I have three young children of which 2 are in school during the year and camp in the summer. The three weeks they have off where we would have no restrictions on travel are in January, June, and August.

I am ready to plan next years trips and for January, and even June, and I know exactly what dates I want to go, where I want to stay and how I want to get there. Of course, this far out there are no discount airfares, any many hotels have not yet loaded in rates, let alone specials.

So many people I know no longer plan ahead. This May a group of friends waited til after Memorial Day Weekend to book their June trips. They simply went where the really good last minute specials were (and they had a great time.) Is this the way of the future? Am I the only person left who thinks planning a trip for next June is NOT crazy?

If you do still book ahead what are your strategies? For example, do you keep changing the rental and hotel reservations as better deals are announced? Do you make hotel reservations but wait on the airfare?