How To Save On Holiday Travel This Year

Inflation is real and so are the upcoming holidays. If your winter plans are still pending, it’s time to start thinking seriously about where and when to travel this holiday season. And before you start stretching your budget, consider new data from Expedia that can help travelers avoid the busiest vacation travel days to save an average of 5-15%. This is how you travel through the most beautiful (and most expensive) time of the year.

Book your Thanksgiving flights days before the holiday

According to Expedia’s Thanksgiving 2022 flight dates, travelers who fly on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday instead of Wednesday during Thanksgiving week can save an average of 5% on airfare. For some destinations, the savings are even greater — average ticket prices for Las Vegas, for example, drop from about $550 to $380 if you move your departure date earlier in the week.

Take an extended Christmas vacation

For Christmas 2022, Expedia flight data shows travelers can save an average of 15% by flying during the first half of the week rather than the Thursday or Friday before Christmas. For some destinations the savings are 30-35%. For example, return flights to Cancun are $200 cheaper if you depart Monday through Wednesday instead of Thursday or Friday.

Book about a month before your trip

You still have a little flexibility in planning your vacation plans. Expedia’s historical data from 2019 shows that travelers get the best price for leisure flights when they book about four weeks before their travel date. This year, Expedia analysts are recommending booking even earlier given summer price and demand trends.

Keep an eye on your notifications

Sign up for flight price alerts to be notified via Expedia or other travel booking sites when prices go up or down. Expedia’s Price Match Promise, an optional add-on, automatically refunds the fare difference if your airfares go down on Expedia prior to travel. Capital One Travel offers a similar guarantee if your flight fares are booked within 10 days of payment.

·Anticipate changes

The certainty of anything and everything has all but gone out the window in 2020 and we’re still learning to live and travel with it. Choose flexible flight options with no change fees and free cancellations that can save you money in the long run as plans can (unfortunately) change.