How Early Shall You Book Your Holiday Packages?

Hi Friends,

For many of us who are waiting for the Natas travel deals to start, you may be wondering how early shall you book your holiday packages?

In fact, a reader is asking me when shall he book his holiday packages to Europe if he intends to travel this Dec? Well, this posts aims to provide you with some idea so that you can plan and save more money when booking your holidays.

Book Your Holiday Early To Save Money

The most important idea is you need to plan and book your holiday early to save money. I have personally tested this assumptions for the past 2 years.

So don’t book your holiday packages during Natas fair! Sounds strange?

You should in fact start hunting down travel deals prior to Natas Fair. I called these travel deals as Pre-Natas travel deals. They occur usually 1-2 weeks prior to Natas Fair.

After talking to some travel agencies, I came to understand that travel agencies pre-book all the airline tickets and hotel rooms from major airlines and hotel groups. The objective of these travel agencies is to quickly sell the tickets and cover their cost. Thereafter they will sell the rest of the tickets and make a profit.

Travel agencies usually gives discount of $100-$200 to the first 10 person who book holiday packages per departure dates. When this minimum group is formed, the travel agencies start to raise their prices to recover profits. Their selling point is the departure is guaranteed, so travelers need not worry that the tour group will be canceled.

Of course, depending on the response of the Pre-Natas travel deals, some travel agencies may still sell their first minimum tour seats during the Natas Fair.

Last Minute Travel Deals

There are times when travel deals can go really cheap. These are what we know to be last minute travel deals!

Before the plane takes off, the airlines may advertise cheap airfares if there are still vacant seats. Sometimes we don’t get to grab these travel deals because airlines open such promotion to their staff. So if you do know friends working in airlines, you can give your friend a hint that you will like some cheap airfare.

A downside of waiting for these last minute travel deals are you cannot really plan your holiday dates. These are usually the left overs. So, you cannot choose. Such last minute travel deals are suitable for travelers with flexible traveling dates. For families with kids, such last minute travel deals are hard to come during June and Dec school holidays.

Travel agencies may also throw in last minute travel deals when they still have leftover airline tickets.

So if you are a flexible traveler, it may be a good idea that you wait for these last minute travel deals!

Recession

Well, we all hate recessions. Jobs prospects are uncertain and people tighten their financial belts. Traveling budgets get cut.

During recession, you get the best travel deals. Even budget airlines advertise 1-for-1 airfare tickets. You also get to travel to Hong Kong on Singapore Airlines below SGD300! Every airlines and travel agencies out there are pricing to survive the crisis.

However, we are not in the era of recession this year. In fact, travel bookings are rosy and this may cause travel packages prices to go up.

So why did I mention to you about this point?

Remembered I mentioned earlier that you save more when you book early? This may no longer holds true if recession is back because prices are slashed further when the bookings are poor. So do take note about this point.

Natas Fair Held In February

The first Natas Fair is held in February each year. During this period, you can find travel agencies advertising travel packages mainly for the months in February, March, April, May, June.

Some travel agencies like Chan Brothers Travel have travel dates open up to August, September and October.

If you have school children, this is a good timing for you to scout around travel deals if you love to travel during June school holidays.

Natas Fair Held In May

The second Natas Fair is held in May each year. This is a smaller scale Natas Fair as compared to the one held in February. You won’t find all the major travel agencies during May Natas Fair. In fact, major travel agency like Chan Brothers Travel chose to hold its own travel fair prior to the Natas Fair.

During the Natas Fair held in May, you can find travel deals for the period from May, June, August and September. Some families will book their June holiday packages. You will also find travel agencies promote travel packages stating that child travels free. You may still find good travel deals if you intend to travel during the second half of the year.

Natas Fair Held In August

The third Natas Fair is held in August each year. This Natas Fair is a major one which focus on marketing winter holidays in November and December. Some major travel agencies like Chan Brothers Travel even advertise for holiday packages for the next year in January to March.

For families who intend to bring their kids out during November and December school holidays, this is the right time to book your holiday packages.

For singles and couples who have a more flexible traveling schedule, you can choose to book your winter holiday in the new year.

Natas Fair Held In October

The fourth Natas Fair is held in October each year. Very much like the one held in May, this Natas Fair in October is a small scale one. Its travel focus is to sell the winter year end holiday packages. Travel period is from October to December and January to March for next year.

Remember to keep coming back as we bring you more Natas travel deals so that you can save more travel budget!
Cheers,
Karen