How far in advance do you book a villa?

[SandyFish]

Looking at booking a villa for New Years 2025 or Easter 2025 and lots of the good places are already booked up?!

We never book in advance, now we don’t have to consider school hols.

Booked a villa and flights this week for Jan 25, obviously there not as much choice, and usually ones that are available are a bit more expensive, but we found a perfect villa for our needs.

We did the same last year too, booked in November and travelled following Jan.

Hope you find a lovely villa for your family.

Thank you! Hope you have a lovely holiday!

correction to my original post.. I meant to say Easter 2026!

For school holidays - around a year in advance if I want to go to a popular location.

We once got a message back that the place we asked for was often booked 15-18 months in advance. No way I can secure my holiday that far in advance.

I found that with the rising heat levels in August, more people I know are now going in April or October as well. That may affect availability.

Very much depends on where we are going, the availability of accommodation and how important the accommodation will be to us for that holiday.

We are going to Lake Garda next year, but we wanted to stay at a specific town and in a villa with pool, lake view but walkable into the resort. There wasn't much choice that fit our criteria and ended up booking the week that our preferred accommodation was free.

Normally we book around 6 - 9 months ahead - eg early Spring for a September holiday.

Usually up to to a year in advance, due to my job (I'm self-employed in the wedding industry, and can get booked up to 2 years in advance). Sometimes shorter notice if I can work it round gaps in my diary.

But I'm not surprised that people are already booking for New Years and Easter 26. Especially if they want a particular villa, or particular requirements.