How early should you book your next trip

Hey Reader,

Because my wife teaches and our kids attended public schools, we’ve always been tied to school breaks for travel. Traveling during peak season taught me how much timing matters when it comes to booking and budgeting.

Here is a quick guide to when it usually makes sense to start planning and booking your next trip.

Book early

✈ Flights: About 1 to 3 months ahead for domestic trips and 2 to 8 months for international or peak season travel.

🏨 Hotels: Around 3 to 5 months ahead for busy seasons or popular destinations. Less if your dates are flexible.

🎟 Theme park tickets: Buy online and in advance to lock in lower prices and skip long ticket lines. Popular dates and special add-ons can sell out as travel dates get closer.

🌲 National park timed entry tickets: Released 3 to 6 months ahead. Check each park’s site for specific release dates.

🚗 Car rentals: 2 to 3 months ahead, especially during holidays or large events.

Book later

🍽 Dining reservations: 1 to 2 months ahead for popular spots. Sooner, if it is a bucket-list meal.

🎫 Attractions and tours: 2 to 6 weeks ahead is usually enough unless it is a limited-capacity experience.

Prep tasks

🧳 Packing list: Finalize about a week before departure, but start noting essentials early.

📋 Itinerary details: Confirm logistics such as check-in times and transfers in the last week or two.

Booking tips to keep in mind

💳 Award travel: Airlines and hotels open award seats when schedules first release, often up to 11 months out. If you are using points, start looking early and set alerts.

🔁 Refundable rates: When plans are not firm, book a flexible option you can cancel or adjust later. Recheck prices periodically since you can often rebook at a lower rate.

🧾 Travel insurance: Buy coverage soon after you book major trip components. Cancel-for-any-reason policies usually have short purchase windows.

💡 Dynamic pricing: Theme park and airline prices can change daily. Check multiple days or use fare alerts to track trends before locking in.

🕐 Time zone timing: For popular park or permit releases, note the release hour in that park’s local time. Spots often sell out within minutes.