I am always in the mood to plan a trip. I love calling Rebecca with those magic words: I want to go somewhere. I’ll admit, though, I am always wondering, is it too late? Too soon? When should I start thinking about the California road trip I’m daydreaming about? What about passports for when we finally decide to cross some real borders?
This month, we’re looking at timeframes for when you should start considering your next vacation.
How far in advance should I…
…Book a flight?
Traveling within the continental US, you actually don’t need as much time as you’d think for booking a flight. Around 3 months is usually considered the “goldilocks window” for good prices, and airlines won’t even have flights scheduled for you to book farther out than 11 months.
Internationally, you’ll want to plan a little more ahead, with most sources pointing to 6-8 months in advance for your “goldilocks window.”
Keep in mind, these factors will change if you are traveling for a specific event or during a high-demand time. Holidays, sporting events and popular conventions could influence when you want to start planning your next vacation.
…Book a hotel?
Studies done in 2022 showed that 15 days before your stay is the best time to book your hotel. For many of us, though, that’s not feasible. By 15 days pre-vacation I want my only concern to be what outfits I am packing. Luckily, unless you are traveling for an event or holiday, you have a lot of flexibility here. For my recent Michigan road trip, Rebecca was able to find me some unique and affordable options several months in advance. Personally, I like to have my hotels and flights paid for well in advance so that I have plenty of spending money while I’m at my destination.
…Get my passport?
If you are traveling internationally, you should apply for your passport 6 months in advance. This gives you plenty of time for the month or more wait for you to receive it. US Passports last 10 years for anyone 16 and older, so no need to worry about it expiring before you take your first trip.
No matter what time you’re thinking about traveling, Smiley Travel is ready to help you plan your next dream vacation. With the weather here in Kentucky getting colder, I am already thinking about the next time I can sink my toes into the sand.
Until next month, Smiley Travelers,
Keep exploring,
Rachael <3
Smiley Travel Writer & Editor
P.S. Did you forget to book that excursion you wanted to go on? Or maybe you are on vacation right now and have a few free hours to fill. Check out this link for Viator, where you can book excursions, classes, shows and more with little to no waiting period. When we visited Las Vegas, I used Viator to book a show for the same day! Plus, if you use the link above, Smiley Travel gets a commission on anything you book!
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