When you should (and shouldn’t) pre-book your trip
Do you like to plan your travels in advance? Or fly by the seat of your pants? Here’s when you should – and shouldn’t – pre-book your entire trip in advance.
Pros:
Get a good price
If you’re on a budget, booking early can score you a great rate on a hotel room or a discounted flight. In fact, many hotel groups have ongoing offers where you will save a set percentage if you book a specific number of days out. With flights, you’re generally best to book between three and six months before you travel to get the best fare.
Secure your spot
If you’re travelling at a popular time, like during school holidays or over Christmas, you’re going to need to book early. Some resorts can book out up to 12 months in advance, so you can be left having to completely rethink your plans. Then you’ll be stuck paying a premium for somewhere you really didn’t want to stay.
Lock in your itinerary
If you're planning a trip with lots of different stops or destinations, you will want to lock things in as early as possible. All it takes is one sold out flight and your whole itinerary can be thrown into disarray. The general rule is, the more complicated your trip the earlier you want to start booking it.
Cons:
Tricky cancellations policies
Those early bird deals can be great value, but make sure you read the fine print. You could be stuck with a non-refundable room or airfare, which will cost you dearly if you have to change your plans. Travel companies make a lot of money through cancellation fees, so make sure you’re certain before you buy.
Less spontaneity
If you’ve booked everything down to the last airport transfer, you’re essentially committed to your itinerary. You’ve largely lost the potential for those ‘spur of the moment’ decisions or last minute changes that you want to add in. It can be exciting to hear about something new, pack your bags and go.
Miss out on last minute deals
At the other end of the spectrum, booking right before you go can also score you some great savings. Airlines, hotels and cruise lines are looking to fill those final seats, so can drop the prices dramatically. If you’re happy to be a little flexible with your itinerary (or even your destination) you can save big bucks.
Do you prebook, or like to fly by the seat of your pants?