Fall Break & Winter Travel – The Time to Book Is NOW!

Ilove to travel. I’m always thinking about my next vacation, my next work trip, my next bucket list destination.

If you’re already envisioning your next vacation for fall break or this winter, now is the time to act. I know you might be thinking ‘it’s only May!’ but availability is already limited for some destinations for the remainder of the year and even into 2024. Some resorts and cruises are already sold out. I have had several clients reach out for vacation planning for various fall break and winter vacation dates and in some cases, we’ve already had to look at their second and even third choice options due to availability.

My most-requested fall and winter destinations are Europe (for fall only), ski vacations, the Caribbean, and Mexico. All of these are great choices but most of them – minus Europe - tend to have higher crowds during these times because they are so popular.

Winter vacations occur during peak season in the Caribbean and Mexico because the weather is consistently great, it is outside of hurricane season, and people want to get away to somewhere warm while it’s cold - particularly for people who live in the Midwest or Northeast. This also means that prices will be higher due to higher demand. Resorts, flights, and cruises book up fast so ideally you want to book at least nine months in advance for the best selection. There is still availability remaining but I recommend booking sooner rather than later if you have a specific destination in mind.

December through late March is ideal for a ski vacation so if you’re thinking about a vacation to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, or even Europe, winter vacation might be a good option for you. Since this is the busiest time of the year, expect crowds and higher prices. Most ski destinations have good powder through the first week of April so if winter vacation doesn’t work for your ski vacation, winter break in February or spring break are also good choices.

If you’re looking for something less crowded, I recommend some – but not all - destinations in Europe during the winter. The weather will be colder but the crowds and prices will be lower in most non-ski destinations. The downside is that some businesses, particularly in port cities, can be closed during this time. If you don’t mind the cold, then Italy, England, and France are good choices. It’s also a fantastic time to see the Christmas Markets either via a river cruise or a personalized land-based trip.

No matter your ideal destination now is the time to plan your fall break or winter vacation – don’t wait!