Travel Agents Share 8 Top Holiday Travel Tips To Save Money
According to Hopper, this could be the most expensive holiday travel season in a decade due to the higher jet fuel costs caused by the conflict in Iran. The research found that the average domestic airfare for a round trip was up to $402 for Thanksgiving, an increase of 31% from last year.
If you’re looking to travel for Christmas, airfare is currently up 23% to $452. The release also noted that a record 33% of adults admitted to using chatbots earlier this year for travel planning. If you plan on getting away for the holiday season, you’ll want to start as soon as possible to help manage these elevated prices.
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MoneyLion spoke with travel agents about eight ways people can save on booking flights, hotels and other accommodations, which can be even higher during the holidays.
1. Start Planning Far in Advance
So, this is one you can file away for the 2027 holidays, but it's shrewd nonetheless. Alison Essner, travel agent and founder of Magic Expeditions, recommended starting to save in January so your trip isn’t a hardship by December.
You can open a dedicated vacation savings account at the beginning of the year and set up a small automatic transfer from every paycheck. This way, you’ll have the funds in your bank account when the holidays roll around, instead of adding more expenses to your credit card.
2. Spread Out Your Payments
Essner advised that travelers spread out their payments, since many vacation packages, cruises and all-inclusive resorts allow you to book your trip with a deposit and pay over time. By booking early, you lock in a lower rate and have time to pay down your trip.
3. Focus on the Big Wins by Saving on Accommodations
Steven Vigor, experienced travel advisor and CEO of Revigorate, shared that he encouraged travelers to think big by trying to save money on the largest travel expenses, which are usually accommodations and flights.
In his experience, about 80% to 90% of travelers who plan their own trips book accommodations through platforms such as Expedia or Booking.com. They do this because it’s convenient and easy to compare, without realizing that the platforms charge a substantial commission for every property.
He finds that the best strategy to save is to simply reach out to the properties for a direct booking. More often than not, properties will happily offer the discount, allowing travelers to save up to 20% of the initial price.
4. Stay Further Away and Rent a Car
Travelers with a car at their disposal can save a substantial amount of money by staying somewhere more remote, per Vigor. You don’t have to be far from the main attractions, but just find something that would discourage travelers without a vehicle from booking.
5. Find Alternative Airports for Flights
You can also save by choosing an airport that’s slightly further from the destination, especially if you’re renting a car or the transfers are affordable. You’ll want to explore different airport options to see if there are any opportunities to save.
6. Watch Out for Tourist Traps
Any major tourism hotspot will have “tourist traps” and it's easy to forget about this when you’re lost in the excitement of travel. Vigor advised tourists to compare prices before booking any kind of excursion because you can find better value a few streets away from the main attractions. You’ll also want to watch out for conveniently located restaurants, as they’ll often have much higher prices than those a few blocks away.
7. Travel Outside the School Break If Possible
If your family can travel in the first couple of weeks of December or after kids return to school in January, you’ll be able to save a significant amount of money because the demand is lower. The experts noted that the week between Christmas and New Year's is almost always the most expensive time of the year to travel. Since peak periods and weekends come with a higher rate, you can try to get creative with your travel timing to boost savings.
8. Don’t Forget About Surprise Travel Costs
The expert's final holiday travel tip is to keep unexpected travel costs in mind so you can plan accordingly. You can forget about expenses like airport parking, checked bag fees, gratuities and dining out, which add up quickly for a family during the holiday season. You don’t want to come home to a surprisingly high credit card bill.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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