Are you visiting family soon for a big dinner? Christmas is one of the busiest holidays when it comes to travel. So, the odds are that you’re planning on traveling somewhere this holiday season! You may need a plan to keep costs down when you do.

Some of the best ways to save on holiday travel include ordering your plane tickets ahead of time, sharing rides, considering alternate dates, and spending more time with your family instead of going out. Of course, comparing prices is also a must!

1. Planning Ahead of Time

You’ll always want to start by preparing ahead of time. Save money when you order your plane tickets well in advance. When you buy them closer to the holiday, they’re going to cost significantly more!

Many flights experience drastic raises in price about two to three weeks away from Christmas.

So, if you want to save, you should order your tickets as soon as possible- the earlier, the better!

Plus, when you plan ahead of time, you take a lot of the stress out of travel, allowing you to focus on getting to your destination. That way, you don’t make any mistakes that cost you more money upfront.

Purchasing your flight tickets at least two months in advance can save you a lot of money. However, if you can order them even earlier, you’re sure to save more. In short, planning your trip ahead of time is essential if you want to save on travel costs.

2. Sharing Rides When Possible

If you’re not taking a flight, you can still save! You’ll want to ask friends and family members if they’ll also be traveling for the holiday season. You can always share a ride with them to get closer to your destination if they are driving.

Traveling by car is way more cost-efficient than traveling by plane. Plus, it’s always more enjoyable when you have good company for the ride!

If your family makes a big holiday meal every year, the chances are that a lot of your family must commute. It’s a good idea to talk with others you know are attending to see if they have open seats in their cars.

You can also offer a ride to your loved ones. Traveling together lowers the financial burden for everyone who goes along! Click the link to learn more.

3. Considering Alternate Dates for Dinner

You also might want to consider having Christmas on a different day. Again, you’ll need to coordinate with your family and make sure that they want to do the same. 

Traveling a week before or after Christmas can save you a lot of money on flight tickets since you avoid the rush. For example, a ticket that costs $300 for travel during the holidays could drop to as low as $100. But that lower price is if you plan it for a week outside of Christmas.

Plus, if you must stay in a hotel, the prices will also be quite a bit lower. You’ll also have more options for activities since other travelers won’t fully book everything.

4. Staying in with Family

It would also be best to focus on spending time with family this year. Many people have very detailed plans packed with activities during Christmas, but that’s not necessary to have an excellent time. Instead, you and your loved ones can save by spending time at home with each other.

Events tend to be packed around this time of year, making them less enjoyable.

For example, many families plan ski trips over the Christmas holiday. However, you’d have more fun going when the ski resort has fewer visitors- which is the case for any trip you want to plan with loved ones.

Plus, just because you’re staying in doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. You can plan game nights, movie nights, and plenty of other events at home. Your family should work together to decide what to spend time on.

Overall, make sure to spend time relaxing indoors with family! You’re sure to have a wonderful time cooking, eating, and lounging with one another. Plus, you won’t have to pay high holiday fees to participate in activities out of the house.

5. Comparing Prices Online

Finally, it would help if you always compare prices online. If you don’t, there’s no way to know if you’re getting a good deal or not!

There are tons of services that allow you to easily compare prices and flights briefly. Plus, many of these services make it easier to book your flight and hotel together for cheap. 

Some examples of travel comparison sites include:

• Travelocity
• LastMinuteTravel
• Expedia
• Hopper
• Kayak

However, there are plenty more online! You’ll want to browse through these apps and find one that works the best for you. Overall, you should never book a trip without knowing that you’re getting the best rates! Follow the link to learn more.

Final Thoughts

To summarize, there are plenty of ways to save on travel costs this Christmas. Even if you use one of the five tips, you’re still sure to save! If you research the prices, you’re sure to find simple ways to save this holiday season.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko