Early travel plans will help with prices and ease for the holidays

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - If you are planning a holiday trip, there's no better time than now to consider what's available for you in a destination and a price point.

There's a buffet table of decisions with airlines ramping back up on their flights, trains on the move more than a year ago, cruise ships powering back up and variables ranging from oil prices to pandemic rules.

There are still many choices that work, but travelers have to be wise about their timing and the ever-changing world health rules.

Some of the basics still exist including being flexible with your schedule will be one way to get a good price and a good flight schedule.

Sitting on Stearns Wharf Santa Cruz visitor Ken Lown said he's ready for his next trip in October. "We're ready to go. We're ready to sit back and have drinks with little umbrellas in them."

At the Santa Barbara Travel Bureau, David de L'Arbre said, "we've been in business for 75 years  so we've got  a really established clientele but we're picking up new clients, because doing it yourself is a little more challenging for the moment." He said some travelers reported waiting hours on the phone to get their plans finalized.

During Covid, day trips were the most popular way to travel for many people in Southern California.  Now once again there are so many ways to go, and so many ways to get there"   "

"There was a big rush to go to Europe when Europe opened in June we saw an incredible spike in demand," said de L'arbre. "I gotta tell you those hotels  over there  are offering some really great deals. It's not Mexico, it's not French Polynesia, it's not Hawaii because those rates are really up there, Europe right now is just on fire."

Hotel rates however, in many resort locations, have jumped an estimated 40 percent.

"Those rates have really gone up and there is some sticker shock and people are going to have to be prepared to pay a premium for their hotels," said de L'Arbre.

Some travelers visiting Santa Barbara, booked early to Hawaii and it will pay off.
Mary Ann Lown said, "we booked in advance of more than six months ago and got a good deal and locked it in. Even though we are discouraged by Hawaii  not to  come, we're still gonna go."

Her husband said, "we're not traveling out of the country, so Hawaii seemed like a good choice, we tend to go once a year."

A friend canceled his Mexico trip, in case there was a problem on the other end, if he got Covid and had to be quarantined. Joe Martinez said, "if I am by myself  and had no responsibilities , I would say it is a non issue."

"Now we are in post Covid,  a health paradigm change," said de L'Arbre. "If we want to travel we better get vaccinated, that will be a truism going forward."

Having your passport, identifications, health papers and essential information updated and easily presentable will also be a factor to a smooth process.

Airlines were swarmed by business when travel resumed this summer, and some were scrambling to restaff.

Travel experts say that shouldn't be the problem for the holidays.