Holiday planning: You should book these dream trips well in advance
Going on vacation spontaneously can be exciting – but not every trip can be booked at such short notice. Whether it's seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, a safari in Tanzania, or the most beautiful lodges in the rainforest of Costa Rica: For many destinations, you'll need to be an early bird.
Advance planning is especially important during peak season or for destinations with limited access. We'll tell you when early booking is necessary and how much notice you need.
When the cherry blossoms (sakura) bloom in Japan , parks, avenues, and entire cities glow in soft shades of pink. In Japanese culture, this time of year is considered the highlight of the year, and at the traditional Hanami festival, locals celebrate together with visitors beneath the blossoms.
The cherry blossom season is the most popular travel time in Japan.
Source: IMAGO/Depositphotos
Meanwhile, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka become veritable photo hotspots – something millions of people don't want to miss. The problem: The cherry blossom season only lasts a few weeks in March and April. The best accommodations are often booked months in advance, and flights can also be quite expensive at this time of year. Smart travelers therefore plan their personal hanami visit well in advance.
Seeing penguins in Antarctica is certainly on many people's bucket lists. But this adventure requires careful planning: Because only a limited number of expedition and cruise ships are allowed to travel to Antarctica to protect the animals' habitat, places are usually booked well in advance. The peak travel season is between November and March, when it's summer there.
Anyone who wants to paddle through the eternal ice of Antarctica must book in good time.
Source: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
In addition, Antarctica cruises don't depart from Germany, but usually from South America. Most expeditions depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, and travel through the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula; some also depart from Puerto Williams, Chile. Travelers should arrange both their flights to the respective port and the visa for the transit country well in advance. So, if you're dreaming of your own personal Antarctic adventure, you should start planning at least a year in advance.
Southern Africa is one of the top destinations for unforgettable safari experiences. In renowned nature reserves such as the Masai Mara in Kenya or the Kruger National Park inSouth Africa, with a bit of luck, it's possible to observe the "Big Five" in the wild. The dry season from July to October offers particularly good conditions for wildlife viewing, when the animals congregate at watering holes.
The annual migration of the zebra herds is an absolute highlight.
Source: IMAGO/Design Pics
However, those who want to experience the "Great Migration," as the annual migration of approximately two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles is called, must adjust their visit time to the respective region. From January to March, the herds stay in the southern Serengeti. They then migrate toward the central and western Serengeti. Between July and October, the herds reach the northern Serengeti and continue to the Masai Mara, where they cross the Mara River. From November, the animals begin their return journey to the southern Serengeti.
During peak season, the best lodges and camps are often fully booked months in advance. Those who want to secure accommodation in a good location, plan customized tours, or special experiences like a hot air balloon ride should start planning well in advance.
Equally unique, but much easier to accomplish, is a trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The season runs from September to mid-April, with the best chances of seeing the aurora borealis during the long nights between November and February.
An experience you will never forget: colorful northern lights in the sky of Iceland.
Source: Nils Peuse
The best places to see the Northern Lights are Thingvellir National Park, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the area around Akureyri in northern Iceland, and Vik on the south coast. Word has gotten around: Most tourists come to Iceland during the winter months, but accommodation on the sparsely populated island is limited.
Therefore, especially if you're on a budget, you should book early. In addition to flights and accommodation, a rental car with four-wheel drive is also a good idea to get to the remote areas where the Northern Lights are more easily visible. Six months' notice is the minimum; for trips in December and January, you should book nine months in advance.
The earlier you book, the better – this also applies to the US national parks. Many parks, such as Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone, have permit systems, reservation requirements, and extremely high demand. For Yosemite National Park in the summer, you usually need a time-slot ticket, which is available for booking months in advance. For popular trails like Angels Landing in Zion, access is sometimes even allocated by lottery.
Fascinating: The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
Source: imago/Westend61
In addition to access to the parks, the question of overnight accommodation also needs to be resolved early on. Although the campsites in national parks are six Reservations can be made months in advance, but often sell out within minutes. Those wishing to stay overnight in the lodges should also book six to twelve months in advance; otherwise, the only options are nearby. Rental cars and flights are not quite as time-sensitive—the best time to book is three to six months in advance.
Anyone who wants to embark on a true jungle adventure and is planning a trip to the Costa Rican rainforest should book accommodations and tours well in advance – especially during the peak travel season from December to April. Regions like Monteverde, Tortuguero, or the remote Corcovado National Park are popular and often have limited access. For Corcovado, entry is even restricted to a guide.
In the Cabo Blanco nature reserve, the oldest in Costa Rica, you can observe not only capuchin monkeys, but also anteaters, armadillos and many other forest dwellers.
Source: essential Costa Rica
Many lodges are also located deep in the jungle and have only a few rooms, so booking up to six months in advance is worthwhile. Guided tours, such as night hikes or wildlife viewing, also book up quickly during peak season. Those traveling by rental car should reserve a four-wheel drive vehicle well in advance. The same applies to domestic flights to remote rainforest areas like Drake Bay, as seats on small aircraft are limited.
Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter, and the best travel deals on our deals page .
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