When can you break the '6 months out rule' to start your vacation planning?
The short answer is NEVER.
Hey, didn't you folks just start planning a trip that you are taking in just weeks?
Not really. Even if you are not actively planning a trip, you should be always looking at your bucket list, exploring hotels and sites... effectively planning for a trip that may not happen for years. Start building a short list now to have handy, just in case some crazy airline deal or other opportunity pops up.
So even though it appears we are breaking our own rule by planning a trip that is mere weeks out, recall three things 1) We have had Helsinki travel plans sitting for a bit... not fully fleshed out, but we know mostly what we want to do. 2) We didn't need to book airfare months in advance to get a great deal, as our frequent flier miles were just sitting there... and in this case we saw a deal on Helsinki with miles. Why was there a deal on miles? Because: 3) Off season/cold weather can lead to a hot deals. And, it being Winter, we knew we could find a great hotel in Finland for a good price, as so few tourists are traveling there now.
Travel to Finland in the Winter not in your plans? Then start planning your summer trip NOW! But, maybe, just maybe, Finland in the Winter should be in your plans.