Book Your Winter Holiday Travel Now, Your Wallet and Sanity Will Thank You

You probably think I’m crazy for already thinking about winter holiday travel. For many, summer just ended and you’re enjoying the fall foliage and not even thinking about the holidays.

Mock me if you must, but now really is the time to book your winter holiday travel.

I wish could say I’ve found a way to stop flight delays or annoying people who don’t seem to know how to go through a TSA checkpoint. Unfortunately, I’m not certified in travel miracles yet. However, I can promise these six tips will make holiday travel less stressful and more cost-effective.

Travel Alerts

Every year I set travel alerts for destinations on my bucket list. I do the same for when I have specific dates and locations like winter holiday travel. The key is to check your alerts daily in case a great deal pops up as they don’t last for long.

Booking Time

Booking your travel early is generally best. I’d actually look into booking your winter holiday travel by early October as pricing will change and it typically will only go up.

There are always exceptions like last minutes deals. But let’s keep it real, the likelihood of an amazing last-minute deal that you see in time to buy is like finding Tupac alive. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but the chances are low. If you like to gamble, then I say, “go for it!”

When to Travel

Did you know it’s often cheaper to travel on the actual holiday? I booked a roundtrip flight to Paris from San Francisco that returned on Thanksgiving and saw a major discount.

If possible, you want to avoid peak travel dates. Consider traveling on the holiday or a few days before or after peak travel dates. For example, if most are returning on a Sunday, consider returning on a Tuesday.

Connections Matter

Connecting in Chicago or New York during the summer is not the same as in the winter. Some airports are historically known for weather delays during winter holidays. Be conscious of your connections when booking. Also, consider flight delays when planning flights with short connections.

Pack Lighter

Traveling during the holidays is not the time to over pack. It’s the time to learn how to be part of team carry-on. Bags are lost all the time and there is nothing worse than showing up to your destination and your bag didn’t make it. Not to mention, this is not the time you want to go on an impromptu shopping spree. Pack light enough to where you’ll have no issues storing your bag in the overhead bin or under your seat.

Get Help

Researching travel deals and travel packages take a lot of time. It also can be stressful trying to read through everything to ensure you get the best deals. Skip the hassle of planning and hire a travel concierge or agent to do the work for you. Think of it as the travel version of Uber Eats. Let someone else do the work for you, but you get to enjoy the end results.