions answered in my FREE guide: What You Need to Know About Traveling in 2021
