How to Pick Best Time to Buy Travel

Are you someone who starts thinking about a summer vacation in January? How about that lover of the outdoors who is ready to tackle the world, via a camping trip, that takes you from open road to one covered path to another?

Maybe you are someone who wants to hit the ski slopes or are interested in holiday travel that ranges from Memorial Day to Christmas? No matter what type of vacation appeals to you most, you can argue that timing is truly everything.

The “timing” aspect comes from determining when to book a vacation and take the thoughts, aspirations and ideals of what trip seems most appealing and intriguing to you, and turning that into reality.

Far too often individuals, couples and families alike tend to go the route of booking a summer beach trip, for example, a few months prior and end up spending full price on hotels, airfare and car rentals, thus missing out on opportunities to travel when the timing is much better, financially speaking.

Granted, not every trip can be planned with saving money in mind. That same beach trip for a family might not be possible, what with the kids in school and mom and dad having to be mindful of summer break as their only time to travel.

That said, why not consider the idea of a holiday trip, perhaps a winter wonderland somewhere warm? The fact remains that if you’re someone who doesn’t have a financial concern about vacationing, then paying full price isn’t going to be a huge dilemma. But the average vacation costs about $1,145 per person, well over $4,000 for a family of four.^[1]

A closer look at the vacation by numbers shows that between lodging, food, alcohol and entertainment, you’ll be spending about $541 per day on vacation, so for one person staying or enjoying a trip for one week, that’s $3,787.^[2]

Being able to shave a few dollars off that total might get you to rethink a beach vacation in July or a ski trip in the heart of winter. Most providers of cruises, spring break vacations, all-inclusive trips or the aforementioned ski trips have certain times of the year when those are more affordable than others, mostly a supply and demand element that would suggest going to a warm, tropical place in December sounds more doable than trying to find the resources to do that same trip in the summer.

So when exactly is the best time to book various vacations throughout the year. Prices and perks differ from one month to the next, so here’s a look at when the best time to travel is, depending on whether holiday travel, warm or cold weather suits you, and if you’re intent on going somewhere abroad.

When to Book It: Cruises

Cruises are highly enjoyable vacations, but often are misunderstood in some respect.

You still find some individuals who have this preconceived notion that cruises are boring because “what can you possibly do on a boat for a week or two,” but that’s far from the truth.

Cruise ships not only are an efficient, cost effective way to visit multiple sites but also have all-inclusive options, a plethora of entertainment and activities (ever see one with a basketball court on the very top?).

But if you’re going to go the route of booking a cruise, you should target the January-February time frame or really any time school is in session (a common theme throughout this discussion in totality about how to save money and book a vacation in the same breath).

Studies have shown that a cruise, per person, in January is going to cost you about $200, compared to November, between $450-600.^[3]

The holidays often times can produce specials and promotions since you’re in the midst of one of two things: getting away from the hustle and bustle of a traditional holiday or decide that the snow isn’t as much of a winter wonderland as it was in previous years.

Another aspect of cruises that are highly debated from a price and best deal standpoint is how far out you should book them. You’ll see cruise lines start announcing promotions and specials a year and a half ahead of time, but the best time to book a cruise is about 90 days before hand. Some cabins are as low as $50 per person when using that time frame as a barometer.^[4]

Most cruises also are appealing because of the all-inclusive piece as well. Some cruises, if you’re fine with having a cabin, can be as low as $100 per night for a seven night trip.^[5]

When to Book It: Beach Vacation

Would it really surprise you to know that most people prefer beach vacations more than anything else? Probably not, when you consider the warm sun cascading over your body, the water shimmering in the distance and that feeling of your weary shoulders resting comfortably in the white sand or supported by a comfortable lounge chair while your slowly fall asleep for one of many relaxing naps on the beach.

As far as beach vacations go, 46 percent of the population have taken a beach vacation in the last 12 months, with 64 percent saying they’d go again or have something planned.^[6]

But when is truly the best time to purchase or embark on a beach vacation?

For those interested in a tropical flare to their forthcoming vacation, you might want to consider how beneficially that trip would be financially if you were to take it in the colder months and if airfare is involved, you’d be wise to depart and return during the week.

Let’s start with the airfare piece. It’s less expensive to leave and return during the week, although Saturday also isn’t a bad option, either.

