How early do you...

[ukdiva]

... start planning for a trip? I'm going to Oz in Oct and i've already started looking at things to do there, but is it too early to start planning??! :o:

[Sue]

Well it depends where you are going and what time of year.:grin:
Normally, I would not be thinking about where I am going to eat nearly twelve months in advance of a holiday - but when it comes to a WDW Christmas trip and needing to book our dining plan meals/ADR's; I am doing it already!!! :tounge: We can book from June and may need to if we want all of our first choices. Also, places like DC will fill up on popular days so we may book that soon too.:thumbs-up

[TandCmum]

for major holidays i like to plan very well in advance especially if it's a costly holiday because if it's booked it gives me something to save towards. we often do last minute holidays as well, espeacially short breaks like center parcs or last minutes to the med

[glorfy]

Need a new option: As soon as I know I'm going :D I know I'm going 8 months in advance this time, so I'm trawling through tickets options, meal options. I have days planned, just got to fit it in on the right days as we get closer. If we had known sooner, I would have started planning sooner

[ian180]

We did Oz / NZ last November and were planning from the December before that. It is always a good idea to start planning and researching early, making notes, changing things, preparing itineries and trips etc. If things change then you have plenty of time to amend. I think we changed our final itinery at least 3 or 4 times before the final version.

[Twinks]

I was going to post a similar question the other day!! I ticked 9 months or more...

My husband comented this morning that I must know the "Brits Guide" off by heart by now...I'm such a saddo...I have even planned a day by day itinary.

Sometimes though I do feel I'm wishing my life away and think I should live for for the moment instead of planning things so far ahead..anyone else ever think that??

[MattF]

I guess it depends where we are going. We always book about a year ahead because my other half is a teacher and we may as well get an early booking discount, plus our choice of hotel/flight. Started planning our WDW trip about 3 weeks after booking!!!!

[scottfeltham]

we plan about 12 to 16 months in advance so we know what to save for
scott

[loadsapixiedust]

I am already planning our October WDW itinerary and will be ready to book ADRs at 180 days out as I will know which parks we will be doing on which days. It never hurts to be prepared.

I love the planning almost as much as going on the holiday and, as DH says, it keeps me out of mischief ;)

[ukdiva]

Thanks for your replies so far, everyone! You've made me feel better about trawling on the net every spare moment looking at stuff about Oz! I also love the planning part of the holiday, and i always seem to do detailed intineries, but then when i'm actually on holiday it all goes out the window! *lol*

Twink - i totally agree with ya, i'm already counting down the days till my trip to Oz, and sometimes feel like i'm neglecting everything else to a certain extent! Maybe i should get out more?! *lol* But then that's money i could be saving for Australia! ;)

[missbounce]

I'm a complete plan-a-holic, and start organising stuff the minute I book the holiday. It keeps my brain in gear in the months leading up the trip as I'll go insane otherwise!!!

[happytraveller]

Hi, i usually start planning as soon as i'm home from holiday were we're off to the next year.I too do loads of planning, (and saving!).But once i'm there it goes out of window! I'm lucky this year ,as i've got Rio to plan with,Who i'm going with and knows everything there is to know about California, so it's keeping my planning more realistic.

[SamsCalling]

As soon as I know where we're going, I start planning! I'm terrible!

[ukdiva]

I've decided, there's so much to see and do in Oz and Hong Kong that i HAVE to start planning now! *lol* I'm gonna buy an A4 folder to put in all the printouts of places i want to go and see, and then nearer the time get together with my friend and narrow it down. :)