When should i start booking tickets for December
 

Traveling to Vietnam and cambodia this december '07.
Given that it is the high season, when should i start booking my airline trip from the US, and when should i worry about having our agent get our hotels?

I would have gotten them in Jan or Feb....now is good!

Aloha!

now, especially the hotels

Airlines may restrict how far in advance you can actually book the ticket. Start checking with them now. It may be too early but you should book as soon as you can. Some airlines will also refund your money if the ticket price drops after you've already purchased. Hotels are the same way. You probably don't have to pay up front - you just make a reservation and check back with the hotel - if the cost drops, re-book it at the lower rate.

Major airlines allow booking 330 days prior to departure date so you can go forward now. If its to Thailand I know Bangkok Air will accept reservations now and offer lower rates for 6 months in advance reservations. If you are taking trip cancellation/interuption insurance through TravelGuard or AccessAmerica and take it out within 15 days of making your airline reservations and paying for the tickets you will be covered for pre-existing medical health conditions. Hotels are another matter. Some booking sites only post 3 , 4 or 6 month advance rates and too far in advnce can cost you money for I have never been refunded if rate goes down if the hotel capacity is low 2-3 months prior to arrival. For Dec. unless it is right around holiday period I would suggest Sept. is a good time to compare 3-4 of the better sites and check if it includes full or buffet breakfast or none at all.

We're going to Bangkok next March and have already booked our tickets.

Thanks, i better get crackin' then :)

But you may pay more now for hotels than if you wait 4 months plus you do not have to lay-out all the money now unless you use sawadee.com .

StanKase, i'm sure, as you said, i could find some better deals if i wait longer for the hotels, but both my wife and I are more planners, than "wait and see the prices, and if the hotel we want isn't available anymore find something else".
Guess we have to pay a price for that:)

You are going to pay a price either way, won't you? if traveling during high season at the end of the month.

StanKase - We will be going to Thailand/Cambodia next March and will need some inter SE Asia flights (Chang Rai to BKK and BKK to Siem Reap). I have been wondering how far in advance to book those tickets. You say the prices usually go up after you reach the less than 6 month mark, so I ought to do it before then?

Using the example BK to SR a ticket on Bangkok Air which can be used anytime up to 12 months cost 4865 baht (excluding taxes of 1880). A ticket which will be used within 6 months cost less at 4675.

If you are using a discount airline between BK/CM such as Air Asia, the earlier that you buy it the cheaper it usually is. For instance for march/08 the fare would be 1069 baht (399 + taxes of 670

Sorry not to mislead you taxes should have read 1290 baht.

Now!

I'm going to thailand in February and got my airline tickets and booked the hotels awhile ago -- but I also used ff miles.

You should book the tickets right now. It's not early to book tickets in December. December is really a holiday peak season in Vietnam,Laos and Cambodia. I believe the tickets are booked a half already. If you fly from Vietnam, you should book in Vietnam (through a travel agent). Or if you fly from Cambodia, you should book in Cambodia. There are a lot of travel agents online. Have fun!

If it is a Holiday period then booking now is probably wise even though you may be advancing the hotel payment 7 months in advance. The few hundred dollars you may save, the most, is not worth not getting the the hotel or room category you really want considering your overall cost.

If you book directly with the hotels, you don't pay anything at all in advance in most cases. Some hotels have far better deals directly, too.

We booked the Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap in January for August directly. The price we got directly, paying nothing in advance, is exactly equal to the price being now offered by various websites that you pay upon booking. And, we can change or cancel without any penalty or charge up to 3 days before check in.

The Oriental in Bangkok, booking sites are charging far more than what the direct booking rate is.

Of course, there are some hotels that have better prices on booking sites. But is it really worth paying for them months in advance? We'd rather keep our money until we've actually received the service/room.

I stand corrected. If you book with hotels directly through their sites you may pay a refundable deposit but often it is a "rack rate" if it is a popular season/ The bookimg sites like sawadee, asiahotels, etc. I found were generally less expensive because they buy in bulk nut then my earlier comments about payments in advance are correct based on 3 trips since 1999.

Booking directly we have never paid anything at all, just a credit card guarantee (which means nothing is charged to your card unless you don't cancel and don't show up on your arrival date).