Lifestyle of a Fashionista

2/2/24

We’ve arrived at the second month of 2024. Dry January is over. The groundhog didn’t see his shadow, and you’re ready to work on your travel plans. February is an excellent time to begin to plan some fun trips. This post will include several links to help you plan your travel.

Plan a staycation:

I’m going to start with an easy trip. Plan a trip to a close destination or a fancy hotel in a nearby city.

From The Boston Globe, Boston’s most expensive hotel is now open. Is it worth the steep nightly rate?

During the winter months, hotel prices can drop. Last year, I visited Newport, RI, during the off-season and got a reasonable rate at the Hotel Viking. 

Popular Destinations for 2024

Choosing a travel destination can be challenging. Consider some bucket list destinations, and read the articles below for more inspiration.

From Travel & Leisure: The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024

From PureWow, 6 Major Travel Trends for 2024, According to Industry Insiders.

Travel + Leisure Readers’ 25 Favorite National Parks of 2023

Family travel, from PureWow, The 27 Best Spring Break Destinations for Families

Travel Advice

When should you book your flights?

From Hopper, “Start monitoring prices for domestic flights at least 3-4 months before you plan to depart. Prices will change frequently, but drop on average until about 1-2 months before departure. Expect to book 1-2 months ahead of your departure date! Don’t wait too long to book, prices can increase by almost double in the last 3 weeks ahead of takeoff.“

I use Kayak to check flights on an incognito window before booking my travel. There are a lot of popups when you use this website, but it gives you advice on when to book.

For international travel, “Start monitoring the price of your trip 7-8 months before departure. Expect to book trips to Asia and Oceania the furthest in advance, anywhere from 5-7 months before takeoff. Travelers headed to other regions of the world can expect to book anywhere from 3-6 months before departure to get the best prices.“

Choosing a hotel:

I recommend joining the rewards programs at several hotel companies. Rewards members get better deals on rooms and perks when staying at the hotel. I’m a member of IHG, Hilton, and Marriott. 

From Hopper, “If you’re headed to a leisure destination like Miami Beach or Cancun, expect to book your hotel at least 1-2 months before your desired check in date. Oftentimes hotels in popular vacation destination cities will be booked up early, meaning last minute rooms are harder to find and priced higher than usual. Expect to book all inclusive resort stays at least 3+ months in advance, and expect to find the best prices for leisure destinations between 1-2 months before check in.” 

From Travel & Leisure, These Are the Best Affordable Hotels in Europe, According to Travel Experts

Travel in September/October instead of peak summer months. I traveled to the Amalfi coast in October 2022. The weather is nice, but the crowds are smaller, you can easily find places to eat, and the prices of hotels drop.

Book a Tour and Use a Travel Agent:

Last year I wrote about Tours and Travel Agents. Using a travel agent saves you time when booking your travel, and they find you the best deals. I enjoy booking tours when I travel, especially food tours.

Packing tips:

I wrote about travel tips and tools in 2022, then overpacked for my trip to Italy later that year. 

From Travel & Leisure, I‘m a Professional Packer, and These 4 Items Ended My Overpacking for Good

From PureWow, 12 Travel-Ready Finds That Will Seriously Upgrade Your Next Vacay

Get ready for your trip:

I have been using Global Entry for several years, saving time in security lines.

From Travel & Leisure, Why You Should Get Global Entry and How It’s Different From TSA PreCheck

From Afar, These Two Countries Will Soon Join the European Schengen Area—Here’s What It Will Mean for Travelers

From Travel & Leisure, These National Parks Will Require Reservations in 2024

Carry a water bottle:

I always bring a reusable water bottle when I travel. Airports have fountains you can use to fill it up, and most hotel gyms have a water dispenser to use.

From Wirecutter, The 8 Best Water Bottles

Travel warnings:

The United States Department of State warns travelers of possible dangers.

There are warnings for travelers going to the Bahamas (level 2) and Jamaica (level 3).

From Travel and Leisure, U.S. Issues Travel Warning for Jamaica — What Travelers Should Know and State Department Issues Travel Advisory for This Caribbean Island

To see the full list: Travel Advisories