According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is one of the busiest times of the year for travelers. With so many people traveling, airlines, hotels and other travel services often raise their rates during the holiday season. If it’s important to you to spend the holidays with family and friends who live far and wide, use these tips to manage your holiday travel budget.
Book Your Tickets Early
As soon as you decide that you’re heading to another city for the holidays, start researching fares and booking your trip. The sooner you lock in your tickets, the better your chances are of finding great prices. The longer you wait, however, the higher those prices could rise.
Some travel websites can give you an idea of whether the fares you’re looking at are likely to increase or decrease in the next seven days, and it’ll give you their expert recommendation for when to buy so you get the best rate. During the holidays, when prices can change dramatically from one day to the next, sites may advise you to purchase tickets right away. You can also try looking at fares on a Tuesday or Wednesday to get a better price, rather than a Friday or Saturday, when many other people are planning their trips.
Consider Flying on the Holiday
Airfare is usually the most expensive when you travel on the days right before or after a holiday. But if you fly on the actual day of the holiday, you could score some deeply discounted tickets. It may not be the ideal setup for your family, but it could do wonders for your budget. If you can get a flight early in the morning, you’ll still make it in time for your holiday dinner.
Take a Road Trip
If your destination is within driving distance, you may want to consider hopping in your car. Taking a road trip can be much more cost-effective than flying, since you’ll be skipping the overpriced airfare and extra baggage fees. Consider how much time you’ll be on the road, as well as how much you’ll spend on gas and pit stops. Be sure to plan your driving to avoid major traffic, which can be a problem in the days leading up to a holiday.
Pack Smart
If you’re flying, make sure you’re not hit with extra fees for packing an overweight suitcase. Pack as lightly as possible, and opt for lightweight gifts that won’t weigh down your baggage. Gift cards are a great option, and they may even help you skip checking a bag altogether. Paying your baggage fees online before you get to the airport can also reduce your costs.
Don’t Wrap Gifts Before You Fly
If you’re packing presents, don’t wrap them up before putting them in your suitcase. Wrapped packages can get wrinkled or torn, and you might even have to open them at the airport if security wants to inspect your luggage. Save yourself the time, money and hassle that comes with re-wrapping, and wait until you reach your destination to put the finishing touches on your gifts.
Take Advantage of Free Shipping
One of the great things about online shopping — aside from the fact that you can do it from your couch and avoid the madness at the mall — is that many retailers offer free in-store pickup. If you don’t want to pack your gifts and potentially pay extra baggage fees, buy your gifts online and arrange to pick them up at a retail store that’s near your destination when you arrive. Just make sure to pay close attention to the estimated arrival date, since most stores only hold items for a few days. If you trust your friends and family not to peek inside the shipping boxes, you can also ship gifts directly to them and wrap them when you arrive.
Catch a Ride to the Airport
Like airfare, the price to park your car at the airport often skyrockets during the holiday season, and it can also be difficult to find a space. Daily parking rates may result in a huge bill if you’re going away for a week or more. If you know anyone who will be in town when you leave, don’t be shy about asking for a ride to the airport. You can always offer to return the favor for their spring break vacation.
If you can’t find a ride, look into your public transportation options, especially if you’ve managed to streamline your luggage. You can also see if taking a cab or rideshare each way is cheaper than the cost of long-term parking.
Get to the Airport Early
More holiday travelers mean more traffic on the road, longer check-in lines at the airport and longer waiting times at security. The only thing worse than paying too much for your plane ticket is missing your flight and paying even more to change it. Play it safe and beat the holiday rush by giving yourself plenty of time to get to the airport.
Look for Discounts and Deals
If you have a VyStar Visa® Signature Rewards card, you can redeem your credit card rewards points for travel discounts from airline and hotel companies. In addition, many membership programs, like AAA and Costco, offer travel discounts for members.