People often ask me, “How far ahead of time should I start planning my next luxury vacation?”. This blog post will let you in on three luxury vacations that really must be booked now.
The first of my three luxury vacations that you need to book right now would be for the two weeks that span Christmas and New Year’s. This two-week period is probably the most in demand for travelers because more often than not, companies are shut down during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Also, schools, colleges, and universities are all off for at least two weeks during the Holiday Season. This year in 2017, Christmas and New Year’s fall on a Monday so the two weeks that are most in demand run from December 23rd to January 7, 2018.
Since availability will be in high demand these two weeks, you need to be working with your travel advisor now to secure bookings for your luxury vacation. Be prepared to pay double or triple the rates for hotels and flights. If there is any way you can delay your trip until after January 7th, the pricing will be drastically reduced. Please contact me for any advice or help you need in making arrangements for your luxury vacation over Christmas and New Year’s.
The second of my three luxury vacations that must be booked immediately would be for a river cruise if you are interested in going next year in 2018. The reason for this is that all the river cruise lines release their itineraries for the following year every May. The itinerary often includes an EBB or early bird booking bonus that could save you considerably on the trip. Aside from the savings, you would get first dibs on inventory, which means you have an opportunity to choose the best cabin, one conveniently located that suits your taste.
Almost every river cruise vessel has four decks, but only three have staterooms. The staterooms located on the lower deck only have windows placed near the top, as this deck is pretty much below water level. Staterooms on the middle and upper decks are in highest demand since they offer better views. They usually have a French balcony or a combination balcony with sliding doors so you can enjoy the views from the comfort of your stateroom. The dining room and gathering areas on river cruise vessels are always towards the front, so my clients tend to prefer a stateroom located near the middle of the vessel. If you book now, you’ll have an excellent chance of getting the stateroom you want.
My third luxury vacation that must be booked now would be for any type of vacation in the summer or fall of 2018. The summer months are extremely busy with kids out of school during the months of June through August, so again the earlier you book, the better. Let’s not forget the week of Spring break in the month of March is also one that you need to look at far in advance.
The months of September and October are somewhat equally in high demand because baby boomers prefer to travel in the fall when the kids are back in school. The Galapagos Islands are considered a bucket list destination, making this location high in demand. Since the government limits the number of tourists allowed in, you have no choice but to plan far in advance. This is well worth doing because the wildlife you’ll see in the Galapagos is like nothing you’ll experience anywhere else.
My hope is that your luxury vacation will be more than you ever envisioned and my advice will go a long way towards making that happen. Having a travel experience advisor at your constant beck and call should anything go wrong would, of course, relieve a lot of the stress travel can bring and be the safest way to ensure that your luxury vacation is the best ever.
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