Planning your holiday is an exciting time, but it can also be a daunting task, and some holidaymakers find searching for the perfect getaway quite stressful. Now is the perfect time to turn your thoughts to your travel plans for 2018 and find a hassle-free holiday of a lifetime. We have put together a short guide with reasons why now is the best time to organise and prepare your perfect 2018 holiday.
1. Book early for the best value and widest choice
Booking a holiday always seems to bring about the same dilemma, will I save by booking early? Or are their better deals available at the last-minute? The simple answer is, generally, the earlier you book your holiday, the better value you will receive. Booking early means that you can take advantage of early booking discounts, great added value offers and the widest choice. You will have the pick of the bunch so to speak – the flight date and times you want, the best seat on the plane, the hotel room with a view, the cruise itinerary you have always dreamt about, and the cabin that suits your needs. This is even more relevant if you are looking to travel during peak periods. As January is usually when airlines and tour operators slash their prices to fill their order books for the year ahead, it’s a great time to snap up a bargain and book your holidays early, reducing the stress of finding the right holiday later in the year.
2. Be flexible with your travel plans
As much as booking early will give you the widest choice, being a little flexible with your travel plans can really pay dividends. Flights, for example, a day before or a day after your intended departure date may save you a good amount of money, even looking to travel earlier or later in the day can make a difference to prices. A slightly bigger ask, but if you can be flexible with where you go on holiday, as in the hotel, resort or even destination, you could open up options that could save you money, or better still improve the quality of your holiday. Just think about it, changing destinations could mean the difference between a 4-star hotel, and a 5-star all-inclusive resort for example!
3. Do your homework
Your travel agent can, and will, help to recommend where you could go on holiday, but it’s always advisable to do a little research before you start your booking process. Start by thinking about your favourite holiday destination, your budget and style of holiday you would like. Then check our website for some examples of current holiday deals, to get a feel for what offers are available and whether they would fit your budget and expectations. We have put together a range of amazing destinations for you to choose from, from the finest resorts in the Caribbean and Maldives with a premium all-inclusive concept; family trips to the Walt Disney theme parks, and journeys to the historic streets of vibrant European cities. If you prefer to travel in small groups, there are some interesting options for escorted tours. These could include a journey to the world-famous Golden Triangle including a safari in Ranthambore to see the elusive Bengal tiger, a visit to enchanting Vietnam with a cruise on the Mekong Delta, or an exciting 4x4 adventure holiday in Iceland. Getting a good feel for the type of holiday you are really looking for will help your travel agent tailor make your perfect trip, and deliver on your expectations.
4. Book with a local travel agent to save time and money
Lots of choices can be a good thing, but it does also mean you may find it hard to find exactly what you want. The internet is OK for booking simple holidays, a flight and hotel for example when you know where you want to stay and who you want to fly with. However, your local travel agent will likely have access to far more relevant holiday options. Furthermore, their experience and knowledge is really where they shine. Your travel agent will be able to create a holiday tailored to you, by accessing a huge range of product from tour operators, hotels, car hire companies and more. During sale periods, they will know which offers are relevant to you, and significantly cut down the time you would otherwise spend researching what to book and with whom. Booking with your local travel agent will ensure you receive exceptional value for money, and you will also benefit from genuine peace of mind, knowing that should anything go wrong with your holiday, they will be there to help fix the problem – in person, over the phone or on email. Another huge benefit travel agencies have over booking on the internet is being able to pay in instalments. You can often secure your summer holiday in January, by paying a small deposit.
5. Don’t delay, book today
Our final tip is, don’t delay in booking a holiday if you find what you are looking for today. Holiday prices change almost by the minute, so whilst a price may be available today, if not secured with a deposit, it could be more expensive tomorrow, or worse, not available at all!
For more details of our exciting 2018 holiday offers, look on our website or call us today and speak to one of our travel experts.
