Holiday Travel - Go Early!

Now that that the holidays are long past, I have been reflecting on my travel over the past few months. As a Travel Advisor, we always have a push for last minute holiday bookings. You would be surprised to know the amount of people who want to travel either over Christmas (more popular the day after) through New Years. It is a time when many businesses are slow and children have their winter breaks. It's wonderful to get away with your family this time of year; however, rates are at a huge premium and availability becomes limited very quickly. My suggest for you is to either book now, or consider traveling in early December.

Early December is a wonderful time to travel. It's before the holiday rush, outside of hurricane season in the Caribbean, and you often get great value. Also, many destinations are decorated for the holidays. This past year, I had two opportunities to travel that certainly got me into the holiday spirit.

Late November I traveled to Disneyland in California. The parks were beautifully decorated complete with trees, holiday music and “Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink.” Many attractions are upgraded with a holiday theme. For example The Haunted Mansion is transformed with inspiration from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and “It's a Small World” becomes a spectacular attraction with international holiday traditions.

Consider Disneyland for a first time Disney experience. Everything is walkable, no need for transportation, and with just two parks across from each other it can be a much more manageable experience for the first Disney experience. For those who have been to Disney World it's wonderful to experience Walt's original dream and how it transformed.

I also traveled to the Four Seasons Jackson Hole in early December. The resort was warm, cozy, and full of Christmas spirit. There are so many activities to choose from - snowmobiling, dog sledding, animal safari and skiing.

I consider myself an average skier and felt completely comfortable on the mountain. Jackson does not have a big local drive market like Vail, which makes the mountain much more manageable. Before the holiday rush you will experience a winter wonderland!