Most Reliable Way to Predict the Future? Create It!

One of the highlights of our summer was an Alaskan Cruise; here I am on our balcony overlooking Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park

Hello from sunny Leucadia, California! It's been a busy few months, and I've got lots to catch up on - but I would love to hear what you did during your summer! We are just home from a week in Illinois, and head east in a few days for something new to me - a business conference on board a cruise ship! We have lots to look forward to right on through 2020, including a special trip that I booked in April of 2018 - yes, you read that correctly! Last week we visited a winery in Southern Illinois, and our host advised us to watch their site as they will soon be announcing plans for visiting during the 2024 Solar Eclipse! On that note, the article below discusses the benefits of planning vacations far in advance. Here's to the Future!

Next Total Solar Eclipse - 4/8/2024 - Click Here for the Best Spots to Observe this Stellar Event!

Planning Ahead
"It's exciting to think that some of the best moments of our lives have not yet happened."

Does that quote resonate with you? If so, I'd like to suggest that it's never too early to plan ahead. It's hard to believe, but bookings are already being accepted for travel in 2022! Why would one make a reservation so far in advance? Here are a few reasons:

• Choice - the farther in advance you reserve, the more choices you will have with respect to availability of cruise ship staterooms or hotel room categories. If you plan to stay in a smaller boutique hotel, planning well ahead can ensure availability. You'll also have plenty of time to decide what you want to do while traveling, and a good shot at reserving popular events or restaurants once your destination has been determined.
• Pricing - it's not unusual for travel companies to offer "early booking discounts" - alternately you may be able to lock in a rate at today's pricing for a future trip. Travel companies from time to time offer promotions such as "this year's price for next year's travel"
• Budgeting - many travel companies will book your reservation with a modest deposit, with the final payment typically due 90 days prior to travel. Planning a trip well in advance gives you the ability to make periodic payments over an extended time period.
• Anticipation and preparation - planning well in advance will give you plenty of time to get excited about your vacation, and lots of time to study your destination and choose what you really want to do while you're there.
• Special celebrations / holidays - Mardi Gras, World Cup, Olympics, Religious Festivals - experiences like this are popular, desirable and have limited availability - planning ahead can give you peace of mind that you won't miss out.
• Schedule Restrictions - Many travelers must schedule their travel around school vacations; consequently these times are busy travel seasons. To avoid disappointment it's best to block out time and start planning as soon as your academic calendar has been published.
• Taking a longer trip - Many travel companies offer unique experiences which require a significant amount of time away from home. It's likely that scheduling an extended amount of time away will need to be planned with a lot of lead time.
• Celebration of a milestone event - graduation, special birthday, significant anniversary - what could be a better way to observe a special personal event than by taking a very special trip? And if you're inclined to travel with family and friends, a longer lead time will increase the likelihood of others being able to join your celebration, both in terms of scheduling and financing.
• Unique Experiences - many of us have a bucket list of special places that we wish to experience - for instance, Galapagos, Antarctica, an African Safari - and many of these are capacity controlled for environmental preservation. Planning ahead can ensure your space on a trip of a lifetime.

It's my hope that this list provides food for thought - and it would be my pleasure to be of service to you as you plan ahead.
Happy Travels!