Dream Big, Plan Smart: Why January Is the Best Time to Start Your Travel Journey

Newsletter: 4th January 2025

Author: Travelbetter Dad

Happy New Year Travel Friends!

January is a month filled with fresh energy, new goals, and a sense of excitement about what’s to come—and it’s also the perfect time to start dreaming about your next adventure.

But… before you dive into booking your next getaway, let’s pause. January is an ideal time to think big and plan thoughtfully, not rush into expensive and regretful decisions and here is why:

Take Time to Embrace the Joy of Dreaming

This is your moment to explore possibilities without pressure. Build a travel vision board, browse destinations, and picture yourself in the places you’ve always dreamed of visiting.

Consider the Bigger Picture

Life doesn’t stop while you’re planning trips. Major family events like milestone birthdays or anniversaries, work commitments such as product launches, or even kids’ exam schedules might shape your year. Mapping those first helps you plan a trip that fits seamlessly into your life without adding stress to the rest of it.

Make the Most of Research

Great deals might appear in January, but are they the right deals for you? Take the time to research destinations, compare options, and ensure the experience matches what you want from your travels. Also, these deal are often not as great as they look and we have found booking in March and April to cost no more than January.

Leave Room for Flexibility

Planning now doesn’t mean booking today. Staying open to later opportunities—like shoulder-season discounts or spontaneous adventures—can lead to the perfect trip at the perfect time. Additionally, by booking a bit later you can get a more accurate weather forecast and be aware of any potential changes in global politics or events that may impact on plans.

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​Your January Travel To-Do List:

  • Identify your dream destinations and crucially the experiences you are after. List what you really like, not just what is popular. Authenticity is the 1st key principal to better travel.
  • Map out major events for the year to find your travel windows. An easy place to start with this is to look up the local school holidays and scan your work calendar.
  • Review your finances and likely expenditure for the year to set your travel budget.
  • Explore flight, accommodation and tour options to see what’s out there and test your budget. But, remember there is no rush to book.

This month is all about the joy of possibilities and planning to ensure 2025 is your best year for travel yet.

Remember to apply the Travelbetter principles in 2025 to ensure every trip is the best it can be.

Here’s to a year of incredible adventures,

The Travelbetter Team