Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, and that means holiday travel season is upon us. One of the most stressful parts of the holidays can be the travel and the costs associated with it. OneTravel.com, a leading online travel agency, has insights on things you can do while planning your holiday travel to help you get where you need to go stress-free and without breaking the bank.
Plan Ahead
One of the best tips for saving money on holiday travel is to plan your trip well in advance. Determine how much flexibility you have when choosing your travel dates. The earlier you do this, the more time you’ll have to be a savvy travel shopper. According to OneTravel’s data, the day before Thanksgiving is consistently ranked among the top five busiest days to travel each year. If you can travel on Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, you will likely get a better deal and you’ll avoid the excessive airport crowds.
Pack Light
Most domestic airlines charge for checked baggage, and if you’re flying with a Basic Economy fare, you may even be restricted with your carry-on options. Find out in advance what’s included with your ticket, so you can plan accordingly. If you are flying with a Basic Economy ticket and you arrive at the gate with a full-size carry-on, the airline will likely make you check the bag and charge you their checked baggage fee. This is something to consider when comparing ticket prices before you purchase your flight. If you can bring a carry-on, try to limit yourself to that one bag. This will save you the fee, as well as save you time at the airport, since you can avoid the baggage counter altogether.
Send Gifts Through the Mail
When doing your holiday shopping this year, consider shopping online and sending the gifts directly to your destination. If you have gifts that you need bring on the plane, it’s a good idea to hold off on wrapping. If your bag gets flagged by security, there’s a chance they’ll have to undo your hard work and unwrap the gift to resolve the alarm.
Bring your own snacks
If you’ve ever reviewed your expenses after a trip, you’re probably aware of just how expensive food and beverages are at airport terminals or on airplanes. One way to avoid this is to visit the store before you leave and stock up on snacks for the airport and the flight. Although you can’t bring beverages through security, pack an empty water bottle. Many airports have installed bottle-friendly fountains that make it easy and cost-effective to stay hydrated.
(Image by Nadezda Shikeruk | Dreamstime.com)
Source: OneTravel; www.onetravel.com