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Planning and Preparing

While it may feel as if the holiday season tends to “sneak up” on us every year, the best way to avoid a holiday travel headache is to start preparing in advance. That includes everything from pinning down an itinerary and not waiting until the last minute to start packing.

Book Travel Early and Consider Winter Weather

Flight and rental car costs are generally higher during the holiday season, but booking in advance can help you score a better deal. According to travel experts at Hopper, you should book your holiday flight or car rental by mid-October to get the best rate.

Here are some other holiday flight tips:

  • Choose an early morning flight: Not only are early mornings cheaper, they’re also more likely to arrive on time. Hopper experts say flights departing after 9 a.m. have double the chance of being delayed compared to those arriving between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.
  • Opt for a direct flight: While it may be more expensive, a direct flight reduces your chances of missing a connection due to delays or cancellations.
  • Book with the same airline: If you have connecting flights and book with different airlines, you may not be able to get a proper refund for both flights if one cancels.
  • Avoid the crowds: Try to stay away from the busiest and most stressful U.S. airports if you can.
  • Get travel insurance: You can’t control the weather or airlines, but you can take an extra step to protect your travel investment. Even if you don’t typically get travel insurance for trips, it may be worth considering for the holidays.

Prepare for Higher Prices

The tips above can help you save some money, but overall flights tend to be more expensive during the holiday season.

The more flexible you can be with your plans, the more likely you are to save. Set flight alerts to keep track of pricing changes and look into flying during less-desirable times, like early mornings or even on the day of the holiday, to secure lower rates. The holidays are also a great time to take advantage of credit card reward points if you have any.

While the consensus is to book early for flights and rental cars in 2023, the opposite is true for accommodations. Experts say booking a last-minute stay at a hotel in major cities can save you as much as 25%. But if you’re planning a more luxury holiday destination vacation, you should book at least three weeks in advance.

Pack Smart

You can reduce travel-related stress by not waiting until the last minute to pack your suitcase for your holiday trip. Here are some things to keep in mind for packing:

  • Try to fit all in the carry-on: It’s best to have all of your belongings on the plane with you to avoid lost baggage (and a checked bag fee). But if that’s not possible, make sure you at least have the most essential items — medications, important electronics, contacts or glasses, toiletries, etc. — packed into a carry-on bag.
  • Check airline baggage policies: Make sure the bags you intend to bring fit the airlines’ policies for size and weight to avoid having to pay an additional fee.
  • Pack for all travelers: If you’re traveling with seniors or young ones, consider everything they need to stay healthy, safe and comfortable, and make sure those items are brought on the plane with you.
  • Label your luggage: Make your suitcase distinguishable, and have identification information attached to it. Consider buying tracking devices for checked luggage so that if your bags are lost, you can track and (hopefully) retrieve them faster than the airline can.

 

 

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