How far out do you start booking your overseas holiday

[RooFlyer]

I'm in the process of only booking an Asian excursion for December this week (Star Alliance award J flights - Thai comes to the party )

South America - I'm booking flights now, for travel in April/May, but my trusty TA can keep rolling them forward each time payment becomes due. But Qantas sale will have to be paid for soon ..

I usually plan 6 months out; begin booking flights and cruises 4-5 months out; begin ticketing (paying) flights 2 months out, booking hotels 1 month out.

 

[Hvr]

It depends, I recently saw I had six consecutive days off and booked a quick trip to BKK. For my big trip (>21 days) I often book 11 months out having decided where I'll travel and wanting to get award flight.

As for people getting excited about travelling to NZ in 12 months, well I can remember that time and respect their excitement. We (AFFers) live in a fairly unique world where for many of us international travel is (or has been) common and done several times a year.

For other people such a trip is their once in a lifetime trip. Perhaps you could help your friends have a better trip with some polite advice or maybe even giving them an express pass? Something like this is taken for granted by us but for them it would be something to make their trip even more memorable.

 

[ShaneN]

I love the planning stage!

I also love the planning. I am feeling a bit lost at the moment because I do not have any international travel bookings. I returned from USA last week and do not have anything booked.

Sometimes I will book a key element of the trip, such as a short tour,up to a year or so ahead. I then book air fares, other travel and hotels around that initial booking. For a 3 week trip to Europe earlier this year my first booking was the 3 day World War I Battlefields Tour which was the initial inspiration for the visit.

On other occasions I will take advantage of a sale airfare, anywhere from 2 to 9 months prior to departure, then plan the rest of the trip around that.

For hotels, I usually work out a preliminary itinerary and book fully refundable rooms as soon as possible. When my itinerary becomes more definite, perhaps a month or so before departure, I check the websites and change to a cheaper non-refundable booking if available.

 

[SamR]

I love the planning stage too. In the case of my latest trip (to the U.S. for a friend's birthday) she invited me a year ago, giving me lots of notice. It meant that when QF had their J companion sale in January, I was able to jump in and book flights that were still pretty earlybird at that stage, and a good deal. The rest of the year I've spent leisurely planning and booking. I like to book my hotels direct, so once I've decided where I'm staying, I'll book at the best rate (as long as it's not prepaid) and keep an eye on things throughout the year. If a better deal comes up, I'll cancel without penalty and rebook. I like to have everything solid about a month out from travel for a big international trip, which I've done. One week and five days to go!

 

[Pleb Status]

I have booked J award seats as soon as they are available (~355 days out) and I have also booked flights (particularly to Asia) the night before.

 

[OATEK]

I started planning for a month in Europe next year about 24 months before, by doing dummy bookings on airfares. Do regular checks over the following months.

Knowing the best fares for the route and airlines I wanted I was ready when the right sort of fares for the actual dates came up.

The flights for SYD-EUR-SYD next March/April, were actually booked in May this year. Since then I have added other sub-trips and a short cruise, so that all the major bookings were complete about 6 months ahead.

 

[ajd]

As for people getting excited about travelling to NZ in 12 months, well I can remember that time and respect their excitement. We (AFFers) live in a fairly unique world where for many of us international travel is (or has been) common and done several times a year.

For other people such a trip is their once in a lifetime trip. Perhaps you could help your friends have a better trip with some polite advice or maybe even giving them an express pass? Something like this is taken for granted by us but for them it would be something to make their trip even more memorable.

Oh, absolutely - it's good to be reminded that for the vast majority of people, international travel of any distance is a huge deal. (I was blessed with a multicultural family which meant that I got my first passport before I turned 1, so I've never actually had a time when I've thought of international travel as particularly rare, and I find it particularly easy to forget this!) I am glad for them that they're taking the opportunity to start seeing a bit of the world, and I have been giving them tips

(I do wish I was enough of a frequent flyer to have a stack of Express Paths to give away...)

 

[CMak]

I have just booked SQ J redemptions to LHR for next September and could only find flights home out of CPH. I didn't think this was a problem as we haven't been to Copenhagen before.
Also booked flights (paid Jetstar!!!) to Japan to Hakuba in August for a February ski holiday with a redemption Starclass back to OOL.
I am also a planner and love the anticipation - my holiday starts when I get on to the aeroplane.
CMak

 

[drron]

my 2016 trips are starting now-earning the money to pay for them.

 

[somebol]

I usually book 3-4 weeks out. Usually award bookings.

