South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Get a head start on planning your summer trips
Travelers may not associate winter with great deals on summer travel, but if you haven’t started booking your vacation, you should begin as soon as possible to save the most money.
The key to the success of any trip is a good travel adviser. With more airlines, hotels and destinations focusing on technology and the lasting impact of the pandemic, it can be confusing for travelers to save money while booking the perfect vacation. Agents can comb through the chaos and help people find the best deals without compromising their big summer vacation dreams.
“Unfortunately, many consumers spend lots of online trying to get the best deal on summer travel,” said Scott Lara of thecruisegenius.com. “The good news is that travel agents have done all the work for you.”
“If it’s a cruise, all-inclusive resort or any other type of summer travel, your local travel agent is your best resource,” Lara added.
When booking a flight, purchasing tickets for summer flights in the dead of winter is an easy way to save a few bucks. Airfare in the peak season between June, July and August will likely be the most expensive due to demand, but booking at least three months ahead of time for domestic travel will help ensure prices remain low.
For international summer travel, airline expert Scott Keyes believes Americans should book their trip two to eight months ahead of time to guarantee the best deals. Keyes also said that traveling on Tuesdays will save travelers the most money.
For cruise travelers, Wave Season — from January through March — is the perfect time to book summer sailing adventures at discounted rates. Whether it be luxury expeditions or scenic river cruises, Wave Season can be the best time of the year to book.
As for hotels, booking before demand rises will ensure travelers get their desired rooms and pay below-average prices.