How far in advance do you book your vacation?

[heidica]

I had to laugh when I heard about some of you buying airline ticket a year+ in advance. We couldn't even dream of doing that because DH is in the military. I am lucking if he gets his vacation leave approved 3 months in advance. I have been burned too many times to buy airline tickets without leave approval in my hand. I even had to rearrange our honeymoon to WDW because his CO wouldn't give him leave for our honeymoon (this particular CO was a real jerk). I had less than a month to re-do everything. I lost several $100 on the airline tickets but thankfully everything else wasn't too bad because we were going during a slow time (Nov.). Maybe after DH retires I will have the luxury of buying airline tickets so far in advance. At least with the hotel, I can reserve it way ahead and then by the time I know the status on DH's leave can either keep the reservation or cancel it without penalty. This is what I am doing for our trip to WDW in June '05. I have the hotel reserved (split stay at SOG and AKL) but won't be able to buy airline tickets until February or March. If DH gets his leave approved that early it will be a first, but DH has already talked to his CO and this CO is much nicer and even knows about SOG and how hard it is to get reservations.

Anyway, like I said, I chuckled when I heard about buying airline tickets so far in advance. I only wish I could.

 

[ppony]

I usually book rooms about 2 years in advance. Or at the very minimum, a year and a half. Not because we have to because we go during the slowest times but because we love it! It takes us that long to save and save and planning is half of the fun!

I saw another Dec 2005 goer on this thread. YAY!! us too!

 

[JLH]

I too, am booked already for June 18th week at SOG. It is not too early - I wish we had called earlier - we wanted a 2 bdr suite and a room, but the suites were all booked already, so we have 3 rooms.

 

[bdcp]

We made SOG reservations yesterday for the second week in Nov '05. They accept reservations 1 year in advance. It's never too early. But, it's gonna be a very long year.

DH has enough frequent flyer miles to fly, but I hate flying so we're driving down and stopping in Savannah on the way back for a couple of days. We're basically Empty Nesters now with two sons in college. So, we thought we'd do the parks alone for the first time, since we've taken them twice before.

 

[lovmy2girls]

Last minute here. My husband is self employed and he is like ok we can go next week book the room.

 

[zippehsmom]

I always start planning at least 1 year in advance. We booked our hotel along with airfare in October for our August 05' trip. Spirit was having a great sale ($130 non-stop). This is the earliest I have ever booked airfare.

Never to early to plan...

zippehsmom

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Usually at least 6 months. Preferably sooner than that.

I already know we're going for 2 weeks in October 2005. But I haven't booked it yet.

We booked our quick trip we're taking in Dec. when we returned from our last trip in Feb. We literally called up and booked the same day we got back.

 

[Joyciemc]

I've been booking about 8 months out. Not for any reason, it's just the way it has turned out. I haven't booked our May trip yet, probably won't till I get back from this one. So that'll be the longest I've waited. I wonder if that will make the wait seem shorter?

 

[turtle51]

Ive only been to WDW once but i had wanted to go for so long that i researched eveything for 2 years. I didnt book until 1 year out. As of right now im thinking about going again in 2006 but might have to wait until 2007 because i want to do so much and well so little time to pay lol