When's The Best Time To Go???

The title to this blog is a question we are always asked when someone has designated a destination for us to research.  Our typical response is, are you talking about “best weather” or “best price” or “best entertainment and activity time”?

Most of the time they are referring to the best price or best vacation value.  And if that is the case, then the fall of the year is usually the best answer, especially in the United States and Mexico.  Here’s a good example.  I just looked up some sample quotes for a Monday departure from DFW and a Thursday return in November, 3 nights in a hotel and tax for a trip to Las Vegas.  The cost was $693 for a couple!!  Bear in mind, we are two months in advance which is another “cool move” when wanting a good rate.

The cost for that same 3 night stay in New York at a 3-star hotel a block off of Times Square was $1,700 a couple.  A trip to New Orleans on that same date was $836 a couple for a French Quarter hotel.  A trip to an all-inclusive property in Cancun for 3 days was at the great value of $1,258 for a couple.

We’ve given this hint several times before, but often when you call on late Tuesday or Wednesday, if the airlines are going to have a sale or a reduction in prices, it will be at that time.  Another expectation with Southwest is that on several occasions in October or early November, they will put on a limited sale where you have to book within a certain time frame for travel within a certain time frame.  Those prices are pretty good, but just like all the other major airlines, they put a limit on the number of seats that they will sell at the sale price, so you really have to be “Johnny on the spot” in making the reservations and purchasing the tickets.

If you are thinking about holiday travel, you’re probably thinking too late to get the good prices.  If you can wait until after about January 7 or 8, you might get a pretty good rate for travel those 2-4 weeks after New Years.

Of course, you are oftentimes “rolling the dice” when traveling from November through February when it comes to Texas weather. . . it could be snowy, icy, cold, rainy. . . .or sunny!!!  I tell folks you can’t make vacation reservations based on whether the weather will be good or bad or you’ll never go anywhere.  You just “roll the dice” and go have a ball!!!

The professional and experienced travel consultants at The Travel Factory have over 100 years experience between the four of us, so you know when you ask us for advice, some of us have either been there, done that, or have clients who have, so give us a call today at 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040.  Or better still, drop in for a face-to-face encounter at 4150 Southwest Drive, Ste. 120. . .or also discover us at our website, www.thetravelfactoryabilene.com.