The holidays may still be several weeks away, but AAA says Georgians planning to travel for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s should begin making those plans now.

A new AAA travel survey found that 29 percent of Georgians begin planning holiday trips during September and October, while only 9 percent wait until November or December.

Cost is one of the biggest reasons people put off making reservations. According to AAA, 46 percent delay booking because of budget concerns, while 35 percent wait because they hope prices will come down.

However, waiting doesn’t always result in a better deal.

Nearly half — 49 percent — of Georgia residents surveyed said they had delayed booking a trip only to end up paying more than they would have if they had booked earlier. Seventeen percent said they paid significantly more, while another 32 percent paid somewhat more.

“Many travelers are hoping to find a better deal by waiting,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Unfortunately, our survey shows that strategy doesn’t always pay off.”

AAA says travelers don’t necessarily need to immediately purchase the first airfare or hotel room they find. Instead, September is a good time to begin researching destinations, comparing prices and determining which travel dates work best before options become more limited.

Other reasons people delay making reservations include waiting for family or friends to commit, cited by 25 percent of travelers, and concerns about weather or possible travel disruptions, cited by 23 percent.

AAA says starting early can provide travelers with more flight choices, greater hotel availability, additional vacation package options and more flexibility if plans change. It also gives travelers more time to compare destinations and prices.

For those trying to keep holiday travel costs down, AAA suggests considering travel dates outside the busiest holiday periods. Among travelers who prefer taking vacations immediately before or after the actual holiday week, 52 percent cited fewer crowds and 47 percent cited lower prices as reasons for doing so. Others said traveling outside the peak period provides greater flexibility and less stress.

AAA recommends travelers establish a budget before booking, compare several possible travel dates, consider traveling before or after peak holiday weeks and set price alerts to monitor airfare changes.

The survey found overspending is travelers’ most common vacation-planning regret, followed by waiting too long to book.

AAA also says travelers considering cruises, international vacations, multi-country trips or complicated family vacations may want to begin planning particularly early because those trips can involve more reservations and coordination.

For Georgians planning to be away for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s, AAA’s message is to start looking now rather than waiting until the holiday season arrives.