Summer is ending. Leaves are beginning to turn color or have already fallen…depending where you live. The pool is a little too cool. Days can still be warm here in northern California.
Maybe it’s time to think about a winter getaway.
If so…now is the time to book that airfare and decide on those accommodations.
Yes, now is a good time to get serious about booking your airfare. Especially if it is an international trip you’re planning. I’ve found that international airfare starts rising about 90 days out. Domestic fares are supposedly at their best 54 days out, unless you find a fantastic fare.
Also, where do you want to stay? Is it an all-inclusive, a vacation rental, hotel, or resort? Are you flexible or do you need a specific time and location? Look at Internet specials. Sometimes you can get lucky and find deals at the last minute as resorts like to have all their facilities booked, but don’t count on that.
If you’re traveling internationally, be sure to check your passport. Make sure it doesn’t expire in the next six months. If it’s close to expiring, apply for a renewal immediately. Right now, the passport offices tell me there could be a three month wait. After all, it will be January in two months!
Do you have a house sitter or pet sitter? If so, check their availability. You wouldn’t want to find out at the last minute they are already booked with someone else.
Do your plans include a special type of getaway where you need a guide? If you’re thinking of diving in the Caribbean, exploring Antarctica, checking out all the Christmas markets in Germany, or hiking in the Andes…regardless of the time of year, you’ll need some type of guide. Start looking now at who offers what packages and what appeals to you and your budget.
If you’re planning weekend getaways instead of a longer stay, start looking at where you want to go and what’s going on that weekend. Maybe there are festivals, wine harvest events, concerts, sporting events, or performances which would be fun to attend. Accommodations might already be booking or booked. Check the calendar for events in the area where you want to go.
Regardless of when or where you are thinking of going…a little advance planning now will help you have a wonderful time on your winter getaway. Let me know where you went…