With the warmth of summer coming to an end and the crisp cool air upon us, there is no better time to start planning our Christmas Vacation. I know what you’re thinking. It’s just way too early to even think about the holidays. You just want to sit with your pumpkin spice drinks and treats and watch the leaves change from their luscious greens to their changing state of golds and reds. But I’m telling you, now is the time to start planning and preparing if travel is in your forecast this year. Prices keep climbing and don’t seem to be slowing. So let us take a minute and talk about traveling this year on a budget. Just because the prices are up and the budgets are small, does not mean that we have to skip it this year. We just need to be smart about it and create a plan.
First let’s talk about flights. You are going to want to book early. I mean very early. I know there are times that you want to wait for the last minute dip in price. These days are usually within the last two weeks before Christmas. But this is a huge gamble as these deals are not guaranteed and you can actually more than likely end up spending way more than if you planned ahead. So book early. Prices have a big spike in December, so you need to book before mid-November. I like to use fare alerts such as skyscanner or hopper to track price drops. Traveling on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or even New Year’s Eve can often be cheaper than the day before or after. Compare other airports close by such as smaller airports or secondary hubs can have cheaper flights during the holidays. For those who have the option, redeem credit card or airline points to cut costs. Since traveling around the holidays can be more expensive, use the points you have earned and save. So do your homework and find what flight is going to work best.
For hotels and lodging savings it is always good practice to secure a refundable rate early. Then recheck prices closer to your trip and rebook if it drops. This has saved me money in the past. See if your destination has any vacation rentals or home swaps such as Airbnb, Vrbo. These can save you even more especially if you are taking more than a few people. It’s always cheaper to rent an entire home than to pay for multiple rooms at a hotel for multiple nights. Sign up for hotel programs. This can offer 1st time members rooms at a discount. If you are a member of a loyalty program already, redeem your points. If you have a loyalty program through Marriott, Hilton, or IHG, they at times offer a stay 3 nights, get the 4th for free.
Use sights such as Expedia or Priceline that often offer discounts on hotel rates when you book them with a flight. Bundling can save you a pretty significant amount especially if you add a vehicle rental into the mix.
Pro Tip: Look for hotels outside of the city centers. A short commute can save you hundreds compared to staying downtown during the holidays.
When looking for transportation and parking this can be a bigger expense than the flight to your destination if you are not careful. Starting with airport parking, just skip it if you can. Use a ride share program, Uber or Lift, public transit, or have friends or family drop you off at the airport. This can be much cheaper than a daily charge to have your car parked on the lot. If this is not possible there are apps that can help with parking. Try apps such as Spot Hero, The Parking Spot and ParkWhiz. These apps show you where to park and also offer discounts for behind members. Also check with the airlines website. By being part of their program they can have perks such as discount parking at curtain airports. Check with AAA, AARP or even your credit card company. These often offer discounts to its members on parking and vehicle rentals. Booking with Costco Travel or Turo can also save you money.
Pro Tip: Avoid high gas prices at airport rental stations by filling up at other nearby stations.
When it comes to food it is common to want to eat out. I mean after all you are on vacation. And by all means try new restaurants and enjoy yourself. But when we do this 3 times a day plus snacks we are talking about a huge expense. For a family of 4 it costs roughly $55+ per meal. That’s almost $1000 for a weeks worth of meals. By staying somewhere that has a kitchenette or renting entire homes with Airbnb or Vrbo, you can make prepping meals easy. Also airports and roadside food prices skyrocket during the holidays so bring your own snacks and pack your own savings.
Look for free holiday events. Creating memories doesn’t have to cost you money. Many cities host free Christmas markets, light shows, and parades. This is perfect festive fun on any budget. Use free apps such as eventbrite to find events around you and plan something special for your trip. You can also look on the city websites as well as your destinations’ local groups on facebook. I always check on groupon to see if there is anything nearby that is offering some entertainment at a discount. There is always something to do and if you can save money doing it, well that’s just a bonus. If in a major city, it may be worth looking into getting a multi-attraction pass. This can offer you a discount on entry fees, and can be a good option if you want to just explore the city.
There are also ways to save extra money for the holiday trip that most don’t think about. We think that we need to bring gifts and in turn adds weight to our luggage which costs us extra in overweight expenses. So ship your gifts ahead of time. I like to do most of my shopping on Amazon and ship to our destination. What’s nice about this is that you don’t have to take it on the plane and sacrifice space and weight, but you get free shipping if you are an Amazon Prime member. This saves you huge shipping costs. Especially if you are sending bulkier items. It is also good practice to travel light. Pack only what you need and avoid checked bag fees. Wear the heavier, bulkier items on the plane such as hoodies and jeans.
Pro Tip: Use an app like Trail Wallet or TravelSpend to keep your spending from getting away from you.
Just because money is a little tight this year, due to the economy, doesn’t mean that we have to miss out on the opportunities that really matter to us. Family, friends and experience is very important. Creating a plan and following good practices will save you what you need to make the holidays easier to afford. Take care of those cents and the dollars will take care of themselves. Enjoy your holidays and make some memories.