A trip from Boston to Miami, departing on a Saturday and returning on a Saturday is $203 versus a Thursday departure and Sunday return ($312).^[7]

As for those cold weather trips to warmer climates, here’s an example that warm your heart and entire body, for that matter. A round-trip ticket to Barbados in the winter months is only going to cost you about $200 one way if you’re inclined to do that in November or December.^[8]

The other unspoken piece of avoiding traveling to a beach in the summer has to do with kids being off school, and families have little to no choice but to book trips during this month, since everyone is now available.

On average, 51 percent of people travel in the month of July, and that creates a situation where rates on hotels, rentals and airfare can be bumped due to the high demand and volume of total travelers.^[9]

If you’re someone who has to travel in the summer months, and the beach is your destination, remember this: February is the best time to book for the summer, mostly to ensure you’ll not be left out in the cold due to the supply and demand concerns.

When to Book It: International Travel

If your travel plans have you off to Europe, Africa or Asia as part of a trip, and you want to know when to book, the real question you have to ask yourself isn’t so much “when” but “how far out,” in order to save the most on your travel plans.

While a specific month might not be the most intriguing and pertinent topic of conversation for traveling abroad, you may want to consider price point as far as giving yourself plenty of time to book and save.

Generally speaking, for example, traveling to Europe should be booked three to five weeks ahead of time, and that could lead to savings of around 23 percent.^[10]

Other popular sites such as Asia (90 days in advance), Africa (119), Canada (59) and Mexico (61) also have significant lead times associated in order to save the most.^[11]

You can’t say for certain that booking in March is better than October, instead keeping at the forefront of your planning ample time to save the most.

Much like the aforementioned beach trip, the day of the week often matters to if you really want to put yourself in an even better position to save money. Wednesday seems to be the best day to travel to abroad in comparison to traveling on a Saturday.

When to Book It: Holiday Travel

Did you know that the most expensive time of year to travel is a few days before the July 4 holiday? Traveling during the holidays typically is an pricey endeavor and has to be maneuvered through delicately if you plan on saving any money. The reason traveling, flights specifically, are so expensive for the holidays (think Memorial Day, Christmas, July 4, etc.) is because, again, of a need to travel, visit friends, celebrate, etc., and that demand being so great that charging more becomes a moot point.

You have to travel, so you have to pay, right? That can be worked around; take flights for instance: you’ll want to save the most by being ahead of schedule and booking out as far as possible or, ironically enough, waiting until just one week before you travel.

This Russian Roulette of traveling seems odd, but take a look at flights for Thanksgiving four weeks out versus one. Four weeks out (New York to Orlando), you’ll spend around $195 for a round trip ticket, versus the one week out price of $176. Everything in between is well over $200 with some inching toward $300. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/advice/2017/08/23/best-time-book-holiday-flights/595876001/">[12]

When is the best month to book holiday travel? October, of course. For every day after October 31 you wait to book your trip, you’ll spend on average $1 more per day as days past and October turns to November and Thanksgiving is on the horizon.

While prices fluctuate on travel deals for the holiday, an average price should be around $280, and that should be topper, with only about a $20 fluctuation one way or another. Other holiday travel worth noting, and the average prices you should strive to pay include Memorial Day ($271 round trip), July 4 ($314) and Labor Day ($245).^[13]

Easter is the one holiday, due to the time of year it falls on, should be booked more than a month out, roughly 6 to 7 weeks ahead of time to make arrangements to travel and save the most. Most other holidays plans can be made between the three to four week time period, including July 4, Labor Day and Memorial Day.

Everyone relishes the idea of going on vacation, and that isn’t going to be argued. You can't ignore, however, wanting to find the best deal, either.

And financially speaking, vacations aren’t always the easiest to plan.

As much as a vacation costs per person, you also have to account for that money being on hand, rather than using credit cards or other means that aren’t coming straight from your bank account.

Roughly 43 percent of the population admit that they cannot afford to travel.^[14]

That number would suggest that finding a better plan, realistic means and a vacation that isn’t going to break the bank is in the best interest of most.

Being smart, not overly picky, and taking into account when the best time to buy is can lead to the vacation of you dreams at a price point and overall cost that works within your budget and doesn’t cheap or lessen the experience that is a wonderfully relaxing, amazing trip.

While you might not get the sand between your toes in July, is having that happen in November all that bad? If that ski trip in January doesn’t pan out but seems more fiscally responsible in September, why does the month really matter all that much?

Questions like these abound consistently in regard to piecing together the perfect vacation and feeling as though it was done with timing being involved and tempering your knee-jerk reaction to just book, buy and be feeling as though something seemed just a little off with the planning.