Holiday travel is slightly less expensive this year versus last year but it still isn’t cheap if you are wanting to travel for the holidays. With that in mind, you may be wondering how you can save money on your holiday travel. There are practical steps that you can take to help keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.
It doesn’t matter if you are traveling alone, with your wife or husband, or with your family. The 8 different things that are in the post can help you save money whenever or wherever you are traveling to this holiday season.
Ways to Save on Holiday Travel
1. Flexible Dates
When it comes to saving on holiday travel, flexibility is your best friend. Airlines and hotels tend to hike prices during peak travel days, so consider adjusting your travel dates. Flying on off peak days, such as mid week or on the actual holiday can result in significant savings.
For example, Tonya, my wife, and I are flying to Florida for a few days over her Christmas break. We are leaving on New Year’s Day because those flights were less expensive than days before or after New Year’s Day.
Make sure to use flexible date search options on travel websites to easily compare prices across a range of days and find the most budget friendly options. Google Flights, Kayak and Skyscanner are just a few of the sites that allow you to set up alerts that can help you know when prices change on flights.
2. Use Credit Card Points or Miles
If you’ve been collecting credit card points or miles through credit cards or loyalty programs now is the time to cash in.
Prices for flights and hotel rooms during the holiday season increase so you get more value from the points and miles that you use when prices are high. Check your point balances and explore the options for using them to offset your holiday travel expenses.
It’s really a fantastic way to turn your everyday spending that you have been doing throughout the year into significant savings during the holiday season.
3. Travel Off Peak Hours
Timing is everything, even when it comes to booking your flights. Choosing off peak hours for your travel can result in lower ticket prices. Flights during the early morning or late evening are often less expensive than those during peak travel times.
You may not be an early bird but flying early in the morning greatly decreases the chances of being delayed for your flight compared to flights that take off later in the day.
4. Early Booking
The early bird gets the worm, especially when it comes to holiday travel deals. Planning and booking your trip well in advance can secure lower prices on flights, accommodations, and even rental cars.
Airlines often release their cheapest seats early, and hotels may offer discounted rates for early bookings. By planning ahead, you not only save money but also ensure a smoother and less stressful travel experience.
Each year how early you book can change. For example, last year the optimum time to book holiday travel was 22 days out. This year Google Flights said the best time to book holiday travel was from the beginning of October to near the end of October.
5. Stay with Friends or Family
If you have friends or family at your destination, consider staying with them to cut down on accommodation costs. Not only does this provide an opportunity for quality time with loved ones, but it can also be a significant budget saver.
Staying with friends or family adds a personal touch to your holiday experience while keeping your wallet happy.
6. Pack Light
Avoiding extra baggage fees is a simple yet effective way to save on holiday travel costs. You want to make sure that you pack efficiently and within airline weight limits to prevent unexpected charges at the airport.
Consider wearing your heavier items, like coats and boots, during travel to free up space and weight in your suitcase.
Make sure to check the baggage policies of the airline that you are going to fly. When possible, you will want to book with an airline that gives you a free carry on and personal item.
7. Use Cashback and Reward Credit Cards
If you have to book travel for the holidays, you will want to use a credit card that offers you points or cashback for the purchases that you are making. There are numerous cards in the market that offer 2% cash back and others that offer 3% or more in points when booking travel.
No matter which type of card that you use, you can use the points or cashback to book travel down the road when you need them.
Also, make sure that you pay off your bill each month so that the cash back and rewards that you earn isn’t eroded by interest payments.
8. Use Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you aren’t staying in the states for the holidays, you want to make sure that you have a credit card that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees can add up quickly since they are usually 3% or higher.
Check your wallet to see if any of the cards that you have already waive the fee. If not, consider getting a card that does. There are numerous cash back and points credit cards in the market that have no foreign transaction fees.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there are things that you can do to keep more money in your wallet this holiday season. By incorporating flexibility, early planning, and savvy financial strategies, you can enjoy a memorable holiday getaway without the financial stress.
All of the above recommendations from booking early, using credit card points/miles and others are designed to help you save money while making the most of your holiday travels.
If you want to learn more about how to save money while traveling, earning and using credit card points and miles, and travel itineraries and destinations, make sure to go to my blog at Travelwidstom.
