As we get ready to say goodbye to 2021 and welcome in a New Year, if you’re like many, you may also be starting to think about Travel next year. We know that in general the weeks following the holiday season are when tons of people plan their vacations for the year, and this year will likely be no different. While we are still dealing with the pandemic, we also know that travel made a huge rebound in 2021, as so many had cancelled plans from 2020 that they were eager to reschedule. Many took those delayed trips last year – and many have planned them for this coming year.

Which brings me to the topic for today. One of the travel questions that I frequently get – especially at the beginning of a new year – is “when is the best time to book”? With the continued uncertainty in the world, it’s even more pertinent because we all want to get back to checking off our travel bucket lists – but when/how do we do that?

The short answer to when you should book for the coming year is now. Even if you aren’t quite ready to travel now, and are thinking about later this summer, fall, or even next holiday season, there are some definite 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 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 happened this past year. With so much pent up demand for travel and as folks began to feel more comfortable traveling, the travel industry experienced tremendous growth in 2021. All of which was very good news in general, but when you consider that there is really only so much inventory available, prices went up. Even now we know that many destinations are almost or fully booked for many dates in the coming spring, which means higher prices for what is available.

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 as many if not most destinations are still being quite generous with cancellation policies, there’s a good deal of flexibility available if your plans need to change. Not every destination offers the same 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 2022 vacation is the perfect time, there’s another thing to consider. While booking a trip months – or more – in advance is the smart thing to do, travel is also complicated now – and will likely be for the foreseeable future. With many things changing regularly, it can be hard to keep up with everything, and it’s stressful thinking about all of the details that you’ll need to keep track of. While having a trusted travel agent to help has always been beneficial, as travel becomes 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 2022, filled with many wonderful travel memories that we create with those we love!

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