Despite higher prices due to inflation affecting gas prices, airline tickets and hotel accommodations, 74% of consumers are still planning to travel this holiday season, according to research PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Even though domestic airfares are up 35% from last year and hotels have shown an 11% price increase, many still prioritize travel. However, to keep up with rising costs, consumers have to buy fewer gifts this year, despite spending the same amount or more than previous years.
To make the most of your money this holiday season, it is essential to save as much money as possible while traveling. The following tips can help you spend less this holiday season (Opens in a new tab) when traveling.
Have a flexible travel schedule
Airline fares vary by day; Flights booked in the middle of the week will be cheaper than those on the weekends. Therefore, being flexible in the days you will be traveling will allow you to take advantage of the cheapest deals. You will be able to compare prices between different airlines on different dates.
Booking flights for Thanksgiving travel November 21-23 will offer some of the cheapest fares this year, according to GoBankingRates (Opens in a new tab), as well as flying on Thanksgiving itself. Likewise for the Christmas holidays, booking early helps, and the cheapest days to travel will be December 12 and December 13. Just be sure to book your flight as early as possible, as fares tend to be less expensive early on in the booking. .
Use a travel site to compare prices
An easy way to keep up with the best flight deals, without having to spend hours browsing flights every day, is to download a flight tracking app. This takes you from finding the best deals and sends an email when prices drop.
for example, Google flights (Opens in a new tab) You’ll compare fares across airlines and dates, and when flight prices drop, you’ll receive an alert. Skyscanner (Opens in a new tab) It is a similar site that tracks down the best flight deals for you.
These services go beyond just air travel, too. Certain sites, such as trivago (Opens in a new tab) It will let you compare prices across hotels to find the best deals.
Avoid travel fees
By avoiding travel fees, you will be able to save more cash on upcoming trips. Many credit cards will allow you to do this, as will having elite status with an airline or hotel.
For those traveling abroad this holiday season, buying with a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees will help you avoid these expenses and save more money. In addition, not checking baggage is a way to avoid exorbitant fees. Especially if you are traveling with a large family, paying for baggage can cost you hundreds of dollars.
Those with the airline’s elite status can usually avoid baggage fees, along with other fees such as cancellation fees. Even if you don’t travel often, so you don’t have elite status with an airline, some credit cards offer similar benefits, such as Delta SkyMiles Gold Card American Express (Opens in a new tab).
Use the correct credit card
Many travel cards have benefits that go beyond baggage fee waivers, as they offer a great deal of value. Most travel cards earn big cash on travel purchases, such as airfare, transportation, and accommodations.
For example, file Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Opens in a new tab) You earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars, while you earn 1.25x on everyday purchases. This makes it a great way to collect extra cash to save cash this holiday season. Earning miles on everyday purchases helps offset the cost of travel, leaving more money in your pocket.
Many travel cards also offer generous welcome bonuses to cardholders, allowing them to earn loads of miles in a short period of time. They also offer exclusive rates on travel expenses, free upgrades, car rental insurance, and purchase protection. Some cards, like Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card (Opens in a new tab)even submit annual accompanying certificates on domestic flights.
may not fly
Given the high cost of air travel this year, driving might be a better option if you’re trying to save money. While gas prices are still higher than they were a year ago, they have been dropping consistently since October 11 and are still well below summer prices.
If this is the case, just make sure to save gas (Opens in a new tab) as best you can; Little things like properly inflated tires and using cruise control can allow you to maximize gas usage.
Train travel can also be less expensive than flying, so it’s a good idea to consider if you’re looking for ways to cut costs. Choosing to travel by train can save you hundreds of dollars.
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