Booking last minute is often hailed as the clever way to grab a holiday deal. But parents who leave it until next year to plan their family getaway could be left disappointed, says baby and toddler-friendly holiday company Tots To Travel. The way to reap the real rewards is to be first – not last.

“With heavy fines in force over taking children out of school during term time, the need for parents to secure their holiday early has never been greater,” says Wendy Shand, Founding Director of Tots To Travel.

“Parents who book ahead are likely to make the best savings and access greater choice and availability – especially if you're going to be competing for a getaway during peak holiday periods,” continues Wendy.

“Plus, booking early also allows you plenty of time to research the holiday you really want, digest those all-important reviews, make the right decision and get organised. Family holidays are the stuff of lifetime memories for both parents and children – don't gamble this on a late deal that may not be right for you.”

Tots To Travel's holiday hotspots are France, Portugal and Spain, where availability is expected to become limited at some of their properties as soon as the end of 2015.

Here are Tots To Travel's top 7 reasons to book a family holiday early:

1. 1.    Have an abundance of choice. To get the property you dream of with facilities that are perfect for your family, booking early gives you first pick of everything on offer!
2. 2.    Flights: save cash and guarantee your space. Yes – booking flights early can save you money! Some flights in Europe can often be cheaper if you book in September and October for the coming summer. There's also more chance of getting the perfect flight for your chosen dates and times and (most importantly for parents) ensures you can all sit together on board.
3. 3.    Escape with ease! Juggling work diaries with school holidays, annual leave and other commitments can be a headache. The more advance notice you can give employers or customers, the easier it will be to enter a relaxed frame of mind before you leave home...
4. 4.    Bag the best family-friendly holiday deals. Owners and resorts often keep prices low and offer competitive early deals to ensure their calendars fill up for the following year. Booking ahead means you can grab some of the best rates in advance.
5. 5.    Make the costs more maneagable. If you book early then most holiday companies ask for a deposit and the remaining balance paid 8 weeks before you go. This allows you to spread the cost of your holiday into manageable chunks, rather than paying a big lump in one go.
6. 6.    Start your holiday countdown early! When the winter blues kick in you can perk yourself by reminding yourself of the fantastic family holiday you've got to look forward to.  You can begin counting down to the holiday by planning some fun family activities for when you get there, whilst stocking up on the holiday bits you're going to need.
7. 7.    Get unbeatable peace of mind. Planning for and enjoying Christmas and New Year is busy enough – and who doesn't want to avoid the January holiday booking rush? Organise your holiday before all of this and you can just focus on looking forward to the good times ahead.

For more information on Tots To Travel's unique collection of visited, inspected and perfected baby and toddler-friendly holiday homes, visit: www.totstotravel.co.uk or call our team of family travel experts on: 0800 014 2770. Facebook: TotstoTravel Twitter: @Totstotravel.

ENDS

Media contacts:
Press Office: Rachel Andrews-Ingram
E-mail: rachel@totstotravel.co.uk
Phone: 01780 753188
Web: www.totstotravel.co.uk 

Notes to Editors:

• Wendy Shand, founder and CEO of Tots To Travel is an expert on any questions you might have on travelling with babies, toddlers, how to ensure parents have the best holiday possible, hints and tips on destinations, style of villa, whether to be resort-based on in a remote location, what to pack, what not to pack and more. She is available for interviews, Q&As, quotes and responses to readers questions. 
• Tots To Travel launched in 2006. Uniquely the Tots team has visited, vetted and handpicked every one of the 400+ highly recommended baby and toddler-friendly properties in the Tots' portfolio. They ensure that all private pools have a pool barrier, stairgates added and balcony railings have been measured. What's more the Tots Team know their stuff, and help mums and dads to make the best choices for their family. Tots is the only company to guarantee an extensive Essential Baby and Toddler Kit which contains 20+ items including blackout blinds and baby monitors to help ensure babies sleep soundly and parents travel light.
• The company offers holiday homes in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Canaries and Balearics, Crete, Turkey and the UK, all inspected by professionals trained by the Child Accident Prevention Trust.
• Tots To Travel has sent 1000s of families away on their holidays and the company has been recognised with a range of prestigious awards including the Prima Baby Best Holiday Brand 2015, the Feefo Gold Trusted Merchant award for its excellent customer service and the Cisco Customer Kings Award for outstanding customer service (2010).
• Tots To Travel is the one and only family holiday company that genuinely answers the stresses of holidaying with under-5s and their 99% 5 star customer feedback on Feefo proves it: “From the very first point of contact Tots To Travel were fantastic! Taking your baby on holiday for the first time can be stressful - but having booked with Tots To Travel all that stress was gone and we were able to enjoy the most wonderful holiday. We will be booking with them again, and probably only them for every future holiday.” is just one of the many comments on Feefo, (an independent review site).