That has changed With the arrival of the junior. Booked award tickets for this December trip in September.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Like others have said - there is almost as much fun in the planning as the travelling. I spend hours poring over potential hotels and B&Bs. I tend to wait for a sale and book if the price looks good for airfares. Occasionally a cheaper fare comes along later but not that often. With hotels I start about 2 years out, so I can see a pattern of when they offer deals (particularly on suites), so I know what is the best time frame to book. My most advance booking was for a cruise to Gallipoli which I booked in 2010 for April 2015. Normally I book accommodation 3 to 6 months out, although if I want to stay somewhere with limited accommodation and popular (e.g. ahwahnee in Yosemite) then much earlier is needed. We are travelling overseas twice a year at the moment, but I can still get excited about a trip to New Zealand. Ok I went to Hervey Bay last week and I was excited about that.....

 

[irv]

Thank you for your response to this thread, great to know for many of us the planning is as important as the trip. This is only my 2nd o/s trip, my last one will be four years back from the upcoming one next year. We did all our own bookings last time, couple of hiccups but taught us a few lessons. This one we are much more relaxed and confident from the experience and looking forward to our journey.

 

[kpc]

If booking award flights / hotels, I tend to book when they are released....which is often just under a year out....have booked all flights / hotels etc for Bora Bora in Sept 2015

 

[JessicaTam]

I started planning and booking my current trip about six months ago, as that was when I decided to go.

I have a couple of trips to Asia planned for next year, and I have the dates set. I probably won't book until much closer, though, as they are very simple itineraries.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Lately I've been using miles so tend to be booking out near the limits once award seats become available.

Been using tavelmob.com a bit lately - similar to airbnb - as they've lured me in with 10% discount codes after doing a search in Tokyo and again in Bali.

My current job no longer affords me the ability to see a cheap flight and just book it.

 

[deka2]

We have three trips for 2015. Most award flights booked 350 days out.
A couple I missed and are waitlisted on or hoping for Upgrades to come through.
One in January, all but one night’s accom confirmed
One in April, I know which hotels we are staying at, just waiting for some special deal to come along
One in July, only flights to and from booked so far. Still in the planning stage.
Pity I can’t take more leave.
I love researching new places, even if sometimes I complain to my wife about how hard and frustrating it can be.
It’s almost like the thrill of the chase!

 

[Flying mermaid]

I love researching new places, even if sometimes I complain to my wife about how hard and frustrating it can be.
It’s almost like the thrill of the chase!

Isn't it just! And even better when you take the trip and it all works out as planned! Had my nose put out of joint a few months ago - had spent ages researching where to stay in Cappadocia and had settled on the Argos cave hotel when Mr FM announced he had found some cave apartments - he was so pleased with himself, I had to take a deep breath and say of course we will stay there. They do look quite nice and we can go to the Argos for dinner and have a look around, as it sounds a very interesting hotel. Still recovering from the shock of having my function usurped.

 

[Pushka]

Had my nose put out of joint a few months ago - had spent ages researching where to stay in Cappadocia and had settled on the Argos cave hotel when Mr FM announced he had found some cave apartments - he was so pleased with himself

MrP knows better than to do that.

 

[artemis]

Interesting to read everyone's response.

I often do a lot of research, but will make the decision to travel quite abruptly (around 2-3 weeks in advance, but as little as 36hrs). I was very fortunate to manage some reward J flights to Europe on EK with 36hrs notice.

Unlike others, I don't find the flights to be the issue, but moreso the hotels - espec if travelling for big conferences. Then I will reserve my hotel a year in advance, with the advantage being that in most places you can cancel without charge if enough notice is given (24hrs generally).

I know many people don't like the idea of being quite as flexible as this, but I kind of like the notion that the world is getting ever-smaller and therefore international travel is becoming easier and easier, hence the ability to travel at the last minute.

I do however spend a lot of time thinking about which wardrobe to pack!

 

[amaroo]

Over the past 10 years we've mainly booked within a month (sometimes days) of travelling. On the odd occasion we've been enticed to book around 6 months out to take advantage of specials I.E. pay J fly F. I've found it easier to secure 4/5 x award seats when booking close to departure.

Since joining AFF I've caught the "book early" bug and we've started to secure award seats within minutes of being released. Getting ready to book another European trip for Dec 15 ..... I'll secure those seats in 4 or so weeks and get the return sorted mid Jan 15.

Pretty much after securing seats I'll book the hotels on a fully flex basis ... I'll then monitor prices/places and change if a better deal pops up.