City of Rovinj, Croatia

The key to securing exactly what you want is planning ahead.

Each year, we see some of the same destinations filling up around the same time, and inevitably, travelers start hitting a wall of sold-out hotels. We’ve assembled a list of destinations that can be difficult to book at the last minute — all spectacular and worth the effort of planning ahead:

Amalfi Coast: As we wrote in this post, the top months of June-September sell out quickly each year. By the Ides of March, it can be quite difficult to find space along this celebrated stretch of cliffs and sea.

Bhutan: The mountain monasteries and ancient villages of this remarkable little Himalayan kingdom draw more intrepid travelers every year, but to preserve the country’s traditional character, the government issues a strictly limited number of tourist visas. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Getting to the autumn festivals in Bumthang is easier than ever with a new flight from Paro, but because it’s easier, it’s important to book as far in advance as possible.

Canal Cruises: Floating along the Canal de Bourgogne or the Canal du Midi through unspoiled French countryside is one of the world’s great vacation experiences, but there are just a handful of top-class barges. To be sure you can charter the barge you want when you want, talk to your travel advisor about holding some dates.

Croatia: The dramatically beautiful Croatian coast, punctuated by Venetian colonial cities and fragrant archipelagos, is no longer a secret. Despite the growing number of visitors, only a few small properties offer world-class accommodations and service.

Paris: It will be more difficult than usual to secure that perfect little suite in Paris this year. One of the great grande dames of the city, the Ritz Paris, will shortly close for a two-year overhaul. Rumor has it that the Hôtel de Crillon may also close for some renovations. With two of the six palace hotels potentially out of commission, space will be at a premium.

Safaris: Many of the best safari lodges have fewer than 10 accommodations, which makes booking early essential.

Winter Break: The Travel Office always receives a lot of calls about travel over the winter holidays, but unfortunately, many of these calls come in September and October. By then, it’s too late to secure accommodations at the best beach resorts. To make sure you’re not caught in the cold, start making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas now. Family-friendly Caribbean resorts and Costa Rican wilderness hideaways fill up first, along with December weekends in New York City and the days around New Year’s Eve in Sydney, Australia.