Page 17 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – October/November 2020

We all are experiencing a bit of cabin fever and dreaming of where we can go when the world is ready for us. Even though we might not be prepared to go right now, it is still a good idea to plan and book in advance. Our AAA Travel Experts explain why:
Go when it is most convenient for you. Securing your preferred travel dates allows you to travel when you desire versus searching for “what’s left” availability. This can
be particularly difficult when people in your party try to coordinate time off and around other previously scheduled activities. Picking dates early on means you can plan your life around your trip, and not the other way around. Booking early can lead to great deals and sometimes added benefits. In many cases, you will find that tours, cruises and lodging give some kind of incentive to
book ahead. For example, sometimes cruise providers will offer a special to book early for the next few trips and get free prepaid gratuities or onboard credit. Tour suppliers often provide an early paid-in-full discount starting around 5-10% off.
Space out your payments. When booking your trip in advance, you can choose to pay over some time instead of all at once when doing things last minute. Generally, a deposit will be $250 per person for a 7-night cruise. You can spread your payments out until the due date, which is usually 90 days before departure. Paying for a big trip seems less overwhelming when you’re doing it over a period of time.
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Get the best price guarantee. Some suppliers guarantee the best price up until your final payment. This happens a lot in the world of cruising, not as much for tours. For example, you might put down your deposit and then a few months later, they might have a 1-day sale with a free upgrade, percentage off or free amenities. Some restrictions may apply. This means that even if you have booked in advance, you might still be able to get a savings you were not initially expecting and then budget for something else. Perhaps an extra excursion or fancy dinner.
Choose your seats. Prefer the aisle or window? How about just a guarantee that those in your party can sit together? If you’re flying and have selected your flight towards the beginning of the planning process, you can have the option to sit where you’d like. This only applies to airlines that let you assign seats in advance.
Peace of mind. Doing anything last minute can be stressful. When you book in advance, regardless of what else is going on, you know that your vacation is booked with and with details like the cabin or room category that you want. Of course, there is always time for spur of the moment decisions while on your trip, but the major stuff will already be taken care of beforehand.
Do you have some ideas about where and when you’d like to go? Contact your AAA Hudson Valley Travel Agent today to start planning your trip.
Call 518-426-1000 or email booktravel@aaahv.com
John Kusek is the Manager of the AAA Hudson Valley Travel Agency.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 I 17
TRAVELER’S GUIDE
Booking and Planning Travel Ahead of Time: Why It’s Important