It’s December 26th. The gifts are unwrapped, the pie is half-gone, and for the first time in weeks you’re sitting still, maybe in soft pants, maybe with a cup of coffee going cold. Your inbox isn’t screaming. The world feels quiet.
This is the sweet spot.
Not “January, when the rush dies down.”
Not “once we nail down the dates.”
Not “after we see what everyone’s schedule looks like.”
Right now—while the idea of travel still feels light and full of possibility instead of another item on a to-do list—is when the magic actually starts.
After years of crafting bespoke trips for our amazing clients, here’s the gentle truth we’ve learned: the travelers who end up with the most soul-stirring, memory-making journeys aren’t the ones with the most free time or the biggest budgets. They’re the ones who booked early, while the excitement was still fresh.
Why Booking Early Changes Everything (in the Best Way)
- You get the trip your heart actually wants
That intimate lodge in Patagonia with only eight rooms? The private guide who can get you into Matera’s secret caves at sunrise? The glass-igloo suite in Lapland for the Northern Lights? They’re gone a year out. Booking early means you’re not compromising on the details that matter most to you. - You give yourself the gift of anticipation
There’s real joy in having something extraordinary on the calendar. Those months leading up become delicious—reading guidebooks in bed, circling restaurants, daydreaming during meetings. The trip starts the moment you hit “confirm,” and that extended happiness is priceless. - You plan with calm instead of chaos
When everything is locked in early, you’re making thoughtful choices, not panic decisions six weeks before departure. You have time to layer in the perfect experiences, adjust pacing, and make sure every piece feels like you. - You simply sleep better
Knowing flights, boutique hotels, and once-in-a-lifetime excursions are secured? That’s peace of mind money can’t buy (though it does help to have travel protection—just in case life does its unpredictable thing).
The Usual Hesitations (and Why They Melt Away)
“But what if plans change?”
Flexible policies and great travel insurance exist for exactly this reason. Uncertainty is part of life; postponing joy isn’t the answer.
“We’re not 100% sure of dates yet.”
We rarely are a full year out. Pick a season or a rough window—May shoulder season in Greece, September in Japan, November in South Africa—and we’ll shape everything around it. Details refine themselves.
“Won’t better deals pop up later?”
Almost never for the truly special properties, guides, and exclusive experiences (especially the kind you can’t grab online). The best availability and pricing live right now, in this quiet post-Christmas pocket.
Picture December 26, 2026
You’re in the same soft pants, same slice of pie nearby, scrolling through photos on your phone: sunrise over Torres del Paine, your kids’ faces the first time they saw the temples of Bagan, you and your partner laughing over natural wine in a 200-year-old Tuscan farmhouse.
Or… it’s another year of “We almost went.”
The entire difference between those two realities is one gentle decision made today.
Your Next (Incredibly Easy) Step
If something inside you just whispered “Yes—2026 feels like our year,” we’d love to talk. Just a relaxed conversation about what lights you up, what’s realistic, and how we can make it happen beautifully.
Because right now—while the house is quiet and possibility feels wide open—is honestly, truly, the very best time to book 2026.
Let’s make next December’s photos the ones you’ll never stop smiling at.
Wishing you wonder,
Deb & the Edge of Wonder Travels Team
(Wish You Were Here… coming soon to a YouTube and podcast streaming service near you!)
