During 2009, booking your vacation a couple of weeks before you wanted to leave was pretty common. In 2010, waiting that long is likely going to prove to be frustrating. You might not get the flights you want, the hotel or room category that you want or the price that you wanted to pay.
Travel Experts Urge Summer Vacationers to Book Early
Published on: May 20, 2010
Americans are hitting the roads and skies, according to leading travel executives from Best Western International, AAA and Airfarewatchdog.com who convened last week to discuss the leisure travel landscape. With the increase in demand, hotel rooms are filling up fast. Dorothy Dowling, Best Western’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, is tracking an increase in advance bookings from May through September as well as an increase in the average length of stay. Dowling says these trends will put greater pressure on demand at hotels and recommends booking travel now in order to secure the best deals.
Capacity cuts and mergers among airlines, along with continued surcharges, are keeping rates high. George Hobica, creator of Airfarewatchdog.com, said that, “fare deals will be few and far between” this summer. “If you see something within your price range, grab it.”
There are many signs that the economy is improving and consumer confidence is growing, which are positive signs for the travel industry, according to Glen MacDonell, director of AAA Travel Services. The association is hoping to see a large increase in the number of travelers when its Memorial Day holiday forecast is released later this month. “Travel by automobile is expected to remain the most popular way to travel,” said MacDonell.
Leisure travel expert and editor of OnTheGoWithAmy.com, Amy Graff, said that staycations and one-tank trips are a thing of the past, and that families are looking to book themed travel in 2010. “People are looking to find unique vacation experiences for their families,” Graff said. “Michelle Obama’s ’Get Fit’ campaign is inspiring active vacations, and more parents are looking into educational vacations that teach their kids in a fun way. Agritourism and culinary vacations will continue to grow in popularity.”
Whatever type of vacation you are looking to plan, my advice is to plan as early as possible.
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