If you are waiting until the last minute to book your airline tickets for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years thinking that rates will drop – think again. We have seen prices increase significantly in the past 10 days, and as flights fill up – the law of supply and demand will come into play and run up prices even more. So try to get your flights booked as soon as possible. If you are flexible, like flying on the day of the Holiday, versus a day or two before, that can save you money. When shopping around don’t forget to calculate the cost of checking in your luggage if you are trying to take gifts home and have a heavy suitase – Southwest and JetBlue still offer 1 free bag, so factor that in when calculating who is giving you the best deal. Another thought is to ship the gifts ahead of time via UPS to avoid the airline fees.
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Planning Seasonal Travel: What the Timing Really Means
Thirty-five years of booking travel has taught our team at Atlas Travel Center something important about seasonal vacations: the difference between a trip that exceeds expectations and one that disappoints often comes down to how far in advance you start planning. Peak travel windows — holidays, spring break, summer school breaks — fill up faster than most travelers expect. The clients who get the best rooms, the best cabins, and the best rates are almost always the ones who called us six to twelve months ahead.
Seasonal travel also has nuances that aren’t obvious from the calendar. “Holiday pricing” at some Caribbean resorts kicks in weeks before Christmas and lasts well into January. The most atmospheric Christmas markets in Europe sell out accommodations by October. Thanksgiving weekend flights can cost three to four times what the same route costs the Tuesday before. Our advisors know these patterns deeply and help you time your booking to avoid the premiums.
What Makes Seasonal Travel Worth It
Despite the planning lead time required, seasonal travel delivers experiences that are impossible at other times of year. The atmosphere of Europe during the holiday season, the energy of Caribbean ports during New Year’s week, the blaze of color along New England’s foliage routes in October — these are genuinely once-a-year moments that justify the extra coordination. Our job is to make sure the logistics don’t get in the way of the experience.
Start Planning with Atlas Travel Center
Contact our team to discuss seasonal availability for the destinations and travel styles that interest you. Atlas Travel Center has been planning seasonal travel since 1987 — CLIA-certified, ARC-accredited, and A+ BBB-rated. The earlier you reach out, the better the options we can lock in for you.
