Strategies for Family Travel: Booking Early, Part 2

In Part 1, I covered how booking a vacation early can save a family thousands of dollars.  In this post, I’ll discuss when to book and how booking early can help you manage your cash flow.  The general rule of thumb is that the bigger the trip, the farther in advance you should book.  

For the most savings, you should book as soon as the booking dates release.  So when does this happen?  It can vary by the type of trip and the supplier (tour operator, cruise line, etc…), but below I’ve outlined some general guidelines. 

In a nutshell, if you are planning on cruising, going to Alaska, or taking a big bucket list trip in 2020, now is the time to book.  Here are a few pointers:  

•            Almost all the ocean cruise lines have released schedules into 2020.   You can book most of them through fall 2020, but some have opened booking through the entire year.  Whether you want a 3-night Bahamian itinerary or an around the world cruise, you should book it as soon as possible.  If you feel certain you'll have the time off, book it now.  Don't worry that the rates will go down or try to game some potential future promotion.  If you book through Travel Adventures by Amanda, I automatically put a CruiseFare Watch on your booking.  If I get a notification that your fare has dropped, I will work with you and the cruise line to make sure you are getting compensated for the difference.  Also, if you want multiple cabins, the earlier you book, the easier it will be to find the cabins you need in the right proximity.  A great money-saving strategy for families with older teenagers is for the parents to book a balcony stateroom for themselves and an interior stateroom directly across the hall for the kids, but if you wait until a few weeks before sailing, it might be difficult to find availability.        
•       Most river cruise lines have released itineraries through 2020.  No matter the season, now is the time to book.  Want to enjoy tulip time in Holland, summer on the Seine, Oktoberfest in Germany, or Europe’s iconic Christmas markets?  You can save $500-1500 per cabin on most 2020 departures if you book now.      
•           Big bucket list trips are already open for booking into 2020.  Think African safaris, the Galapagos Islands, Artic and Antarctic expeditions. These trips have fewer passengers and can sell out early.  
•       Alaska 2020 is open for booking.  This is a big trip for a lot of people, but it’s also a repeat destination for many.  It’s a great destination that appeals to various types of travelers.  Whether you want a large contemporary cruise line, a smaller luxury ship, or an expedition ship, book Alaska now.  It is in high demand and the season is short.  Pricing will usually rise the closer you get to travel.
•       Expect most other touring options to open later this spring for 2020 bookings.  If they aren’t already open for booking, most tour operators servicing Europe will be open for booking within the next few weeks.  High end touring options in the United States and Canada, will also open for booking soon, many with early saver discounts.  Luxury rail in the Canadian Rockies is open for booking with savings for early bookers.      

What if you don't want to cruise and you aren't interested in a tour?  You should still give some thought to what you might want to do.  Lodging in many popular destinations can be limited.  Tour operators tend to hold large blocks of rooms in high demand areas like the U.S. National Parks and large European cities, leaving less inventory for independent bookings.  Lodging near many of these places will open for independent booking about a year in advance.    

So even if you can’t book now, it’s a good time to put in a call to your trusted travel planner (that’s me!) and talk about where you want to go and the best time to book your travel adventure.  We can get something narrowed down and put you in the pipeline to get a good deal when booking opens.

Lastly, I want to give you another reason to book early: it can help you manage your cash flow.   If you are booking a tour, trek, cruise, or independent travel in a vacation package, your payment will likely be broken down into a deposit and a final payment.  Generally speaking, your deposit will be 10-20% of the price of your vacation.  This can vary depending on the different components of your vacation and how complex your itinerary is, but it is a good rule of thumb.  The next payment is called your “final payment” and is typically due two to four months before you depart on your vacation.  Again, there is some variance here, but most fall in this window.  

When you book very close in to travel, your final payment comes due very quickly or sometimes you must pay in full when you book.  When you book very far in advance, you can make monthly or quarterly payments or save until your final payment is due.  

Booking a vacation package early can sometimes push payment on your plane tickets until final payment.  With some operators, you can reserve your flight and hold your price when you pay your deposit, but the payment for the air travel isn’t due until final payment, when your reservation is actually ticketed.

If you are thinking about a big trip next year, call Travel Adventures by Amanda.  Let me help you plan and save on your next Dream Vacation.  

Amanda is the owner of Travel Adventures by Amanda, powered by Dream Vacations, specializing in cruises, tours, treks, and custom independent travel adventures for individuals, families, and groups.  For help planning your next adventure, contact Amanda at (901) 901-800-6091 or abiggerstaff@dreamvacations.com.