I am so glad I am a planner!!

[tlovesdis]

We are going to DL in September for a long weekend and I booked the Desert Inn and Suites back in February for $79 a night. The exact same room is now $139 a night!!!

This happened last year too when I booked Ramada about 7 months out, got it for $99 a night and then closer when I was looking it was $159!

People think I am crazy because of how far out I plan stuff, but I think I'm smart! LOL!!!

 

[Imdboss]

I always book far in advance for the same reason! Really what do you have to lose, right? Just book a room that you are able to cancel so that if plans change, prices go down, decide on another hotel, etc you are able to change. It's a win win. I also book airfare far in advance. We fly out of Seattle so Alaska Air is our main carrier and they have a low price guarantee so if the price goes down you get the difference back in the form of a credit towards a future flight.

I love the feeling of taking a trip knowing I got the best price on airfare and hotel!

 

[agamble]

Yes, booking in advance is the best way to get cheap hotels. $79/night is great for Desert Inn. We got $89 and I was happy with that. Unfortunately I changed our plans to arrive a day earlier and leave a day earlier. Now, because we want to see the new parade, we're staying one more day. I was able to get the room, but I have to pay the $119 price for the extra night. If I'd just left it...

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I had desert inn 89-99 a night for mine but changed to bwppi for a new change and hoping the beds were better. However Yes booking far in advance does pay off. Good job with those prices

 

[disneychrista]

I always book (a cancellable room) as soon as I know we have a trip planned. I have a trip planned next May and will start looking for rooms in June.

 

[bcwife76]

Yay!! I'm with you, I like to book sooner rather than later. For our upcoming October (first week) trip our hotel and airfare were booked before the end of January. I just looked at the current airfare for our flight and it's already gone up $40/pp!! *happy dance*

 

[bumbershoot]

For our upcoming October (first week) trip our hotel and airfare were booked before the end of January. I just looked at the current airfare for our flight and it's already gone up $40/pp!! *happy dance*

Unless you're with SW or Alaska, stop checking. There's no point. I'd never book in January for October, because I get the best prices about 2-3 months out. Unless you can benefit from a price drop, don't check anymore...

 

[canyoncam]

Unless you're with SW or Alaska, stop checking. There's no point. I'd never book in January for October, because I get the best prices about 2-3 months out. Unless you can benefit from a price drop, don't check anymore...

Well sometimes us planners just like to see how much we saved!!!!!

I too plan way in advance but usually never come out ahead unless it is a solo trip because the family does not understand the far in advance planning money saving thing. They say they like to save money but as the dates draw closer they decide to add one more person, or maybe they would really prefer this hotel over the one I have booked, or (I love this one) "I'm thinking the next week really would be better"

 

[Canuck16]

 

[bcwife76]

Unless you're with SW or Alaska, stop checking. There's no point. I'd never book in January for October, because I get the best prices about 2-3 months out. Unless you can benefit from a price drop, don't check anymore...

Ours is a one-way flight from LAX to Vancouver BC and yes on Alaska. To get the day/time we wanted it was rather important to book sooner rather than later for us. According to the seat map on my flight, there are way less available seats now than when we booked in January and the price has gone up $37/pp so I'm fairly certain this worked very much in our favour.

 

[keltiesmom]

We booked a C-1 suite last fall as soon as the reservations opened at desert inn and suites. We are paying $149 and it's now $289! Amazing!

 

[LALA8971]

People think I am crazy because of how far out I plan stuff, but I think I'm smart! LOL!!!

Nope, you are a genius! I booked out hotel for our Dec. 2015 in early January. Got a great deal! My husband thinks I'm crazy for planning that early (I'm already planning out Oct. 2016 trip) but doesn't hate the money I save us!

 

[tlovesdis]

Nice to see I am not the only one!!!

 

[Disney127]

Nice to see I am not the only one!!!

I am also a planner - I usually plan our Disney trips one year in advance. Between getting cheaper flights and work/school schedules, I have to start thinking ahead - most people think I am nutty but once a Disney trip (flights/hotel) is planned, then the countdown begins!

 

[lvdis]

Nope, you are a genius! I booked out hotel for our Dec. 2015 in early January. Got a great deal! My husband thinks I'm crazy for planning that early (I'm already planning out Oct. 2016 trip) but doesn't hate the money I save us!

I'm curious, have you already booked your flights for December? I'm trying to decide whether to go ahead and buy flights for my early December trip or to wait and see if prices get better. I'm typically a crazy early planner too!

 

[Disney127]

I'm curious, have you already booked your flights for December? I'm trying to decide whether to go ahead and buy flights for my early December trip or to wait and see if prices get better. I'm typically a crazy early planner too!

Does the flight prices in the US get cheaper as time goes by? We are flying from Canada and I usually book our flights a year in advance. We usually fly Alaska and know the flight times that we want, so I just go ahead and book. Right now, I am waiting for flights for March 2016.

 

[LALA8971]

We have not yet booked our flights. We usually start checking 4-5 months out and set alerts on Orbitz in case there are price drops.

 

[keltiesmom]

We booked our flights earlier this year for our sept trip. The prices have gone up so that makes me feel good but the flight times have changed a couple of times now and I probably would have chosen different flights if I had known this would happen.

 

[pinkprincess30]

I just saved $100 on our car rental by checking prices again. They had gone down, so instead of $50 a day for a small SUV (RAV4), we got a mini van for $30! Originally when I was checking back it had gone UP by $50 total but has gone way down since. It pays to check and plan, for sure!