What is the Best Time to Reserve Vacation Travel for 2020?

By Ethan Blake 4 min read

When Should You Book Holiday Travel This Year?

Understanding the Best Time to Book Holiday Travel

As we navigate through the calendar year, many of us look forward to the holidays when we can pause, relax, and spend some coveted quality time with family and friends. However, planning for these holiday trips is no simple task – it requires meticulousness, foresight, and most importantly, understanding the best times to book your travel.
In 2021, the usual strategies might not hold true given the unpredictable state of global travel due to the pandemic. In this light, knowing when to purchase your flight tickets or reserve your accommodations can save you a considerable amount of stress and money.
Even so, there’s no definitive rule as each holiday has its own “booking personality”. So, let’s explore how to optimally plan your holiday travels for the rest of the year.

Did you know that travelers often save about 20% when they make their flight reservations 1 to 4 months in advance? This may differ based on the specific holiday season but generally, earlier bookings tend to be more advantageous.

For Thanksgiving, try booking between late September and early October.

Winter Holidays like Christmas and New Year require even earlier planning. Booking in early September might provide the best rates.

If you’re planning for spring break, consider making your reservations at least two months in advance.

Securing your summer vacation travels should ideally be done by April.

Booking for Labor Day usually works best if you do it by June.

For Memorial Day, it’s best to make all travel arrangements in March.

Importance of Flexibility When Booking

Having firm dates can simplify your holiday planning process but allowing for a bit of flexibility can unlock even better deals. The ability to adjust your departure or arrival dates by a few days may lead to huge savings. You’ll also avoid the brunt of the holiday rush, which can make your travel experience more enjoyable.
Essentially, being flexible is beneficial in more ways than one: it stretches your money further enabling you to explore more and it ensures minimal stress during travel.

Consider Sue who decided to enjoy her Christmas holidays in New York City. Instead of flying out on the 23rd of December, she chose to depart on the 22nd, a seemingly minor change. This move not only led to a reduction in flight cost by $100 but Sue also experienced less crowded airports and flights.

Try adjusting your flight dates slightly earlier or later than your initial plan.

Being flexible about your destination can also help save money. If multiple places meet your holiday criteria, check which destination offers the best deal for your preferred timeframe.

Avoid peak travel days when everyone else is racing to get to their destinations.

Consider exploring alternate airports that might have cheaper flights.

If possible, be open to different times of the day for your flights. Redeye or late-night flights are usually cheaper.

Play around with the “flexible dates” feature on most travel booking websites to see the rates for all days in your travel range.

Monitoring Flight Prices

Instead of relying on the general “best time to book” advice, keeping an eye on the price trends for your specific route can be a handy strategy. Subscribe to fare alerts from various flight or booking platforms, so you’re notified when prices drop.
Remember, patience is key here. It’s tempting to jump at the first seemingly affordable fare you find, but waiting a bit longer could land you an even better deal.

John, a frequent traveler, swears by his practice of setting up price alerts for his holiday travels. He usually sets alerts 9 months in advance for his Christmas travels to Hawaii. By keeping tabs on the fare trends, he was able to secure a below-average price ticket four months before his travel date.

Set up price alerts immediately after you lock down your holiday destination.

Exploit the tools offered by flight booking platforms such as Skyscanner’s Price Alerts or Google Flights’ Track prices feature.

Broaden your search and don’t restrict yourself to just one airfare search engine.

Familiarize yourself with average fares for your chosen route so that you can identify a good deal immediately.

Avoid being swayed by “limited time offers” or “last few seats” warning during the earlier phases of your booking process.

If prices seem unusually high, don’t panic and book impulsively. There could be a price drop closer to your travel dates.

Table Summary of When To Book Your Holiday Travel

In wrapping this up, let’s summarize the key points into a handy digestible table:

Holiday	Recommendation for Booking
Thanksgiving	Late September to Early October
Winter Holidays (Christmas/New Year)	Early September
Spring Break	At least two months in advance
Summer Vacation	By April
Labor Day	By June
Memorial Day	In March

In conclusion, it’s vital to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer for the best time to book holiday travel. However, with these insights and a bit of proactive planning, you can increase your chances of securing affordable and stress-free holiday travels.

Remember, what truly matters at the end of the day is creating unforgettable memories during these Holidays, irrespective of when or how you got there. Safe journey!

Ethan Blake Visual Storyteller, Photo Curator

Ethan believes every viral image has a story to tell. From jaw-dropping paparazzi shots to hilarious memes, he’s here to curate the pictures that make headlines and capture the world’s attention.