The Best Times to Book Your Vacations This Year

 

Brainstorming for your next trip, but wondering when to book for the best deal? Don’t procrastinate too much. HomeAway, a home rental site with more than two million listings, has studied vacation rental booking trends and noted when homes tend to get booked up the fastest. Beat the rush for the perfect beach condo, ski chalet, or national park rental by following their below advice. Planning a spring break getaway? Planning tends to peak in January, so book by then to get the most choices. Headed on a summer vacation or away for Memorial Day? HomeAway also recommends booking by January, but if you need more time, booking during March should still leave plenty of options (but the majority of rentals are often taken by April 1.) Celebrating the fourth of July out of town? Get ahead of the curve by booking before the first of May. Thinking about a getaway for Labor Day? Luckily, most folks wait until after Independence Day to start planning, so book before the fireworks to get the best picks. Want to hit the slopes? To get the most variety of listings, book around mid-October, though most rentals are usually still available until mid-December. Planning to see family for Thanksgiving, but can’t all fit in one place? This holiday is a favorite for last-minute bookings, and has plenty of openings until October. Looking for a cozy Christmas trip? You’ll want to book this one at least three months in advance, with everything squared away by the end of September. Mark these deadlines on your calendar and start planning!