As the holiday season approaches, many of us are eager to take trips to visit loved ones or explore new destinations. However, travel around this time often comes with a hefty price tag. If you’re wondering how to save money on holiday travel, the key is to plan ahead.
I’ll show you how to save on travel, find the best holiday travel deals, and secure the flight dates and times that best fit your plans. Keep reading to see my tips and best practices so you can enjoy your vacation without breaking the bank!
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The Challenges of Holiday Travel
There are many reasons why holiday travel can be so expensive. During peak holiday periods, such as Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving, the travel industry experiences a surge in demand. This increased demand leads to:
- Higher airfare prices
- Increased hotel rates
- More crowded airports and transportation hubs
- Limited availability of seats and accommodations
- Potential for overbooking and travel disruptions
To save the most, you’ll want to go where most other people aren’t traveling. But you probably want to travel to a specific destination for the holidays for a reason. So, these are my tips to help you save as much as you can on your holiday travel!
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Step 1: Maximize Your Purchase Method
One of the most effective ways to save money on travel during the holidays is to be strategic about how you pay for your trip. Using the right credit cards can lead to significant savings and additional perks that enhance your travel experience. You can also learn how to make the most of the miles and points you earn and turn them into cheaper fares, hotel stays, and amazing experiences.
The Best Credit Cards for Travel
If you’re going to spend money on travel, you might as well use a method that gives you rewards in return. My favorite credit cards that I use all the time have amazing travel perks, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and airport lounge access!
I can spend money on everyday purchases, like gas and groceries, and earn points and miles to redeem for flights and hotels. Some cards even reward me more when I use them to book my travel. Think of it as a “buy one, get one” scenario!
Check out some of the best credit cards for travel perks here. Remember, the key is to use these cards responsibly. Pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that could negate your savings.
Learn How to Earn & Spend Points & Miles
As I mentioned above, using the points and miles you earn from credit cards with travel rewards is a great way to travel more while spending less. Still, if you’ve never done this before, you might be leaving some value behind.
If you’re new to this concept, I have a great newsletter recommendation for you. The Daily Drop newsletter will give you tips and tricks for maximizing your miles and points – all in under five minutes a day!
Step 2: Book Flights & Hotels Early
Timing is crucial when it comes to booking your holiday travel. If possible, plan your flights and accommodations ahead of time, but not too early. There’s a sweet spot where the prices are the lowest they’ll ever be.
Consider traveling a few days off from major holiday dates for significant savings. But when you can’t, follow the tips below to try to get the best holiday travel deals possible.
How to Score Holiday Travel Deals on Flights
The best time to book your flights for holiday travel is around 45-65 days before your travel date. So, if you’re looking for good holiday travel deals on flights for Christmas and New Year’s, the best time to book is late October. The closer you get to the holidays, the higher flight prices are likely to be.
To find the best flight deals:
- Use price comparison tools like Daily Drop Pro and Skyscanner to track fares
- Set up price alerts for your desired routes
- Be flexible with your travel dates if possible
- Consider flying on less popular days, such as the holiday itself
- Look for deals through your favorite credit card’s travel portal
- Redeem accumulated points or miles for flights
For a better airport experience, consider using Priority Pass for access to VIP airport lounges. You can enjoy free WiFi, showers, and quiet nap rooms and potentially save money on food and drinks at the airport.
How to Score Holiday Travel Deals on Accommodations
Now it’s time to find good deals on your accommodations, which can get especially pricy during the holiday season. Here are some good strategies I’ve found to help you save more:
- Use hotel booking sites like Hotels.com and Booking.com to compare prices and find special deals
- Look for vacation rentals on platforms like VRBO, which can be more cost-effective for longer stays or larger groups
- Sign up for a membership on TrustedHousesitters, which can provide free accommodation in exchange for pet and house-sitting services (Get 25% off NEW TrustedHousesitters annual Memberships with code ABUNDANT25)
- Book refundable rates when possible, allowing you to take advantage of price drops
- Consider staying slightly outside the main tourist areas for better rates
Remember to read reviews and check the location carefully before booking to ensure you’re getting good value for your money.
