The question of whether you should start planning for your Christmas/Holiday trip 6 to 7 months in advance depends on your destination, lodgings, and if you plan on flying or not. Travel during the Winter Holidays has historically been one of the busiest travel periods. According to AAA, based on travel trends so far for 2014, the Holiday travel season could set a record. A little planning now could save you some money and prevent some disappointment down the line.
The projected record number of people traveling during the Christmas season means higher rates and possible room shortages at hotels and resorts at the most popular destinations over the holiday period. According to Orbitz, the most popular destinations can be divided by cold and hot. By this I mean the opposites in the weather during the season. For the cold weather, the most popular destinations are:
* Colorado - for many people the Holiday season means snow and skiing. The ski resorts in the state are expected to be full earlier than normal this year.
* New York, NY - for thousands of people the sites and sounds of New York during the holidays are what the season is all about. Plus New Years eve in Time Square is something everyone should experience.
On the other side of the spectrum, for many people, the Holiday season give them the opportunity to leave the cold and travel to a warmer location. According to Obitz, the most popular warm weather locations are:
* Florida - the major tourist destinations of Fort Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Tampa, and the most popular Holiday destination in the US, Orlando, all offer what many people want: warm weather and major tourist attractions.
* Cancun - the most popular foreign Holiday travel destination offers the right combination of warmth, beach, and exotic locale are a perfect match for Christmas.
* Puerto Rico - other love the islands for the holidays, and San Juan is the ninth most popular destination for the season.
* Arizona and Southern California - for many people, a better option for getting warmer weather means traveling to the Los Angeles or Phoenix areas. Major regional attractions and activities like golf are reasons for the major holiday travel to the region.
In addition, the 2 week Holiday season, is the highest demand period for taking a Caribbean cruise, with packed ships and pricing that are 3 to 5 times more than any other time during the winter season.
Another reason to start planning early for your Holiday travel is the "sticker shock" at the cost of airline tickets. In general, the price for tickets has risen by nearly 10% over the last several years, as the airlines has reduced capacity, and the increase in demand. If you are planning on flying during the Holiday travel period, checking airline availability now may offer you a savings, in the price of the ticket, and being able to reserve before the flight you want is booked.
So as the saying goes, sometimes "the early bird gets the worm". If your traveling to a popular region, and you want the best rate at a resort, or special accommodations, now may be the best time to start planning and booking. If you take a cruise, booking now will give you more options on cabin locations and types, and will in general cost less than if you waited, or you may get free upgrades. If you plan to fly during the season, in general , the longer you wait the higher the costs and the less options you will have. Some planning and action now, will allow you to take that Holiday vacation you want, and will leave you more money in your wallet.
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