Making Holiday Travel Merry & Bright
Since this weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, I thought it would be the perfect time to start talking about holiday travel.
And yes, I mean those holidays…at the end of the year.
If you’ve ever traveled during the holiday season you know it can be stressful and expensive. And if you haven’t traveled during the holidays, it’s probably because you’ve heard that it can be stressful and expensive.
But one way to make holiday travel easier?
Work with a travel advisor who can do the planning for you and pull together the ideal itinerary for your holiday getaway. And now is the time to start! Since the holiday season is a peak travel time, costs for flights and hotels tend to go up and the costs will only get worse the longer you wait to plan. Having the best selection of resorts, hotels, cruises, or villa rentals to choose from means starting earlier - we see availability start to dry up by the end of the summer so it’s best to plan those holiday trips 6-9 months in advance (if not longer), depending on your desired destination.
Some of the most popular destinations for holiday travel include warm weather retreats (Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida) and ski destinations (Aspen, Park City) so if you’re thinking about traveling to any of these places, you definitely want to plan ahead.
The More the Merrier
If you’re thinking about larger family getaway to celebrate the holidays, finding a villa rental might be the best option. Villa rentals accommodate larger groups and allow everyone to come together for meals or just hang out together. Our villa and vacation home partners operate around the world but the most popular destinations for the holiday season are in the Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, St. Barths to name just a few), South Florida, Mexico, and out West in the popular ski destinations like Tahoe, Aspen, Telluride, Vail, or Park City. And many of the rental homes come with butler service, personal chefs, housekeeping, and more. We can help you find the perfect home for your family’s holiday trip and coordinate all of the details to make things easy for you.
Taking a cruise with a family group is another unique way to ring in the New Year or celebrate the holidays. Caribbean cruises are the most popular during this time period and would definitely recommend planning 9-12 months in advance to have the best pricing and options for your cruise. If this is your first time cruising, we can help you identify the best cruise line for your group and coordinate the details so you can relax and enjoy!
Celebrate the European way
There is something magical about visiting Europe during the holiday season - which makes it a rather popular destination for travelers. Christmas markets are a big draw for November and December travel in Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, and France, although there are markets in many of the major European cities. For instance, London goes all out for the holidays with festivals and holiday lights throughout the city. We can also arrange for villa rentals within France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and more during the holidays if you’re in need of a larger accommodation for your family and friends.
Get even further away
Since you may have even more time off to travel during the holidays and winter break, you might want to take advantage of traveling further away than your typical vacation. Why not finally take that trip to Thailand, Bali or Vietnam? Or consider traveling to French Polynesia for a luxurious island escape. Southeast Asia is a great destination for the holidays whether you’re traveling with kids, friends, or your significant other. Holiday observances are different in many Asian countries which means you may experience fewer holiday closures while traveling in these countries.
Additional Tips for Holiday Travel
Airports are busy and flights get delayed. Stay flexible, remain calm, and pack some extra patience.
Restaurants, shops, and museums may be closed in your destination due to the holidays. Plan ahead and work with your travel advisor to determine which days might be affected during your stay. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day generally mean most places are closed - but you may find that restaurants or shops are closed for the entire week between Christmas and New Year’s.
You’ll find that many hotels and resorts have minimum stay requirements during the holidays, usually starting around the last two weeks of the year. This may impact availability and options for accommodations.
And our favorite tip - connect with your favorite travel advisor to start planning your ideal holiday getaway!