The holidays are traditionally the busiest time of the year for travel as we circle dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s for that big end-of-year vacation. In addition, this season many people want to get away after years of staying at home because of COVID-19, meaning this year should be as busy as ever.
Holiday travel can be more challenging — and expensive — because of the crowds and competition for rooms and flights. You may notice that international and domestic flights this year are more expensive than in the past. That said, there are some advantages to taking a holiday cruise this year.
The cruise industry is still recovering from the pandemic. Unlike in past years, many cruise ships still have availability for fall and holiday sailings. And because the cruise lines are trying to entice people back to the joys of cruising, some great deals are available.
When planning any holiday travel, however, my best advice is to plan and book early. This gives you the opportunity to choose the best air schedule, cruise-cabin location or hotel availability in popular areas. And if this year isn’t in the cards for you to travel but you see yourself going somewhere next year, start planning now for your 2023 holiday trip.
AAA Washington can help you. The best way to plan your holiday adventure is to come to one of our cruise shows in October where some of the top cruise vendors will talk about dream getaways in our own backyard or around the world.
Happy travels!
—Lisa Anciaux
—This article appears in the 2022 Fall Edition of AAA Washington’s member magazine, Journey.
