How far in advance - Wedding Forum

#1 (**permalink**) 19-08-2002, 02:58 PM

As you all know, we are not getting married untill 2004 so i was wondering how far in advance travel agents take bookings (for the honeymoon)? I tried to find out but the Saturday girl was about as useful as a chocolate teapot so i left no wiser than when i went in!! We want to book as soon as we can so we have time to pay it off - any ideas?

AngelaW · #2 (**permalink**) 19-08-2002, 03:08 PM

I know they won't take bookings until they get some indication of the prices for the upcoming year... I'd imagine about this time next year as when we booked 3 weeks ago, some of the companies I spoke to didn't have all of their 2003 prices yet

It might be worth calling a couple of travel agents (or emailing them if they/tour operators) have websites. You're less likely to get a saturday girl if you email (I'd imagine at any rate!)

Dawnie · #3 (**permalink**) 20-08-2002, 05:57 AM

Hi Paula,

We booked ours about 14 months before we went.

We did a bit of a tour de USA and some of the hotels we wanted hadn't published their price lists, but the travel agent was really helpful and simply diaried everything forward and contacted us once the full booking had been made.

I totally agree with Angela though - phone or e-mail ahead. Make sure you're dealing with an experienced travel agent - ours was great and knew all the pitfalls of travelling round the US. She made sure we had the best hotels for the money we had to spend and the most flexible flights so we could travel pretty much when we wanted to.

Good luck

Snowball · #4 (**permalink**) 21-08-2002, 04:19 AM

Hi Paula

We were able to book our honeymoon one year before but prior to that, I gave all the details to the travel agent so that she could contact me as soon as the flight times were published and available to book. We were lucky that the lady dealing with our booking in Thomas Cook had been to both Singapore and Langkawi and stayed in the hotel we had chosen so we had a first hand recommendation!!

Enjoy browsing through the brochures - it's fun chosing where to go!

Snowball
xx

#5 (**permalink**) 26-08-2002, 09:00 AM

Ive sent a few of the travel companies an e-mail asking for some info about when the 2004 brochures are out so now its just a case of waiting i suppose. Thanks for the idea girls - i would probably just have carried on fighting with the Saturday staff!! Ill let you know the outcome xxx

Sarahkaur · #6 (**permalink**) 26-08-2002, 02:23 PM

Hi,

we booked ours 18 months in advance, only because we booked the hotel directly and not through a tour operator.

If we'd waited for the tour operators books to come out, we wouldn't be able to book our July 2003 honeymoon until this September and we just couldnt wait !!!

Sarahkaur · #7 (**permalink**) 26-08-2002, 02:30 PM

Hi,

we booked ours 18 months in advance, only because we booked the hotel directly and not through a tour operator.

If we'd waited for the tour operators books to come out, we wouldn't be able to book our July 2003 honeymoon until this September and we just couldnt wait !!!

Dawnie · #8 (**permalink**) 02-09-2002, 01:20 PM

I have a confession to make

We're going away this December, and I found the original booking letter from the travel agent whilst I was clearing up yesterday dated - wait for it - 7th August, 2001.

Oh dear - that's a little early to be booking for December 2002 isn't it. 16 months - toooooo organised!