Last Updated on June 22, 2020 by Laura Cooper

There’s no better time than the present, as they say. Many travellers are looking to book their winter travel in the summer or early fall months, when their options are open and prices tend to be cheaper. We looked into how much you can save by booking early, and what early booking bonuses are available right now.

Travellers looking at vacations during heavy travel periods, such as Christmas and New Year’s, Spring Break, and long weekends, should expect to see pricing affected by the high traffic of travellers and these popular times. The sooner the better for booking travel during these periods, to ensure the best choice in both vacations and pricing.

The Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda in Cancun is part of WestJet Vacations’ Early Booking Bonus program

While waiting until the last minute to book can mean you’ll find a great deal, it also means you might be sacrificing the quality of the vacation you’re looking for. Last minute vacations aren’t always available in the budget and destination that you’re looking for either: leaving things late is always a risk when it comes to travel, especially if you have special requests like a family room or group travel, or certain resort that you’re hoping to stay at.

Taking advantage of an early booking bonus means you’re guaranteed to get what you want: your travel date, destination, hotel, room, and flights. These bonuses are great for people who know what they want, and where they want it. Our travel agents also recommend taking advantage of early booking bonuses for larger groups or families of five or more. Booking last minute makes these special accommodations difficult.

Booking early also comes with perks on its own: many suppliers offer early booking bonuses to reward travellers that are committing to their vacation months in advance with extra bonuses like price drop guarantees, in addition to the savings. We have a round-up of the early booking bonuses currently available:

WestJet Vacations
Save up to 35% when you book by Sept. 30, 2015, for travel between November 1, 2015 and April 30, 2016. The WestJet Vacations early booking bonuses includes the WestJet Vacations Price Drop Guarantee: if the price of your vacation drops after you book, receive the difference back in WestJet dollars.

The Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, one of Air Transat’s Distinction Collection.

Transat Holidays
Save up to $900 per couple when you book by September 30, 2015, for travel between December 18, 2015 and April 30, 2016.

Book a Distinction or Luxury Collection package and receive Transat’s Price Drop Guarantee, Option Plus which includes free seat selection, priority check-in, supplementary baggage allowance of 10kg, tapas box, and comfort kit, a travel date change permitted up to 3 hours before departure, and a $50 travel credit per person for your next vacation. Enjoy the comfort that you’re paying the best price possible: with Transat’s Price Drop Guarantee, if your Luxury or Distinction package becomes available at a lower price, you’ll be refunded the difference in cash (up to $400 per adult).

A full list of resorts available in the Distinction and Luxury Collection for this early booking bonus can be found here.

Air Canada Vacations

Save between $500 and $700 per family with vacations booked throughout August, September and October, with payment by October 31 on select Air Canada Vacations resorts. Air Canada Vacations includes their Price Drop Guarantee on any vacation booked during their Early Booking Bonus period by October 31. Some resorts include selections such as preferred rooms, and dining experiences with their bonuses.

Sunwing

Save up to $400/couple on select vacations when you book by October 21, and receive Sunwing’s Price Drop Guarantee on vacations booked by September 23. Sunwing’s price drop bonus means you’ll get cash back if the price of your vacation drops after you book. This bonus is available for vacations booked between August 14 and September 23, for travel between December 19 and April 30, 2016.

For more information on early booking bonuses from special resorts, and which resorts in destination are applicable for supplier early booking bonuses, talk with your travel agent.