Planning your next winter holiday might feel premature, but if you want to make the most of your points and miles, now is the ideal time to start booking for winter 2024. Most major U.S. hotel chains and airlines allow you to book award nights and flights 11 to 13 months in advance, so it’s not too early to start planning. In fact, booking early can often give you the best rates for peak-season travel, especially if you’re using a program with dynamic award pricing.
One of the trips families should consider booking now is New Year’s Eve 2024. You can find some fantastic deals using World of Hyatt points, such as the Park Hyatt New York in New York City for 45,000 points or $1,012, or the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa in the Maldives for 35,000 points or $2,300. These options are likely to become more expensive as the holiday season approaches, so it’s best to book early and take advantage of free or inexpensive change and cancellation fees.
If your family enjoys winter ski trips, now is also a great time to book for December 2024 or January 2025. You can redeem World of Hyatt points at popular ski destinations for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed for five nights, with the least expensive night free on most Marriott stays. Consider spending five nights at the St. Regis Park City just before Christmas for 540,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, which would cost $11,433 if booked with cash. This gives you a value of around 2.1 cents per Marriott point. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Element Basalt-Aspen offers studio king rooms with a fully stocked kitchenette for 236,000 points or $1,901.
For Thanksgiving and winter break travel, it’s important to book award flights early. For example, you can book round-trip business-class flights to Paris for 176,000 United MileagePlus miles per person, which is a great deal considering round-trip cash fares start at about $3,000 per person. United uses dynamic pricing, so the number of miles required for travel during peak periods is likely to increase as the departure date approaches. For a closer destination, you can fly to Miami or Fort Lauderdale for Thanksgiving week for just 21,000 United miles round trip in economy, saving at least $200 off the cash fares.
Overall, planning your winter holiday travel well in advance can help you secure the best deals and availability. While last-minute steals can happen, it’s best to plan ahead if you have set travel itineraries during peak seasons. Prices are unlikely to become cheaper as the date approaches, so taking advantage of refundable award reservations can ensure you have the ideal vacation.