A word about flights.
Booking in advance by 6 months or so is helpful. But there are ways to travel on points and we’ve managed to do it at least one direction each time. You may already have a points system you like, but I can recommend looking at travel credit cards. Search which one is currently offering the most points for flights, usually for a fee, and look for one that gives the first year free. Usually you have to spend a certain amount on the card in the first 3 months. It is up to you to cancel within the first year. This takes organization, sending yourself a to-do email perhaps to make sure you cancel the card before you get charged. These cards are ideal for booking flights or cars on because they usually offer very good insurance coverage.