Friday, September 28, 2012 3:02 PM

Does the Earlybird traveller really get the Worm?
The general rule with travel is first in first served...and arranging your travel early usaully means there's money to be saved up front that you'll happily spend at your destination. 

 
FLIGHTS:
Booking your flights as early as possible means a guaranteed seat on your preferred Airline and your chosen dates/times. This most often results in better connections and hopefully less flying time..something we at the bottom of the world are particularly mindful of!
It's a good idea to take advantage of the Earlybird Airfares which can cost less especially if you're travelling with family. Watch out for the 2  for 1 deals if you travel business class!

Airfare specials are usually launched in October/November and include flights for most of the following calendar year. However do remember that  Airlines only release seats aproximately 11 months out.


TOURS AND CRUISES:
Booking Tours and Cruises early also has its up side.
If a holiday on the high seas or the world's great rivers appeals you'll find most cruise companies have fantastic deals when booking way in advance and if you're really organised you can often secure your cabin a year out. This is especially important if you want to book a particular suite or location on the boat...and also when travelling with a group or family and you need adjoining cabins.
The same goes for those planning on a coach tour. The earlier you commit the more you will save and usually you are only required to make a deposit and pay the balance at a later date.

As with all travel arrangements an important factor to keep in mind is that even if you book and deposit early no prices are guaranteed until payment is made in full particularly as exchange rates vary daily.


HOTELS:
Hotels are another story in that they do offer last minute discounts. There are many websites selling  online room specials and travellers who swear by them. However, it can be risky business(and stressful) if you leave hotel bookings this late as chances are the available options are unsuitable or in an unsafe location The rooms can be the least desirable in the hotel/resort. It's certainly not a good idea to hang out for last minute deals if you need to be at a certain place at a certain time. For example your best friend's wedding!


ANOTHER REASON TO BOOK EARLY:
It's not just about the MONEY but it comesdown toAVAILABILITY and we New Zealanders  tend to forget that the entire travelling world are feeding into the same inventory of airline seats,hotel rooms and cruise cabins.

Due to the nature of my business I can also be guilty(like my clients) of booking late which means  being on tender hooks waiting for a confirmation! I also don't enjoy informing disappointed late comers that there's no availability as flights or cruises are sold out and wait lists closed. It ultimately means I miss out on the pleasure of sharing with them my favourite hotels and tours. Worst case scenario is when there's no room at any inn due to a conference in town and ending up in a characterless hotel in an equally boring suburb-.wasting both time and money commuting into the city they longed to experience up close.

Remember,travel is one of our biggest ticket items so in order to save money and avoid disappointment book early and that way you'll fulfill your travel dreams... and have more funds to spend on holiday-especially on exotic local cuisine and those irresistible bargains!

If you're planning to travel next year contact me to discuss options.. and we'll then be able to plan for upcoming specials.


Contact Anne on (09)420-2963 or anne@annevandyke.com
Website: www.annevandyke.com