You Need to Book Your International Vacation Sooner Than You Think

Updated: Nov 27, 2023

One of the best things about having a custom itinerary specialist is having someone who specializes in organization and time management as well as all the details that go along with booking a trip abroad. To help you have an stress-free booking - here are some of the basics!

What to Think About Before Your Travel Consultation

Think about when you want to take your trip. This may mean you want to think about what season you prefer to be in and which part of the world offers all you want, and it requires you to think about the logistics of your family schedule (cue up those shared Google calendars!)

The Biggest Destination Booking Myth

Once you have a general sense of a time and place that works, get in touch with Vacations By Jillian as soon as humanly possible. Because here's the thing: there is no such thing as last minute booking deals anymore. The travel industry has seen historic occupancy rates across the world since 2020. So even if you see some online deal for a last minute trip- they are likely not being entirely up front with you.

Benefits to Booking Early

We want you to be prepared and have a smooth process when booking. So, when you consult with us, we are ideally booking your trip 8-12 months in advance. This gives you access to more choices in accommodations from hotel variety down to the type of room you want. Because many accommodations have dynamic pricing, the sooner you book, the more reasonable the price for your stay.

Additionally, by booking 8-12 months in advance, you have more choices in tours and excursions. It allows you to feel comfort that you have booked what you want, and it is the best timing for us to reach out to suppliers and ensure you have all the information you need. Occasionally, times change on an excursion by booking a year in advance, but the reality is that changes could just as easily happen close to your travel dates as well. By giving yourself more time to book, we have plenty of time to finalize your schedule.

Lastly, by following our booking advice you give yourself flexibility with payments throughout the year. Final payment dates vary, but we will give you options on breaking up your payments in the meantime, sending notifications throughout the time before that last payment is due. Clients love the flexibility of this natural feature of booking early.