How Far Ahead Should You Plan a Custom Trip?

Planning a custom trip is like putting together a puzzle 🧩 (if you know me, I LOVE a puzzle) — but the pieces for custom trips are not guaranteed, ever-changing and your choice - flights, hotels, activities, and all the little details that make a trip magical. 🪄 The key to making sure it all comes together seamlessly? TIMING! ⏳

Here’s my caveat… can you put a trip together in a couple months (or even less?) YES! These are timeline suggestions so that you don’t miss out on opportunities, get the best bang for your buck, and are (hopefully) stress free in the planning process.

Let’s talk about how far in advance you should plan depending on where you're headed…

Why Planning Ahead is SO Important 🤔

✅ More choices 🏨✈️

The best hotels, flights, and activities book up FAST—especially in peak seasons. Get ahead of the game to secure your dream itinerary!

✅ Better deals 🧐

Flights, cars, and accommodations usually go up in price the closer you get to your travel date. Planning ahead saves you money that you can put toward experiences instead!

✅ Less stress 🧘‍♀️✌🏼

No one likes scrambling at the last minute. Give yourself the luxury of time to research, compare, and plan without having to make rushed decisions.

✅ More time for the tiny details! 🎢🍷

Visa applications, restaurant reservations, and special excursions (i.e. hiking permits for national parks 🏞️) take time. Planning ahead allows your to research the fun things you’ll get to experience! THAT’s what it’s all about!

✅ Budgeting & Saving! 💰

The earlier you plan, the more time you have to save for the trip! ALWAYS a plus.

How Far in Advance Should You Plan? 🗓️ 🤨⏳

U.S. Destinations 🇺🇸

⛰ National Parks: 12-18 months ahead - National Parks are becoming more popular than ever, and lodging inside the parks can sell out a YEAR in advance! If you're planning a trip to Yellowstone, Zion, or the Grand Canyon, BOOK EARLY. 🌲🏕️ Some parks require permits for special hikes (like Half Dome in Yosemite), and those have seasonal lotteries—so research the deadlines!

📆 Holidays & Seasonally Specific Travel: 9-12 months ahead - If you’re traveling during peak times in certain areas, i.e. fall foliage season in New England 🍁 or Christmastime in NYC 🎄, you should be ready to book early! Accommodations and rental cars spike in prices around these times, and, if you want reasonable options, make sure you lock in the big things early. The same principle is true for holiday and school breaks, (mainly for flights and hotels and holiday rentals!) 🚌 Even if you don’t have school-age children, check the calendar to see if you’re looking at a vacation period that overlaps with a school break - always good to know for pricing and crowding! 👀

🌺 Alaska & Hawaii: 6-12 months ahead - If you’re planning to travel to one of these states during their peak seasons, plan closer to the 12 month mark! 6-7 months is usually safe if you are planning to visit during a less-visited timeframe. The flights, car rentals AND accommodations for these two states can get pricey, so the earlier you start you research, the more choices you will have in all budget ranges!

🚗 General U.S. Travel: 3-6 months ahead – If you’re still looking for your choice of resorts, unique AirBnB’s, and ideal location accommodations, make sure you still give yourself 3-6 months in advance (if they don’t fall under the categories listed above.) If you’re looking to travel to a bigger city, you’ll have more options, so you can cut it a little close. BUT, if you’re destination is a little more remote, that means less options for cars, flights and accommodations - give yourself more time!

Europe 🛫 🧳

(Where I plan a majority of my Custom Trips!)

Italy & Spain 🇮🇹 🇪🇸

✈️ 9-12 months ahead – If you're traveling during peak season (May-September), book flights and accommodations early, especially in tourist hotspots like Rome, Florence, Barcelona, and Madrid.

🍷 Winery visits & major attractions – If you want to tour wineries in Tuscany or get a skip-the-line ticket to Sagrada Familia, reserve those at least 3-6 months out—especially in summer! 🍇

🚆 Trains & inter-city transport – High-speed trains (like those between Rome and Venice or Madrid and Seville) get more expensive the closer you book. Grab those tickets 1-3 months in advance for the best deals. 🚄

Scotland 🏴

🏰 12 months ahead – If you’re visiting during summer (June-August) or during big events like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, book accommodations as early as possible! Festival season is BUSY. 🎭 The main cities in Scotland are tiny and expensive, and the rest of the country is vast with few accommodations - the earlier the better!

