5 Reasons To Start Planning Your 2020 Holiday Now

I’m so happy to share this guest post with you today from Caroline who blogs over at Breaks.com

Some people are naturally good planners and have got 2020 all planned out. If you are not one of those organised people and tend to book all your travel last minute, this can get a bit stressful! The days of cheap last-minute travel are basically over so booking in advance can help you save a few pennies to spend on your holiday. 

As well as saving money, there a few other reasons that should convince you to start planning your 2020 holiday now. In this guest post, Caroline from breaks.com has rounded up the top 5:

1. You can save money on early-bird deals

Lots of companies offer deals for those who book early in advance. Whether it is on your hotel, flight or package holiday you can often get a good deal when booking early. Hotels and flight companies want to ensure their hotel is filled up so tend to offer early-bird deals. Some hotels now also offer a free cancellation up until a few days before your due to arrive, this means you can lock in a great price and cancel for free if your plans fall through.

It is also worth seeing if you can get an early-booking discount on any trips or excursions you decide to do. Additionally, having more time to plan will always mean you don’t get rushed in to a bad deal on travel insurance or car hire. 

2. Spread out the cost with a low deposit offer

There are plenty of companies out there that give you an option to pay a small deposit when booking. Some travel booking sites don’t even require a deposit! These options allow you to break down the cost for your holiday over a couple months. You don’t have to use all your savings when you book your travel, so you can save up in the time you are counting down the days for your holiday!  

Make sure to take some time to find the best deal, whether this is online or by asking in your local travel store. If you are booking your holiday early you should use this as an advantage and take some time to get the best offer! 

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3. Having something to look forward to makes you happier

Let’s be honest, the office is always a bit more manageable if you are counting down the days to a holiday! Have a physical calendar on your desk to mark off the days until your holiday and prepare your ‘out of office’ message. However far away it may still be, having your holiday booked and annual leave approved can make your work days a lot easier. Research even shows planning a holiday makes you happier! And don’t mind the moaning colleagues: they’re just jealous! 

4. You can break up your pre-holiday shopping

If you book your holiday early and know what the temperature is likely to be, you can prepare your holiday shopping. Leaving more time to do your holiday shopping will prevent stress and spreads the cost over a longer period of time.

If you are going somewhere you know will be hot at that time of year then you can start shopping for swimsuits and summer clothes now. Equally, if you are going on a colder holiday you can start buying those essentials. Items like thermal clothing, technology and walking gear are usually a bit more expensive so it’s good to start looking early for deals and offers. If you know what you will be doing (see tip 5), you can start sorting outfits day by day. 

5. You will have more time to research what to do

Imagine being able to research you next holiday destination well in advance! If you already know where you are going in 2020, you still have so many months to work out what sights you want to see and things you can’t miss when at your destination. 

Use social media like Instagram and Pinterest or contact local tourist boards for advice. They will be able to advise you on must-see places and hidden gems that you won’t find in most travel guides. With so much time to put together an itinerary, you are more likely to get the most out of your holiday.