The summer months have been HOT throughout the country this year. As you are trying to survive the heat, the last thing you probably want to think about is planning a winter getaway. However, did you know the month of September is the perfect time to plan your winter vacation? I may not always embrace holiday decorations showing up in stores by the middle of July. Or those pumpkin spice lattes arriving in coffee shops before August is even halfway over. However, I will always embrace booking a winter vacation at some point during the summer. It's tempting to hibernate at home, but winter might actually be the best time of year to travel. Here are the reasons why: 

Availability                                                                                                                                                                    The sooner you start to plan your winter vacation, the more options you will have when it comes to availability. Resorts and hotels won’t be booked solid yet. Airlines will have plenty of flights, and tours and excursions will be plentiful. If you wait until after the holidays to begin planning, the availability of all these things will be much lower. I recommend starting now, so you get exactly what you want for your vacation. If you wait to plan or book your vacation, you’ll wind up paying a lot more-particularly on airfare. 

Affordability 
There are great deals to be found in the winter. At most properties, rates are about 40% lower during the winter than they are at peak season rates. And, ironically, prices are lower when you book vacations well in advance. Supply is abundant months in advance and places are trying to fill up their spaces. Once the winter season arrives, supply will dwindle, and prices will skyrocket. Avoid paying higher prices by booking your winter vacation now! 

Anticipation 
How do you feel when you wake up on a weekend that you have something special planned? Do you feel happy and excited? And if you know about those plans all week, do you anticipate all the fun you will have? Well, that same feeling of anticipation can be felt when you book your winter vacation well in advance. You will have something fun to look forward to over the coming months. Simply savoring that anticipation will lower your stress and make you feel excited about getting away from life. 

Less Stress 
Planning a vacation, a few weeks before you want to leave can cause great amounts of stress. There’s so much to get done. First, you must book flights, accommodations, and rental cars. Then you need to decide what you are doing and book tours and tickets to attractions or events. After all that, you have to prepare to be away from home- have the mail held, where to board the dog, etc. Avoid all that stress by planning your winter vacation now. Working with a travel advisor  can also help reduce the stress you can feel while planning a vacation. They can provide you with information and options for your upcoming trip and then help you choose your destination, resort, excursions, etc. Planning ahead will also give you time to make sure you have all of the pertinent documents needed for travel, such as passports and visas. The more time to prepare, the better it will be! 

Winter Activities Can Help Beat the Blues 
Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. can take its toll on anyone’s well-being in the winter. Physical activity like skiing, tubing, or snowboarding can help lift the emotional fog that tends to set in during winter. Travel can lift your spirits– and it might just be essential for good mental health. 

These are the top reasons to plan a winter vacation now. Each one of them should have you starting to consider where you would love to go for your winter getaway this year. So, talk to your partner, agree on a destination, and get the ball rolling! Booking your next winter vacation early can save you time, worries and, importantly, money.