From Antarctica and Scandinavia, to Bhutan and South Africa; make sure you book in advance if you’re planning a big vacation
It’s easy to become a lazy traveller living in Singapore. With tropical paradise less than an hour away in every direction combined with limited vacay days, long weekends in Thailand or Bali swiftly become the fail-safe easy option. Besides, you can book on Thursday and jet off on Friday. And once you throw amazing staycation options into the mix, we’d forgive you for forgetting there’s a big wide world out there just waiting to be explored. Though arranging something further afield takes a little bit of planning in advance, we reckon that extra effort totally pays off in #holidaygoals. We caught up with our pals at Lightfoot Travel to get the lowdown on which destinations are set to be the most popular in 2017, and to get some insider info on when to book to scoop the best deals.
Expeditions to the white continent are increasingly popular; we bet you can’t find a bucket list out there that doesn’t have a spot reserved for this icy mecca. That said, to ensure the continent remains as pristine and untouched as possible, there are restricted numbers of expedition ships that are able to cross the waters of the Drake Passage. Combine this with a short travel season and it’s a no brainer why these cabins sell out fast.
When should I book? At least a year in advance. Some ships have great early bird savings to boot (where you can save up to USD1,500pp); best get in there quick, lest someone snaps up the last cabin before you!
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Just getting into Bhutan can be a tricky ordeal, not only because of the limited flights going into the Kingdom, but also because of the restricted number of hotels and visas. Festival season is especially busy, however Bhutan’s fantastic trekking opportunities make this a popular destination all year round.
When should I book? Applying for a visa and getting onto one of the limited flights is the first hurdle. To be assured a place, start planning six to eight months in advance.
It’s been reported that these may fade away soon, so we’re gonna make sure we catch ’em while we still can! Whether you plan on heading to Iceland or Scandinavia, the Northern Lights frequently attract countless travellers on a quest to catch the magic of aurora borealis. It should comes as no surprise that availability can run out fairly quickly, particularly when the window to admire this natural phenomenon is fairly small. While the lights are visible from September to April, word on the street is the best time to visit is between January and March, when the skies are darker and clearer, giving you a greater chance of seeing the sky light up.
When should I book? At least six months in advance, regardless of whether you’re travelling during the Northern Lights season or summer – both are popular. If you’re planning a festive trip over Christmas and New Year, it’s best to start lock in accommodation nine months ahead.
During the summer months, the Amalfi Coast is the place to see and be seen. The area is famed for the picturesque hilltop towns of Ravello, Positano, and Amalfi, which are all dotted along Southern Italy’s stunning coastline. The best hotels offer sensational seaviews, so it’s a given these get booked up quicker than you can say ciao bella. The same goes for restaurants – book before you go to ensure the best tables in town. Psssst… the Lightfoot team have a whole host of crackin’ recommendations up their sleeves.
When should I book? During summer, book six months in advance in order to get the best hotel with those incredible views over the Amalfi’s rugged coastline. We can taste the limoncello already…
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter; whenever you plan to visit, you won’t be disappointed. With spectacles including a sighting of the big five on safari, the whale migration, wine harvesting, and more, to look forward too, the only problem you’ll have is trying to fit it all in! One thing that doesn’t change is the fact that the Rainbow Nation continues to draw big crowds. We don’t just recommend booking in advance, we strongly advise it.
When should I book? Get your name down six months in advance, or if you want to be there over the Christmas period, it’s wise to book a year ahead.
This article is sponsored by Lightfoot Travel