Getting the best deal on a vacation can depend a lot on how far ahead you book. Quite often you can get the best discounts by either booking very early or booking last minute. But which strategy guarantees the best savings? And which is more convenient? This post explores the unique benefits of each.
The benefits of early bird travel deals
Booking a vacation more than 6 months in advance can get you access to early bird discounts. Often the earlier you book the better – many airlines and hotels allow you to book up to a year in advance, which can give you access to discounts of 10% to 25% in some cases.
A benefit of early bird deals is that you have unlimited choice as to where you want to stay and what flights you want to take. Some popular resorts can get booked up early – planning your vacation months in advance can help you to secure a room.
Another advantage of being an early bird is that you can pay off the vacation in installments. Some travel companies may even allow you to pay a 12 month plan – which means a $1800 vacation will cost you $150 per month.
Of course, not everyone can commit to a vacation this far in advance – if you’re in a new relationship, if you have declining health or if you are uncertain about your job security, you might not want to wait so long to travel.
The benefits of last minute travel deals
Booking a vacation with less than 2 months to spare may provide access to last minute discounts. The more last minute you leave it to book, the steeper the discounts – it’s not uncommon to find discounts of 20% to 30% a month ahead. This means that you can potentially save more by booking at the last minute.
Last minute deals are excellent if you’re craving an immediate vacation. Options like Saga’s discounted last minute cruises could be excellent if you’re close to burnout and don’t want to have to wait months for a vacation – instead you can quickly plan the perfect break when you need it.
Just be wary that there will be limited destinations and flights available. When travelling as a family, you may not be able to get seats on an airplane together – last minute deals are often a way of filling empty seats, which could be scattered across the airline. You may also not be able to access certain popular attractions that require you to book several months in advance.
On top of this, some employers may require you to give them a certain amount of warning before booking time off. If you’re going abroad and you haven’t got a passport/your passport has expired, you may also not have enough time to apply for a new one. You’ll also need to pay the whole price upfront, as payment plans won’t be available.
Which gets you the better deal?
You can save more by booking last minute – however it requires more flexibility and the ability to pay the full amount upfront, while potentially having limited options.
Early bird discounts may not provide the same incredible savings, but you’ll still pay less than booking at the regular time. You also have more choice of destinations and you can pay in installments to spread out the cost and make it more affordable.
