4 Travel tips and tricks that won't break the bank
Heading home for the holidays is a time-honored tradition. If you are living far from family it is a time to reconnect and get to hug your mother, father, brothers, sisters, or cousins. The time spent with family during the holidays is precious, and the travel industry knows that. A premium is often put on holiday travel, but we have some money saving travel tips that will take the sting out of heading home for the holidays.
Ship the Gifts
Instead of trying to pack your luggage full of holiday gifts to and from your destinations, consider shipping them ahead. Overweight bags can cost you big at the airport, and checking bags, in general, can cost money or significant time as you travel. Consider traveling light and shipping the presents ahead of time. UPS and FedEx are good options, but leave plenty of time for the shipping process. You’ll want to ship the gifts for your family three days ahead of your arrival for two-day shipping or seven days ahead for standard shipping. Weigh your options carefully to ensure you are getting the most out of this money saving travel tip.
Avoid the Peak
During the holidays, everyone wants to travel at the same time. During the Thanksgiving holiday, that means flying out the day before Thanksgiving and flying back on Sunday. During the Christmas holiday, you can generally guess when peak flying days will be based on where Christmas falls on the calendar. If Christmas is on a Monday, like this year, expect many people to fly on the Friday before the holiday, and fly home on Tuesday or Wednesday. By avoiding these peak dates, you can save money on fares and cut down on the hassle at the airport. Experts suggest flying on the actual holidays if at all possible, as airports are generally empty and flights are less desirable, meaning better ticket prices.
Check Alternate Airports
If you live by a major airport, you are probably aware of how harried it can get during peak travel days. Try checking lesser used airports in your region, instead of sticking with the main thoroughfare. In some cases, flights will be considerably less during peak travel days at alternative airports, and the lines and crowds will be lighter, too. If you are using a search engine to book your flights you can even use a “check alternate airports and times” feature to make the search a breeze.
Check Fares Regularly
Catching a good deal during the holiday travel season is all about being persistent. Start checking flights regularly in the weeks and months leading up to the holiday. When you see the price drop, you’ll know it's time to buy. It can be difficult to predict trends, however, so don’t wait too long, or you’ll cut your purchasing window too close, and likely end up spending more. Track the trends for a couple of weeks to see exactly how the pricing is fluctuating and buy on a downturn to get the best deal.
Money saving travel tips are easy to come by, but often times executing the tried-and-true tips during the holidays can be difficult. These tips work year-round and will ensure you have a fun, safe, and budget-friendly trip home for the holidays.
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