Why now is the best time to book your summer travel

Frigid temperatures across much of the country this winter may have you staying inside, sipping hot cocoa while you catch up on books and movies. But one day in the not so distant future, summer will be back — and with it, your chance to get outside, lay on the beach and travel. 

For many people, summer means it’s time to vacation, and planning that vacation early could mean saving a significant amount of money on your trip. 

“A lot of people tend to not think about summer this early because they think it's too early, when in fact it's not,” says Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going. “Now is a great time to be considering looking for and booking your summer flights.” 

Here’s why, and some tips for finding the best deals. 

Why you should book your summer travel now

Nastro says that now is the “Goldilocks window” to book summer travel: not too early and not too late. “We always say the perfect time to book your summer flights is in the opposite season,” she adds. In other words, buying your flight in the middle of winter is the best way to get your first pick of affordable summer options. 

She adds that while last year, travelers were able to find deals closer to peak travel time — like $500 trips from the East Coast to Europe purchased in early June for an August trip — she doesn’t expect to see the same this year. That means if you wait, you’re probably going to have to be more flexible and look outside your ideal destinations. 

“Right now, you can still have your bucket list trip on the list,” Nastro adds. 

Airfare is very volatile; there’s no way to know exactly when a flight’s price will be the cheapest. But if you start reviewing flights now and sign up for price alerts, you’re giving yourself the best runway to take advantage of a price drop. Nastro says you can even book your flight and if that flight’s price drops later, call the airline and see if you can rebook and get the difference in price from what you paid as a credit to use in the future. (Though you can only do that if you don’t book basic economy tickets, which typically don’t allow you to make changes after you purchase.) 

Tips for saving on summer travel costs 

Starting the process now is a great first step, but there are other moves you can make to save money. 

1. Pick your flights strategically  

Depart mid-week for week-long vacations and fly on Saturday for weekend getaways, since airfare will be highest for week-long trips beginning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, says Hayley Berg, lead economist at HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions). She also recommends flying early in the morning, since flights departing after 9:00 a.m. are twice as likely to be delayed than those leaving between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

You should look for flexible booking options, too. These give you the ability to shift plans if they need to, even at the last-minute, and are often available from airlines and in credit card travel booking portals. 

(Bonus tip: Don’t leave your rental car plans up to the last minute. To get the best price and secure availability, Berg suggests booking your car rental and flight at the same time.) 

2. Be flexible 

While booking early can help you snag the trip you want, being a bit flexible with when and where you travel can help you save money. Nastro says that it starts with the airport and dates. Just because one airport is closest doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Another nearby airport that will require an extra stop on the train or a slightly longer drive could offer a cheaper flight. If your dates are flexible, you’ll also have more flights and hotels to choose from, potentially including less expensive options. 

It also pays to be open to various areas of the country or world. For example, Going is currently seeing high affordability for round-trip flights to Asia. In early February when Nastro was interviewed, she identified a round-trip flight from Los Angeles, Calif. to Phuket, Thailand for $593 throughout the spring and into August. “That’s almost half off,” she says. 

Airlines also add flights for popular destinations, giving you more options. For instance, Nastro says there are now deals for flights headed to Tokyo, Japan.  

3. Start setting aside cash now 

Your accommodations will likely be your biggest expense, but don’t forget about the other costs that will pop up on your trip: dining out, transportation, activities, souvenirs and more. 

Because you still have several months until the summer, there’s time to save a small amount of cash that could make a big difference. While this may not necessarily lower the cost of your trip, it will allow you to spend without racking up high-interest credit card debt. 

Choose an amount that seems doable — maybe $100 a month — and once your paycheck hits, immediately move that money over to a savings account. A high-yield savings account will allow the money to grow even as you’re waiting to use it. For example, on Current, you can earn up to a 4.00% bonus on money in your Savings Pods. You can create up to three Savings Pods, each designated for a specific saving purpose such as ‘Summer Vacation.’ You can also automate funds directly to your Savings Pods when you turn on round-ups. With round-ups, every purchase is rounded up to the nearest dollar and the remaining portion is automatically moved to your Savings Pods.

Knowing you’ve saved specifically to spend on the trip will allow you to sip your margarita, enjoy that day trip to a new city or travel around the world with a lot less stress.