how early can you book a holiday?

[mustsleep]

Hi

there's no way we can afford to go on holiday this year but I would love to book something soon for next year to have something to look forward to

Thinking about end of May/June time

How early can you book I have looked online but there are no agents that will even let me quote myself at the minute

Also is it worth booking early or do you think that the prices will drop?

The earliest I have been able to book ahead is to Easter next year. I like to book early and then pay it off in chunks.

I don't think there is any benefit for booking over 12 months in advance unless it's peak like Easter or Christmas.
Otherwise you'd get a good price about 6 - 10 months in advance. Also depends on where you are going (exchange rates).

I would personally would never book over 12 months in advance. You won't be getting a competitive price if not everyone can quote on the thing you want. How will you know if it is good value or not!

Also most airlines don't publish flights that far out normally. So for instance flights ATM go upto about 6 May 2010.

Hi,
I've booked with Virgin for Oct 2010 so it must depend on the travel company. For my past 3 hols I have booked a year in advance and have managed to get some amazing deals by booking early. If you are tied to school holidays the chances are the price of the holiday won't go down and also by booking early you can often bag a free child place.

We're in the process of booking for next years equivalent of next weeks half-term (IYSWIM)

Its not a package deal though so booking accommodation direct with owners etc.

Its great to have something to look forward to

Virgin Holidays own the airline so have a monopoly. Back to what I said about not being able to get competitive holiday price from other (possibly smaller and niche) tour operators as only VirginHols (and their travel agents) will be able to sell that far out. The Oct 2009 holiday prices are similar for Oct 2010, so even though you are getting possibly (as you don't actually know) a good deal, you are giving them a nice lump sum of a holiday deposit for them to get interest on for 16 months.

I'm sure most of the big tour companies already have their brochures out for summer 2010. Have you looked in the travel agencies yet?

If you can book early you will probably get it cheaper.

thanks everyone

was trying to quote myself online as I just cannnot get my head around those travel brochures and all the supplements etc lol