As travel costs soar, planning early has never been more crucial.
How to save big on 2025 trips + where I'm dying to send my top clients next year
ICYMI, travel is getting more expensive. Airfares have jumped around 25% in the past year, fueled by higher energy costs and the wave of pent-up demand now taking flight. Hotel stays aren’t faring much better, with rates up nearly 19% worldwide due to staffing gaps and the soaring price of utilities, particularly in the most popular spots. Then, once you’re there, everyday costs—like meals, taxis, and entrance fees are pricier, too, as inflation hits travel hot spots. It’s a squeeze that is hard to ignore, even for the most glamorous luxury travelers.
My full time job is planning travel for others, so I’m well-versed on how to make sure my clients are paying as little as possible for their dream vacations.
If you’ve been dreaming about planning your big vacation for 2025, the time to convert those dreams into real, tangible plans is now. Why? Because the best deals and prime travel dates aren’t going to wait for you. If you’re hoping to lounge in Capri, stroll around Paris, or take a wild journey to New Zealand, booking early is the key to locking in the best rates, avoiding the crowds, and securing your dream accommodations.
And if you're considering working with a travel advisor, engaging sooner rather than later ensures you'll get exclusive perks and added hotel upgrades, highly curated itineraries, and the lowest rates possible!!
How to save big on 2025 trips
The early bird gets the worm
The myth that last-minute deals are the cheapest is just that: a myth! Airlines and hotels offer their best prices when they first open up availability, typically about 11-12 months in advance. If you’re eyeing a popular destination (think Capri or Mallorca), booking ASAP can save you hundreds. As demand picks up, so do the prices, especially in peak travel seasons. I have so many friends that leave booking their flights to the last conceivable minute, and it always bites them in the ass. Please don’t be one of those people!
The sweet spot for booking flights
For most international travel, the sweet spot for booking flights is around 6-10 months before your trip.
For domestic travel, aim for 2-6 months ahead. The closer you get to your departure date, the higher the prices tend to climb. And don’t forget to book around big events, holidays, or school vacations even earlier, as those dates fill up fast and send prices skyrocketing.
Be flexible!
If you want to catch the best deals, sign up for price alerts from platforms like Google Flights or Skyscanner, which will notify you when prices drop for your chosen destination. But here’s the real hack — be flexible with your travel dates. Sometimes flying a day earlier or later can save you hundreds. Midweek flights tend to be cheaper than weekends, so if your schedule allows, adjust your travel window to score even better deals.
When to book hotels
Once you’ve locked in your flights, it’s time to book your accommodations. The same rule applies here: earlier is better, especially for those dream stays. If you want to stay at one of the hotels prominently featured on White Lotus or shown by every influencer under the sun on TikTok, those spots fill up quickly — sometimes up to a year in advance, especially during peak season. If you wait, you’ll be stuck choosing between overpriced or much less-than-ideal options! No one wants that.
Pro tip: many hotels and vacation rentals have flexible cancellation policies, so lock in a good rate now and have the freedom to cancel or change plans later. Always book the refundable rate!!
Use a travel advisor to book hotels
By booking your hotels through a travel advisor, you can get perks added to your reservation that will in turn save you money. Most of the bookings I make for my clients come with free daily breakfast, a $50-$100 food and beverage credit, and in some cases, a complimentary upgrade to a much bigger and nicer room, sometimes with a fantastic view! Because travel advisors work off of hotel commissions that cost clients nothing, most advisors don’t charge for only booking hotels.
More Time for Tailored Itineraries
One of the biggest perks of planning your vacation in advance is the extra time to create the perfect itinerary. My best clients are the ones that give me plenty of lead time so I can secure hard-to-get museum tickets, create personalized tours, and find hidden gems that make their trips ones to remember. From restaurant reservations to highly curated experiences, an early start means a better, more personalized vacation.
Don’t Forget to Plan for Flexibility
While booking early is smart, it’s equally important to give yourself some wiggle room to adjust if needed. The travel landscape (and life!) can change, so always check the cancellation or rescheduling policies for flights, accommodations, and tours. Many airlines now offer more flexible booking options, allowing you to change dates without hefty fees. Travel insurance can also be your safety net for peace of mind, especially if you're booking well in advance.
Hot tip: don’t forget to request your PTO ASAP!
Where I’m dying to send my top clients in 2025
I’ve had the pleasure of planning so many dream itineraries for my clients in 2024. Every year, there are travel spots popularized by TikTok and TV, and this year, that meant I planned a LOT of trips to Italy. As much as I love Italy, I now feel like I know a little too much about Lake Como and Tuscany. This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but there are so many other spots I’m dying to plan trips to in 2025, both so I can expand my knowledge, and because I find the work much more rewarding when clients are blown away by a place that they might not have considered on their own.
Forestis, Dolomites (ok, fine fine, this one is in Italy — sue me)
Park Hyatt, Tokyo (reopening in October 2025 after a massive renovation)
Hacienda de San Antonio, Mexico (sister property of Cuixmala, which I LOVE/got engaged at)
xx,
Bella Darden
More from MindHoliday:
Thanks for being a subscriber of MindHoliday! Here are other ways you can show your support:
❤️ tapping the heart below (it helps my content get discovered!)
💌 forwarding this to a friend
Corsica! Don’t blow up a hidden gem 😊