🚗 Car rentals & scenic routes – If you're planning a self-drive through the Highlands, rent your car at least 4-6 months in advance. Some routes (like the NC500) have limited accommodations, so don’t wait too long to book your stays! 🚙

Other European Countries

I can’t list all of the European countries, but here is a list of the most commonly visited ones and that I have personal experience planning for… quick hit thoughts, in order of planning time, longest to shortest.

🇬🇧 England: 3-6 months ahead - This is generally a safe planning timeline; especially if you are basing out of London and other cities in England.)

🇮🇪 Ireland: 3-6 months ahead - If you’re basing out of Dublin, Galway & Cork, you can plan a quick trip. BUT, you need to begin planning earlier if you want to accommodations in smaller Irish villages, coastal towns and/or Northern Ireland.)

🇩🇪 Germany: 3-6 months ahead - Germany has so many large cities, you can plan a trip in a couple months and still have plenty of options. Just keep an eye on specific times of the year (Christmas Markets & Oktoberfest) and any specific World Heritage sites that you might want to stay overnight in (castles, historic villages, etc.)

🇫🇷 France: 6-9 months ahead - Get a head start on France! Especially if you plan on visiting the French Riviera or any of the ADORABLE small villages in the Provence of France. Many of their experiences & tours should be scheduled early, as well!

🇵🇹 Portugal: 6-9 months ahead - There are so many hidden gems, gorgeous beaches, and more to explore - get a head start and don’t wait to research accommodations, before anything else. (Also, if you’re in Charlotte, flights are brutal!!)

🇨🇭 Switzerland: 9-12 months ahead - This is one of the most naturally gorgeous and incredible countries - which makes it one of the most expensive! Whether you want to take train rides through the Alps, visit Lake Geneva or eat your way through the fondue & Swiss chocolate, lock in your budget-specific accommodations, as soon as you can!

🇬🇷 Greece: 9-12 months ahead - This has become one of the most visited countries, in the past few years. Which means you need to get ahead! With the nature of Greece and all the islands to visit and/or decide to base out of, get ahead and take your time planning!

🇭🇷 Croatia: 9-12 months ahead - Used to be a hidden gem, and now becoming more popular - this country is a strip of the most beautiful coastline in Europe. Do NOT wait to start planning a trip to Croatia. Flights can be limited, and there are SO many cities and place to visit - do the research and lock in what you want, before someone else does.

Europe Holiday Travel 🎄🎆

📆 12+ months ahead – Planning on visiting Christmas markets, attend winter ski trips, or attend country-specific festivals? Book EARLY!! Flights around major holidays can skyrocket in price, so aim to book or put a flight tracker on, beginning 10-12 months ahead for the best deals. ⛷️

🎫 Some markets and festivals require tickets, and certain bookings become available 12-18 months out! And you do NOT want to pay for the priciest accommodation and transportation options… get ahead!

Asia 🏯 - Japan 🇯🇵

🎎 9-12 months ahead - If cherry blossoms in Kyoto or the neon streets of Tokyo are calling your name, PLAN EARLY! 9-12 months ahead for peak seasons (spring & fall) is ideal, as Japan is a bucket-list destination for many travelers. Also, Japan's train system requires advance reservations for certain routes, so don’t leave those JR Passes and seat bookings until the last minute! 🚄🍜

Final Thoughts 💬

Planning a custom trip takes time, but the payoff is 100% worth it! 💕 Whether you're hiking through U.S. National Parks, sipping wine in Italy, or exploring the castles of Scotland, early planning means a lot more fun (and a lot less stress). 🙌

So let me ask you a couple questions… do these recommendations stress you out? Are you worried that you don’t have enough planning time? Don’t know where to start?

You COULD let Vanacore Adventures plan these trips for you! 😉

✨ Got questions or need help planning your next big adventure? You know where to find me! 📩

Ciao ciao,

Chelsea