It's a question that travellers around the world can never agree upon – when should you begin planning your holiday getaway? Route 66 is a popular road trip destination for Americans and tourists alike. With this in mind, here are some things to consider regarding how much time you'll need to plan your tour of the mother road.
The type of trip you want to do
The size of the trip you want to do often relates to how far in advance you'll want to begin planning for it. For example, if you're travelling from Australia and want to spend a few weeks exploring Route 66, giving yourself anywhere between four months and a year and a half is generally advisable.
What type of trip you're planning comes into play as well. For example, if you're booking into a guided tour along Route 66 it's important you don't leave it till the last minute or you may find you've missed out on a spot. With popular options, such as the Sturgis Bike Week tour, it's often necessary to organise as much as a year in advance.
If 2019 is your year to experience all the mother road has to offer, reach out to our team now to make sure you secure your place on our Summer or Fall tour.
Personal considerations to account for
- Getting the time off of work – When thinking about how far in advance to plan your tour it's important to consider whether you have enough leave saved up, how much notice you'll need to provide and whether it's during a busy period for your work. Each of these can impact how much time you'll need to organise your trip. If you leave it to the last minute you might discover you can't take the time off as hoped.
- Saving money – Consider how much money you'll need to set aside for your tour. How long will it take you to save this amount? Remember, airfares generally increase in price the later you leave your booking as well, and you might find it harder to secure any limited options such as Premium Economy or Business Class seats.
- How many people you're organising for – Planning travel for just one or two people is generally a lot simpler than if you're trying to organise for a larger group. It's much easier to find accommodation or book into tours the fewer people involved. If you're travelling with a group of people it's a good idea to sort out any reservations well in advance to avoid any disappointment.
Travel seasons
Another aspect that influences how far in advance you should begin planning your Route 66 tour is which season you want to travel during. Deciding to go during the peak months over summer means you'll encounter a lot of other travellers on the highway. Booking at least six months in advance is advisable to help ensure you get the accommodation you want, or so you don't miss out on that baseball game you'd love to see.
Demand dies down in spring and autumn, which can give you more opportunity to come up with last minute travel plans. However, generally it's still wise to give yourself at least four months to organise everything so you can get the most out of your great American road trip.
No matter what type of planner you are, we can help. Reach out to the team today and find out which of our bucket list tours best suits your needs.
