How to Save the Most Money on Holiday Travel

By Victoria Falk, award-winning CEO of Passionate Travel Inc.

How to Save the Most Money on Holiday Travel

As we move into the busiest travel season of the year, the winter holiday season, there are constant reminders for consumers to spend money on gifts, dining, entertainment, and a whole host of other things.  It’s hard to walk into a store or turn on the television, without someone trying to convince you to shop big for the holidays.  Therefore, the question remains, ”How do you save the most money on holiday travel?”  Here are a few tips to help you save money so you don’t have to start the New Year in debt.

Plan and book your travel early.  If you plan to travel this holiday season and have not finalized your travel plans yet, you are behind schedule.  Many people mistakenly wait until they get close to their anticipated date of departure to book their vacation because they believe they will find last minute travel deals.  However, that is not the case.  Travel costs will consistently rise the closer we get to the holidays.  If you happen to see any last many deals, it’s because that selection is most undesirable and the only way to sell it is at a low price.

Compare different modes of transportation. Will the family be traveling somewhere that is easily accessible by car, motor coach, railroad, and or airplane?  If so, check the costs of the different modes of transportation and see which offers the best price.  Depending on your particular travel destination, it may be cheaper to get there by railroad than by airplane.  If so, choose the less expensive option.  You can find certain discounts for railroad travelers that you won’t find offered by airlines.  These include and are not limited to military, senior, and student discounts.

Be flexible with your travel dates. The same trip may be lower on one date than on another.  Therefore, if possible, be as flexible with your travel dates as possible.  Most often it is less expensive to begin your vacation on a Monday or Tuesday, than on a Friday or Saturday.  Therefore, plan accordingly.

Remember the privileges that come with your memberships. This is the perfect time to find out all of the perks and benefits awarded to you through any travel membership programs, credit card services, and or points/rewards systems you may have.  Programs such as these make it possible to use your points as cash to lower the cost of your travel.  Therefore, remember to say “yes” when asked if you want to sign up for free travel rewards programs because they do provide special benefits which include the ability to travel at low costs.

Book your family as a group to access special group discounts.  If you and your relatives are traveling together, you may qualify as a group to gain access to special group savings and incentives.  Depending on the mode of transportation, you may be eligible for special savings and payment arrangements with a required minimum of at least ten passengers traveling together.  Contact your Travel Professional to find out more about these and other great tips to save you money on travel during this holiday season.

As we move into the busiest travel season of the year, the winter holiday season, there are constant reminders for consumers to spend money on gifts, dining, entertainment, and a whole host of other things.  It’s hard to walk into a store or turn on the television, without someone trying to convince you to shop big for the holidays.  Therefore, the question remains,” How do you save the most money on holiday travel?”  Here are a few tips to help you save money so you don’t have to start the New Year in debt.

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