Welcome 2023! If you’re like many folks, as you put away those holiday decorations, thoughts of travel this year may be dancing in your heads. And you’ll have lots of company, as the weeks following the holiday season are typically when the vast majority of people plan their vacations for the year, and as travel continues its tremendous post-pandemic rebound, this year will likely be no different.
Which brings me to the topic for today. One of the most frequent travel questions that I get – especially at the beginning of a new year – is “when is the best time to book”?
The short and easy answer to when you should book for the coming year is now.
Even if you aren’t quite ready to travel, and are thinking about later this summer, fall, or even next holiday season, there are some real benefits to planning and booking your trip now rather than waiting until closer to your travel dates – and the biggest one is price. While many folks don’t realize this, booking far in advance usually means that prices will be lower than they will be later – and that is especially true right now.
While destinations may sometimes offer incentives to book over the coming year, those promotions later will often be with higher pricing than what is currently available. How do I know this? Because that is exactly what has happened over the past couple of years. With so much pent up demand for travel and as folks began to feel more comfortable traveling, the travel industry has experienced explosive growth over 2021 and 2022. All of which was very good news in general, but when you consider that there is really only so much inventory available, prices have no choice but to go up. Already we know that many destinations have limited availability for many dates in the coming spring – which means higher prices for what is available. You know, supply and demand.
So if you want to get the best possible price, book now – no matter when you plan to go – as opposed to waiting until later.
There’s a hidden benefit to booking far in advance as well: you generally only need to make a small (and refundable) deposit and can then combine it with the ability to make payments along the way, which is a nice way to have your trip paid off in smaller increments rather than a large sum. And with final payments typically not being due until fairly close to travel, there’s a good deal of flexibility available if your plans need to change. (Note however that each destination varies in the type of cancellation flexibility, so it is important to read that fine print and/or have your travel agent explain your options before you book.)
Now that you know that booking now for your 2023 vacation is the perfect time, be sure to book with a trusted travel agent! While having the help of a travel specialist has always been beneficial, as travel has become increasingly more complicated, the value of a travel professional is immeasurable. Whether it’s sifting through available destinations and options to find the right one for you, making sure you get the best possible price, working with you to ensure you have all the correct paperwork you’ll need, answering questions, or being there to help if you need to change or reschedule – at no time has working with a travel agent been more valuable. So when you’re ready to book, do yourself a favor and use a travel specialist. You’ll be glad you did!
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2023, filled with many wonderful travel memories that we create with those we love!
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