With the new year set to begin in just a couple days, vacation planning season is about to begin. Given the strength (or lack of it) of the economy these days, a lot of travelers are looking to get the best value possible on their upcoming vacation. As always, we’re here to help, and our advice? Book today! Some of the best deals are available when booking early, and there are plenty of good reasons to book far ahead of time, we’ve just got three of the best reasons why the best deal is today’s deal.

1. Price Protection

In many cases, the best prices on cruises and tours come from booking early. And the earlier the better. The reason is pretty simple. When booking a cruise or tour, there is often no penalty for canceling and changing your mind prior to your final payment date. (This isn’t always the case, some promotions are non-refundable from day one, and some tour companies offer penalties for cancellation as well.) This also allows guests to take advantage of lower fares if they become available before final payment. In some cases, like Carnival’s Early Saver cruise fares, guests are protected against lower fares until just two days before sailing. Once a travel package goes into penalty, generally guests are locked in to the price that they have – but up until that point, re-fareing to get an even better deal is usually possible.

2. More Choices

OK, booking early may not get you that clearance price – but waiting for the 400 dollar balcony cabin on that Alaska cruise is a good way to make sure that the cruise just won’t happen. Booking early gets travelers more choices. There might be cabins available at giveaway rates with a last minute cruise special, but the best hotel rooms and the best cabins get snapped up first. For guests who want a specific location, or have very specific needs about the trip being planned, its important to book ahead – because the clearance prices become availability in exchange for trading away flexibility and choice.

3. Start The Journey Early

In our opinion, one of the best parts of travel involves the journey before the journey. Planning and learning and getting excited for the trip is half the fun, and the further out the planning begins, the more excited someone can be by the time the ship sails!

Start planning your journey today! Contact a Crown Cruise Vacations agent to plan your 2013 sailing today by calling us at 877-283-1114 or by clicking here!