Travel Tip of the Day: Book Your Summer Travel Now

Book Your Summer Travel Now
This tip comes fully fleshed out from my colleague, good friend and #TravelSkills Twitter chat co-host Chris McGinnis. Basically, if you haven’t already made your air and hotel reservations, you should do it now—especially, as Chris explains in a recent story, “if you plan to travel on or around the summer’s long weekends: Memorial Day (Monday, May 26), July 4 (falls on a Friday) or Labor Day (Monday, September 1) or just about any time during the ‘peak of the peak’ weeks of July and early August. If you don’t make reservations soon, you’ll not only be shut out of any price breaks, but you’ll likely to have to settle for less desirable middle seats on the plane, or ‘garden views’ instead of water or skyline views at hotels. You might also not be able to find the right size rental car for you or your family.

[T]here’s some evidence of a strong travel season ahead as the number of advance bookings for summer stays at Best Western’s 2,200+ hotels in the US are already up 9.5% compared to this time last year. Plus, business travelers have come back in droves—the Global Business Travel Association recently had to increase its spending growth forecast for 2014 last week to 7.1% this year, compared to its previous prediction of 6.6%. The Airlines Reporting Corporation says that summer airfares are already up 4% compared to last summer—and don’t forget that last summer’s airfares were painfully high.”

Chris continues: “Nonetheless, summer is the best time of year to get out and see the world, visit family and friends, or just get away from the grind to relax and renew. That means prices are going to be high this summer—especially for those visiting popular destinations along the coasts, near national parks and amusement parks in the U.S. Remember, you’ll not only be competing with fellow Americans for those airplane seats, restaurant tables and hotel rooms–the U.S. Department of Commerce expects a record 72.2 million tourists from other countries in 2014. Perennially popular European destinations such as London, Paris and Rome will remain stubbornly expensive for summer visitors.”

Check out the three “hot mess” airports Chris has identified as worth avoiding this summer, and his blogs “The Ticket” and “The BAT” for more great travel content.

For tips on traveling for less this summer, check out my story on how to make 2014 your summer of travel.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Tried this tip? Let me know in the comments!
Have your own tip? Email it to whitney@johnnyjet.com!
Want to see more tips? Click here for all 158!

Want even more travel tips? Subscribe to the Daily Travel Tip newsletter! All you have to do is sign up for the weekly newsletter by filling in your email address and checking the Daily Travel Tip box in the top-right corner of the homepage.

If you already subscribe to the newsletter, fill in your email and check the Daily Travel Tip box in the same top-right corner of the homepage and you’ll receive an email with a link to update your JohnnyJet.com preferences. On that page, just click the Daily Travel Tip box and Update Profile and you’ll have Johnny’s best tips, straight to your inbox each day. And don’t worry—it’s easier than it sounds!