It’s finally SPRING!!! May 2025 has hit and the sun is shining the birds are chirping the blooms are coming out and all that fun summer stuff we love to do is right around the corner! So, let’s start thinking about your January 2027 vacation! WOW!
Life gets so jam packed in a day, a week, a month…it can seem crazy when to think that some trips you need to be looking to book multiple YEARS in advance!
In some situations, this truly IS the best way to go. Don’t worry, I’m going to give you the reasons why!
Now let’s be realistic,
Not EVERY vacation needs an 18-24 month planning window! I’m talking about your weekends away on the coast, quick trip down to Orlando for a winter reset, or even a 7-day cruise in the Caribbean doesn’t need quite that long to plan.
But, those bucket list, high value low availability, once-in-a-lifetime adventures…those need the time and care to bring every bit of value to your investment.
Here are a few:
1. Expedition or Longer Length Cruises – I’m talking Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, or even World Cruises. These are top tier bucket list trips and can also be:
- Fewer in number (bumping up waitlists)
- Higher in demand (which limits availability)
- More specific to what each traveler wants (like specific itineraries and stateroom choices)
All of this means that the further out you plan the higher the chances of you getting exactly what you want on a personalization level. And if you’re going to invest into a once-in-a-lifetime experience like this, for SURE you need to make it personalized to exactly what you want!
Multiple destinations – for example a Mediterranean Cruise combined with say a 3-night stay in Paris including a trip to Disney Paris and that dream view at the top of the Eiffel Tower!
For any trips that start to combine multiple stops or experiences the longer out you can plan the better! Let’s dig into why:
- Multiple flights or transportation (meaning a narrower gap for flexibility with timing and days)
- Longer Duration (these trips will usually be 10-21 days requiring more advanced notice on time off and planning for house/pet/child care while you’re gone)
- Travel Document complexity (multiple destinations abroad mean very specific travel documentation for customs, this can mean more time researching and obtaining the needed documents which can be time consuming)
Custom First-Class Trip with 2 full-time jobs – with 2 jobs and customization, you will want as much time as possible to ensure you get to go where you want, when you want, how you want.
Let’s use one of my favorites, a cruise to Alaska, as an example. While there are multiple cruise-lines and itineraries available for this trip, the uniqueness of each cruise can’t be overstated.
- Do you have a specific airport, length of vacation, cruise-line, week of the year, itinerary, ship, or stateroom you want?
- All of these combined would make it almost impossible to book on a short time frame and hit every item.
- Have you considered the direction of your itinerary and cabin location?
- Alaskan cruises with premium cabins in location or type actually book up fast. Over a year in advance can still be hard to make happen due to limited choices.
- Would you like to combine some time on land for a cruisetour to visit more of Alaska such as Denali National Park?
- Cruisetours and similar style trips sell out extremely fast. If you have any specific requests that you’d like to combine with one, it is highly encouraged to book them as soon as they become available.
Thinking about 2 years from now can quickly trigger the overwhelmed feelings that too often come with planning. That’s the last thing you need when anticipating a vacation! And is actually why many amazing trips never happen, they become too much too fast for someone booking by themselves.
For that reason, here is a BONUS TIP…consider using a travel advisor!
- Have someone who knows all the ins and outs of the travel world including networking with suppliers and other travel professionals.
- Guaranteed way to get the answer to every one of your questions from 1 location, not hours of searching online.
- Someone to keep an eye on your trip in the background for you. Example: what if the travel documentation requirements change from when you booked to when you travel?
Specifically talking about booking years in advance, let’s say the supplier hasn’t quite released the dates you want. Starting the process with your advisor could have your preferences, style, details, and dates locked in and ready to go. They then have the ability to book it as soon as it becomes available giving you the absolute best chance to get the exact vacation you want!
Here’s the last thought I’ll leave you with for planning a dream trip that is years in advance…the anticipation is always a big part of the fun! Lean into that and enjoy the countdown!
Quote: Check out Leonard and Penny! They need an amazing romantic vacation to add to that list!
