My inbox is filled with: Wendy, are we booking too early—or are we already late?
My answer? It completely depends on the type of trip you’re taking. The travel landscape has changed, and waiting until the last minute rarely yields discounts anymore; instead, it just limits your choices.
To help you plan without the stress, here is my cheat sheet for when you should start prepping for different types of vacations:
1. The 12 to 18 Month Window: Bucket List & High Demand
- The Trips: African safaris, boutique/expedition cruises (like Antarctica or Galápagos), festive holiday travel (Christmas/New Year’s), and large family reunions requiring a multi-bedroom private villa.
- Why so early? These trips rely on limited inventory. Top safari lodges might only have 6 to 10 rooms, and prime balcony suites on luxury cruise ships fill up over a year in advance.
- The Prep Required: Lock down the anchor accommodations and core routing first. Airfare and specific daily excursions can be layered closer to departure.
2. The 6 to 9 Month Window: Classic International & Peak Season
- The Trips: Peak summer in Europe (Amalfi Coast, Greek Islands, Provence), Spring Break at all-inclusive Caribbean resorts, or Japan during Cherry Blossom season.
- Why this timeline? While hotels may still have rooms available closer to the date, the best-located boutique properties, ideal flight routes, and private local guides sell out early.
- The Prep Required: Secure your hotels, international flights, and key private transfers. This is also when we start mapping out train schedules or high-demand restaurant reservations.
3. The 3 to 6 Month Window: Regional Escapes & Shoulder Seasons
- The Trips: Off-peak European city trips, domestic U.S. long weekends, or shoulder-season beach getaways.
- Why this timeline? Demand is much more manageable, giving us more flexibility with airfare and hotel choices.
- The Prep Required: Keep an eye on domestic flight pricing, secure a great central hotel, and outline a loose daily itinerary.
If you have a specific destination, a non-negotiable date, or a must-have hotel on your mind, earlier is always better. My job is to take the guesswork out of the timeline so you never miss out on the good stuff.
Are you thinking about a trip for next year? Send me a message and let’s get the timeline started!