Today is considered one of the busiest travel days of the year, along with the day after Christmas and January 2nd. If you are looking for deals on a holiday getaway, your window of opportunity isn’t completely closed. According to travel experts, you can still score last-minute savings on flights to some destinations if you travel on Christmas day. You can also save a little money if you take-off three or four days after December 25th.
Another way to save is to book online. Check the websites of individual budget carriers, as well as travel aggregate sites. Flying on a discount airline including Spirit and JetBlue could make a huge difference in the price you pay for your holiday vacation. Flying in and out of smaller regional airports instead of massive U.S. hubs is also cost effective. For example, by departing from Midway Airport in Chicago instead of O’Hare you could be looking at a savings of a couple hundred dollars. Likewise, using Burbank Airport in Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Miami rather than the cities’ largest airports could also help save you some cash.
Use the Internet when looking for cheap hotels. AAA three diamond lodgings are averaging $129 per night this holiday season, while two diamond properties are going for about $95. Lower room rates can be found at independently owned properties rather than brand name chain hotels.
Some Christmas vacation packages are still available and can prove financially beneficial to cash-strapped travelers. Package deals help families save money on travel expenses by bundling airfare and hotel. In addition, other amenities may be included in the package price, such as meals, beverages, rental vehicles and admission to various tourist attractions. Remember, snagging a bargain on Christmas travel is still possible, provided you book immediately after you find a sale. Waiting is not an option when there are so many others looking to snatch up deeply discounted deals.