Traveling during the winter months can often be complicated. The weather can have a big impact on the most carefully crafted plans, and that is before factoring in ongoing COVID-19 precautions. Regardless, whether it’s coming home for the vacation or for a winter getaway, this is one of the most popular times to take a trip.
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Although winter is still a few weeks away, booking these trips now can benefit you in the long run. Here’s what some travel experts have to say about your winter vacation and why it’s a great time to start planning.
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The time has come
Planning ahead is necessary when trying to get the best deal on flights, and early fall is a great time to start planning your winter vacation.
“Reports have shown that vacation plane tickets are cheapest 31 to 60 days before departure dates between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve,†said Liam Hunt, financial writer and analyst at Informed investor. Although he adds that there are other ways to increase your chances of getting a good deal.
“The best thing you can do to save money on vacation plane tickets is to set up a Google Flights plane ticket alert several months before you leave,” Hunt said. “That way you can get an email notification whenever their automated system finds a cheap ticket around your scheduled dates. When it comes time to book, check the calendar on Google Flights to see which dates and times are the cheapest to fly before finalizing the purchase.
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Demand for air travel is increasing
The time may be right, but it also means that the demand for air travel continues to increase. Just like the cost.
“If you are planning to fly this year, this might be the best time to buy tickets, especially for the holiday season or if you are planning to travel to the UK or Europe” , said Kelly Soderland, senior director of communications at Travel actions. She also pointed out that the median price of the daily base flight exceeded $ 400 for the first time since mid-August – and that’s before all those extra charges. And it’s probably going to get more expensive.
“With the announcement of the opening of these routes, travelers should expect a sharp increase in prices in the coming weeks,” Soderland added.
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The bargain window closes
In addition to the increased demand for tickets, given the nature of the bargain hunt on travel tickets, the window of time to get the best winter deals is early fall.
“Hunting for cheap flights is a lot like buying clothes. It makes sense to buy swimsuits in early winter and jackets in summer, â€said Andrew Latham, editor-in-chief of Supermoney. “If possible, try to shop for travel a season or two in advance. You’re more likely to get a good deal if you start looking five to eight months earlier for international flights. For domestic flights, the sweet spot is around three months.
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The advantage of travel rewards
As people return to travel, now is a good time to check that you’re not sitting on travel rewards that were not used since the last time you gave in to your urge to travel.
“As it may be a minute since your last trip, you may have frequent flyer miles or travel points that are about to expire,†Latham said. He also recommends trying to contact the airline if any rewards have eluded you in the past few months. “If your points have expired, call them. Chances are they will grant an extension.
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It’s always easy and affordable to change your plans
Travel can be inherently uncertain and conditions continue to change due to the pandemic. While many restrictions have started to ease in the United States and much of the world, things can change. Fortunately, airlines have given travelers a lot more leeway should plans change.
“One of the reasons flights are so affordable is that airlines know many are reluctant to travel now,†Latham said. “The good news is that it’s now much easier to change your plans if you think it’s not safe. Most airlines no longer charge you for date changes.
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It gives you time to plan safely
Right now, not only does it give you a perfect opportunity to potentially get the best deals for your winter trip, but it also gives you plenty of time to plan ahead. Depending on where you are traveling, additional guidelines may be in place to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
“Even with the challenges of traveling, you will find that space is limited for the remaining vacations in 2021,†explained Lisa Stierwalt, travel agent at Aggressor Adventures. Depending on where you plan to travel, additional guidelines may be in place to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
“Countries manage travel guidelines with the aim of keeping tourists and locals as safe as possible,†Stierwalt said. “So find your dates to compare costs and availability for your destination. “
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Last updated: September 24, 2021
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why does it make sense to book your trip for the end of 2021 now
