Maybe it's the short days, the sporadic appearance of the sun, or the pale faces all-around; but we've been hankering for trips away here at the office...be they near, far, dream or already booked. So, if you're anything like us and the wanderlust has already taken over your waking thoughts, then January and February may possibly be the best months to pin down your vacation details. Plus we're also sharing the marketing team's travel plans for 2020 just to give you some ideas in case you're still unsure where to go. 

Planning holidays in the early months of the year seems to be a popular activity with the first Saturday of the January unofficially dubbed 'Sunshine Saturday' in the travel industry. It may be the post-Christmas blues that kick in, but many online travel operators experience a surge in holiday bookings on this day. This is coupled with the fact that it's not  unusual for more than 5 million holidays to be booked by UK holidaymakers throughout January...that's a lot of vacations!! We'll also venture a guess and say that this pattern is not isolated to the British Isles.

Read on to see when you should book your holiday and the major travelling trends that are being forecasted this year.

When Should You Book Your Holiday?

The early bird gets the worm, no?

Yes, booking your summer holiday (or other holidays throughout the year) in January and February makes a lot of sense from a financial point of view. Forward planning is the key to getting your hands on a great deal on your dream summer trip or even more so if you're planning to travel over the Easter period.

However, this does not mean that you should give up on the possibility of finding some amazing last-minute deals or cheaper fares for low-season trips.

Travel Trends in 2020

So, where will travellers heading to this year and what will they be looking for?

Experts concur that one of the key factors that will be influencing traveller choices is sustainability. There seems to be a consensus that travellers are more conscious of the environmental impact of their trips, be it the carbon footprint of a flight or the green levels of their accomodation. This may create an upward trend for train-based trips and holidays that are closer to home.

So where will travellers head to this year? The top destinations vary broadly but some of the dream-worthy contenders include Kyoto (Japan), Lebanon, Bhutan and Aruba.

The Team's Top Trip Ideas

Without further ado, let's see where the Yellow marketing team is planning (or dreaming) to go this year.

Fabien, Chief Marketing Officer

Travelling is the salt of life! With more and more time dedicated to leisure our travelling aspirations have grown in scope, variety and depth.

After visiting eastern Europe and the Baltics last year, I am looking forward to travelling to Africa later this year. Northern and Western Africa offers a huge range of destinations and experiences, from the bubbling Marrakech to the Tunisian sand beaches and from the forests of Togo to the Nigerian deserts. We are looking forward to backpacking and renting vans to travel mostly by road, hoping to connect with the locals and experience their country, beyond the beaten path of highly touristic destinations.

And to quote TOTO "Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti....Let's bless the rains down in Africa"

Krystabel, Production Supervisor

My holiday plans include Potsdam (Germany) to visit the vineyards and taste some good wine and cruise along the river Havel. I'm also planning a road trip in Sicily, a visit to Florence for the culture and buildings while visiting a film festival and Madrid for some shopping with a good friend. My dream trip is Bali for a relaxing holiday and to explore the nice scenery and beaches.

Wine and whiskey will be present everywhere and I will do my best to keep to my keto diet.

Danica, Content Writer

My dream trip would be the Warner Brothers London Studio Tour...it's a go-to for all film fanatics (especially Potterheads like me)!

Rebecca, Web Specialist

My dream trip would have to be whale watching in Alaska. This year I'm planning to take a road trip from Italy to the South of France and visit Barcelona for paella and art.

Chiara, Content Writer

The destinations I'm visiting this year are the North of France and bits of Spain. 

Teresa, Content Writer

My vacation this year is a road trip around New Zealand.

Why am I going? It's a country which still boasts raw beauty, so why not travel across the globe to experience nature at its very best? The plan is simple: drive, trek, swim, cook, sleep and repeat.

Javier, Web Designer

Mine is Colombia. I'm going because I miss my family and the food... it's always nice to go back home to visit. My dream destinations for this year are The Netherlands and UK because I've seen many things from these places that I would like to experience myself.

Geraldine, Digital Marketing Specialist

My ideal holiday this year is a football road trip across Europe following the Euro2020 tournament across Rome, Munich, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. I'll be carrying the German flag with me in support of my favourite team.

In case this doesn't happen cause it's way too expensive, I'll go trekking/mountain climbing on the Alps. I love a good sporting challenge and nothing beats the fresh air and incredible scenery of a mountain area. Plus I actually enjoy the cold!

Jan, Content Creator

I'm looking forward to going back home to Prague to see my family. It may be a biased opinion but in my humble opinion every inch of Prague is pure European eye-candy; Prague's skyline is epic, scattered with points and peaks in every direction. The river Vltava is lined with beautiful bridges that lead the eye up to Prague Castle at the top of a hill. And obviously beer is amazing...if Czechs do something well, it is their magical, golden drink for sure and it costs literally pennies.

Further away, I'd like to visit Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for the amazing beaches.

Moni, Design Assistant

In March, I plan to go to London with a friend. We've been there already in the summer of 2018 and we enjoyed it so much that we wanted to renew the experience. We love the atmosphere, the shopping and the diversity in terms of culture and food.

This summer I plan to go to Cambodia with all of my family to visit relatives on my mum's side. Since Cambodia is close to Thailand, we're planning to visit Bangkok to explore the city and on our way back to France, we'll stop in Dubai, UAE for 2 days.

I am really grateful for the opportunity to travel so much this year. However, if I have the possibility to go anywhere else this year, I would love to visit Africa.

Maria, Content Writer

My perennial bucket list vacation is a trip to Japan during the spectacular cherry blossom season. However, this year I'm hoping to go on a beach hopping trip somewhere exotic, such as Bali.

The larger number of weekday holidays this year, makes it easier to plan more European city breaks. On my radar for 2020 I have Porto for the vibrant Mediterranean vibe, Edinburgh for gin-tasting and Milan for the awe-inspiring design and style. Closer to home, I'd like to visit a few places of interest in Sicily - Modica for the chocolate, Marzamemi for the idyllic charm and perhaps Catania, for a spot of shopping. 

While it may be cheesy and a bit clichéd to say that travelling is the only thing that you can buy that makes you richer, it certainly is true. So, wherever you're planning to go this year, don't forget to pack plenty of curiosity, enthusiasm and open-mindedness.

Ready to jet set? Check out these travel agents if you need help to plan your dream trip!

Keep discovering local with Yellow!