Everyone I know gets great deals on travel. How can I get in on the savings for my holiday trip?

Everyone wants to know how to get the best deals for travel around the holidays. The best advice is to book early, at least nine months or more. Start thinking about the 2007 holidays as soon as 2006’s pass. Making reservations early allows you to get what you are looking for at the best rate. With most homes having access to the Internet and its multitude of options, making travel arrangements can be confusing. The best advice is to make reservations through a reputable travel agency that has a wealth of knowledge and experience to arrange your travel plan.

Our extended family would like to take a trip together for the holidays. Any suggestions?

There are many factors one should take into account when planning the family vacation. How long you want to travel, do you want a warm weather or cold weather destination, and of course the budget.

Here are a few suggestions. Chattanooga is a great location for a get-away that is close to home. It is only a short drive and has many activities for the entire family. For instance, there is the aquarium, riverboat cruises, train museum, IMAX theatre, Rock City and Ruby Falls. Also, along those same lines would be Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This would be a longer drive, but it would be an area where you could rent a cabin large enough for the family. You could try your hand at snow skiing. It also offers shopping, putt-putt golf, dinner theatres and other attractions.

For an active vacation, there is Walt Disney World. The parks are decorated for the holidays and have extra special events for all ages. Disney offers packages that include tickets and accommodations to fit most budgets.

One of the most popular types of vacations is cruising. Ships offer various activities for all ages, in addition to visiting exotic islands.

If you are looking for a more adventurous trip and have additional money to spend, you can take the family to the Christmas Markets in Germany. This would allow everyone to experience how other cultures celebrate the holidays and in some instances see where some of our traditions began. There are also the warm weather destinations, such as Hawaii or St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

No matter what budget or location you chose, book early. Holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for a family vacations. Families are no longer going to grandma’s house for the holidays because grandma is gone on vacation. Seek advice from family and friends as to what they have done in the past. To save a lot of headaches and heartaches, seek the expertise of a professional travel agent.

Pat Dykes is the leisure travel manager at Columbus Travel with 13 years experience in the travel industry.