Step 3: Search for Deals on Activities
Your travel expenses don’t end with flights and accommodations. Activities and experiences can also add up quickly, especially during the holiday season. Here’s how to save on these aspects of your trip:
Plan Activities in Advance
Use apps like Steller to research and plan your activities in advance, before popular things get booked for the holidays. You’re more likely to find early booking discounts by doing this rather than purchasing tickets the day of. You can also find suggestions from locals and other expert travelers on free activities in the area. By planning and booking your activities in advance, you can often secure better rates and ensure availability during the busy holiday season.
Pro Tip: Don’t plan out too much of your time, though. It’s good to leave room for spontaneous activities and to just wander your destination.
Book Tours on Viator
Viator, a TripAdvisor company, is an excellent resource for finding and booking tours worldwide. It offers everything from leisurely walking tours to more adventurous activities. Viator often has exclusive deals and promotions and allows you to compare pricing and inclusions from similar tours.
You can enjoy peace of mind with flexible booking options and, a lot of the time, free cancellation up to 48 hours before your tour date. Join their rewards program to earn rewards that you can redeem to save money on your future bookings.
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Step 4: Get Your Phone Travel Ready
The one thing you’ll probably never travel without is your phone. It’s your lifeline to friends and family back home, as well as your access to maps, hotel reservations, banking, and more. However, using your phone abroad can lead to unexpected costs and data breaches if you’re not properly prepared. Here are some of my favorite resources to save you money and stay secure online while traveling!
Save On Your Data Plan
When you travel with your phone, it’s easy to rack up roaming data charges very quickly. Some phone carriers have international data plans, but they can still be as much as $10 a day. What if I told you that an eSIM could cost you less than $2 a day?
An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a digital version of the traditional physical SIM card. It connects through a microchip in your device and can be programmed remotely, allowing you to switch between mobile network operators without physically changing SIM cards.
I really love Holafly and had a good experience with their eSIM recently (you can read more about that here). Here’s why Holafly is a great way to help you save money on travel expenses over the holidays:
- Affordable data plans for international travel
- Data packages ranging from 5 to 90 days, many with unlimited data
- Easy installation without the need to swap physical SIM cards
- Coverage in multiple countries with a single eSIM
- Hotspot capabilities in 135 destination plans
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Travel with No Roaming Fees
Use your phone data while you travel without racking up a high phone bill. Click the link to learn more and get a 5% discount on your purchase!
Get More Digital Security for Less
When traveling, it’s crucial to protect your digital information, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks. By securing your digital presence, you can avoid potential cybersecurity issues that could disrupt your holiday travel. Surfshark VPN offers an affordable solution for you to:
- Encrypt your internet connection to protect your personal data
- Access geo-restricted content from your home country (like Netflix)
- Hide your IP address to enhance online privacy
- Use on multiple devices with a single subscription
Using a VPN also has benefits when you’re shopping for holiday travel deals. The more you visit a website, looking for the best deal or comparing the available options, the more likely some of those sites are to stop showing you discounts. By hiding your IP address, it prevents online stores from charging you more based on your browsing history or location.
Step 5: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, travel insurance can save you a significant amount of money if something goes wrong during your trip. With airlines and hotels busier than ever, there are more chances for something to go wrong that interferes with your holiday travel plans. Travel insurance is your peace of mind that when something interrupts your plans, you’re able to at least receive assistance and compensation.
My favorites are Travelex and MedJet:
- Travelex: Offers comprehensive travel insurance packages that can cover trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage
- MedJet: Specializes in medical evacuation and transport, which can be crucial for international travel
When choosing travel insurance, carefully review the policy to ensure it covers your specific needs and any potential risks associated with your destination and planned activities.
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Enjoy Stress-Free, Affordable Holiday Travel
And that’s how to save money on travel during the holidays! By following these steps and using the recommended tools and services, you can significantly lower the cost of your holiday travel without sacrificing quality or experiences. Remember to start planning early, be flexible when possible, and always look for opportunities to save or earn rewards on your travel expenses.
With careful preparation and smart decision-making, you can focus on what really matters during the holiday season – creating lasting memories with loved ones or exploring new horizons. Safe travels and happy holidays!
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Looking for more holiday travel tips and inspiration? Check out my favorite travel products and some of my other posts on travel in the holiday season!
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