The Wandering Koi

Now that we are less than a year out… it’s time to make the majority of reservations at last! Outside of around 11-13 months, the only real reservations which can typically be made are for cruises which start taking reservations up to 2 years ahead of departure.

Service	Typical Reservation Window	Best Time to Book (Typical)	Notes
Airlines	~330-360 days before departure	1-5 months before (domestic), 2-8 months before (international)	Varies slightly by airline (U.S. carriers usually 330-331 days).
Major Hotel Chains	~12-13 months before stay	1-3 months before (standard stays); 6-12 months for peak seasons/ events	Some allow booking ~50-54 weeks out. Loyalty members may get earlier access.
Amtrak	11 months (typically 330-331 days) before departure	2-6 months before	Specialty routes (e.g., Auto Train, long-distance sleepers) may sell out early.
VIA Rail (Canada)	11 months (typically 330 days) before departure	2-6 months before	Occasionally routes open later depending on schedule updates.
Cruise Lines	18-24 months before sailing	6-12 months before	Premium lines sometimes release itineraries 2+ years in advance.
U.S. National Park Campgrounds (Recreation.gov)	6 months in advance (rolling basis)	Exactly at opening (10am, ET, 6 months ahead)
Car Rental Companies	~6-12 months in advance	1-3 months before pickup	Most allow bookings ~1 year out; availability/pricing may not stabilize until closer to pickup date.

Specific companies can always have different timelines, and this rapidly gets to be a lot to remember when you are planning an entire year. I found a calendar template in MS Word and made myself a custom calendar where the LEFT page is the month in 2025 and the RIGHT page is the month in 2026 (of 2026 on the LEFT and 2027 on the RIGHT as this trip goes over an academic year, not a calendar year). In this way I can better keep track on when it is time to make reservations. I also add tasks here such as when to open specific credit cards to get the welcome bonuses in time for certain reservations or to allow perks like free checked bag to take effect. I left room at the bottom of each page for notes and to-do lists.

Happy planning!