How And When to Make Your Reservations
For so many elements of travel, reservations are absolutely necessary! Here is guidance and when - and how - to book flights, lodging, cars, tours, site visits, and restaurants. True, there may be some last-minute deals to be found by not booking what you know you want at your earliest convenience, but the risk is that you may not have access to it if you wait. If you are a frequent traveler, being loyal to an airline or hotel company can be worthwhile. Read more about it here
Flights
The truth is... no airline booking strategy guarantees the lowest price every time. Travel data shows some patterns for when flights are typically cheapest. To improve your chances of finding the best airfare deals use flight price alerts to track changes, be flexible with travel dates and nearby airports, and search in incognito mode to avoid inflated prices. Here are the some platforms we use to compare prices: Google, Kayak, Hopper, and Agoda) or book directly with the airline. Click here for specific guidelines on booking domestic, international, holiday-time, and non-holiday flights.
Hotels
Hotel rates, like flights, are often managed on a demand-based or dynamic pricing model, meaning that prices vary dramatically by demand, location, and seasonality. Overall, booking, 1–4 weeks in advance is ideal for non-peak leisure travel. Or book early with free cancellation and check prices regularly. If you have the interest, you can compare prices across multiple booking platforms (such as Google, Hotels.com, Kayak, and Agoda) or book directly with the hotel (many offer best-price guarantees, fyi, so feel free to tell them what you have found through web searches). Click here for specifics of booking hotels.
Sites and Restaurants
When you have a site or restaurant that is a "must" for you, try to reserve as soon as possible. Many places require a booking directly on their site a specific amount of time in advance which can range from three weeks to 3 months or more. While google and AI can help, always check out the timing directly on the website. Be prepared to deal with foreign language websites for international travel. It's worth it! Note that if you are staying at a hotel with a concierge or have a travel-based premium credit card with a concierge service, you can ask them to help you.
Trains, Cars & More
All travel elements are subject to dynamic pricing, with costs fluctuating by destination, seasonality, availability, and booking window. For car rentals, booking 2–6 weeks in advance is generally ideal for non-peak travel, while peak seasons or limited inventory markets benefit from earlier reservations. A best practice is to book early with free cancellation and monitor prices. Train pricing varies by region: high-speed and long-distance routes typically offer the lowest fares when tickets are released (often 1–4 months in advance), while regional or commuter trains usually have fixed pricing and do not require advance purchase.
Booking Your Flight: Tips and Tricks
Know that you can set flight price alerts so that if fares change, you can decide what to do about it. This is especially useful if your dates and plans are not yet set. We like Google and Hopper for this.
Domestic Flights
Best Time to Book Domestic Flights
Airlines adjust prices frequently based on demand and competition.
Set flight alerts at: Google and Hopper, and Kayak.
When Are Domestic Flights Cheapest?
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1 to 3 months before departure is generally the best time to book domestic airfare
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Prices often increase sharply within two weeks of departure
Best Days to Fly Domestically
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Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday tend to have the lowest fares
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Friday and Sunday flights are usually more expensive
When to Avoid Booking
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Last-minute bookings almost always cost more
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Booking too far in advance (6+ months) can mean paying higher prices though it ensures you get the flight and seats that you want.
Holiday Travel
Best Time to Book Flights for Holiday Travel
Holiday travel is the most expensive and competitive time to fly.
Expensive Holiday Travel Periods
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Christmas and New Year’s
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Thanksgiving
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Spring Break
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Summer holidays
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Major festivals and events
How Early to Book Holiday Flights
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6 to 12 months in advance is recommended
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Prices rarely drop as holidays approach
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Waiting often leads to higher fares and limited availability
Pro tip: Flying on the holiday itself (such as Christmas Day or Thanksgiving Day) is often cheaper than flying just before or after.
International Flights
Best Time to Book International Flights
International airfare requires more planning, especially for long-haul destinations. Booking generally opens 11 months in advance.
When Should You Book International Flights?
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3 to 6 months in advance for most international trips
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6 to 10 months ahead for long-haul or peak-season travel
Best Booking Windows by Region
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Europe: 4–6 months in advance
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Asia & Australia: 6–9 months in advance
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Latin America & Caribbean: 2–4 months in advance (excluding holidays)
Booking international flights later often means fewer seat options and higher prices.
Non-Holiday Travel
Best Time to Book Flights for Non-Holiday Travel
If your trip falls outside major holidays, you have much more flexibility.
Advantages of Off-Peak Travel
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Lower airfare prices
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More seat availability
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Better flight times and upgrade opportunities
Best Strategy for Off-Peak Flights
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Travel during shoulder seasons (late January to early March, or fall)
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Set price alerts and book when fares drop within the recommended window
Booking Your Hotel: Tips and Tricks
Join hotel loyalty programs for exclusive discounts, read recent guest reviews for quality and consistency, and consider booking directly with the hotel for added perks. Hotels often price-match online rates and may include extras like breakfast or parking when booking direct. Additionally, hotels often drop prices closer to the stay date to fill unsold rooms and flexible cancellation policies allow you to rebook if prices drop.
Domestic Hotels
Domestic hotel bookings tend to offer more flexibility and competitive pricing.
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Book 2–4 weeks in advance
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Look for free cancellation rates
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Consider loyalty programs for perks like late checkout or free upgrades
FYI: Domestic hotel prices often decrease shortly before check-in, especially in business-heavy cities on weekends.
Holiday Hotel Bookings
Holiday periods drive up demand and limit availability.
Major hotel peak periods include Christmas and New Year’s, Spring Break, Summer school holidays, and Major festivals and local events.
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Book hotels 3–6 months in advance
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Prices usually rise as the holiday approaches
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Flexible dates or staying just outside city centers can reduce costs
For holiday travel, availability is often a bigger concern than price.
Booking Resort Hotels
Resort hotels operate differently from standard city hotels.
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Book 2–6 months in advance, especially for beach or ski resorts
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All-inclusive resorts often offer early-booking discounts
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Resorts rarely discount heavily at the last minute during peak seasons
Resort availability is more limited, and room categories matter more than in city hotels.
International Hotels
International hotel reservations typically require more planning, especially in high-tourism destinations.
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Book 1–3 months in advance
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Reserve earlier for popular destinations, peak seasons, or limited-inventory cities
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Pay attention to currency conversion and foreign transaction fees
FYI: In some regions, particularly Europe and Asia, smaller hotels and boutique properties may sell out faster than large chains.
Off-Peak Hotel Bookings
Off-peak travel offers the most opportunities for hotel deals.
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Book closer to your stay date
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Travel during shoulder seasons (early spring, fall)
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Monitor prices and rebook if rates drop
Off-peak periods often come with added perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades, or resort credits.
Booking City/ Non-Resort Hotels
Non-resort hotels tend to be more flexible and price-competitive.
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Book closer to travel dates
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Look for weekend discounts in business districts
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Consider location trade-offs to save money
City hotels frequently lower prices to fill empty rooms, especially outside major events.