With less than a week left until Christmas, it’s time to put down the eggnog, stop avoiding the inevitable and finally book your travel plans. We know, traveling during the holidays can sometimes seem to be more stress than it’s worth. In fact, December holidays were voted the most stressful time to travel, according to a TripAdvisor Holiday Travel Survey.
Forty-three percent of the 14,000 survey respondents found December holidays to be the most stressful time to travel, followed closely by Thanksgiving. The cause of all that stress? Airline delays and cancellations, bad weather and soaring costs.
Of course, the impending stress of figuring out travel plans hasn’t kept most of us from waiting until the last minute.
As you scramble to book flights and escape the onset of winter drear, everyone has some strange advice to give on the best penny-pinching options. But will any of them actually help you score a deal?
We spoke with Sam Erenfeld, owner of DLER Travel Inc. in Brookline, to dispel some of those travel myths and get some expert advice on how to truly save money while booking travel plans this holiday season.
Myth #1: Buy your airline tickets on “X” weeknight
In general, this is not true. Purchasing your tickets on a certain day will not save you money. Purchasing them for a certain day, however, might. While in the past, airlines used to “dump” unused tickets for cheaper prices on certain weeknights, throughout the past three to four years, airlines have been fully booking all flights, driving up the cost of tickets. Purchasing tickets for an “off” travel day will truly help you save.
“Usually, in the middle of the week, the most seats are available, so you can book a cheaper flight,” Erenfeld said. Generally, people choose to travel on the weekends to maximize vacation time and minimize missing out on school or work. Erenfeld also explained that the sooner you book, the less expensive the flight will be. No surprise here — being prepared and knowing your travel plans in advance is still the best way to save money.
Sometimes, you can luck out and snag a deal last minute. The stress of waiting until the night before your flight to buy your ticket, however, with no guarantee of a better deal, might not even be worth it.
Myth #2: Call for last minute deals on hotels
If you’re planning a getaway, waiting until the last minute to book your hotel is not ideal as there may be no open rooms left. If you decide you want to go somewhere last minute, however, calling the hotel may be a good way to see if they are dropping rates in an effort to book empty rooms.
Myth #3: Use points earned with a credit card for travel
You can definitely save money by using your points to pay for most or part of your vacation. Yet, as Erenfeld noted, it is becoming increasingly difficult to use them. Airline programs in particular are becoming more expensive, which makes applying the points not as effective as it used to be.
Myth #4: Bundle deals save money
They can, but you have to make sure you compare the cost of the included flights.
“Many times, the flights [in bundle deals] are more expensive,” said Erenfeld, who added that you may be able to save money by piecing together your own vacation rather than going for a bundle. The best way to determine the most affordable option is to compare prices.
So, now what?
If you’re planning to travel home for the holidays, the best way to save is to book your trip as soon as possible. If you’re set on taking a vacation, here are some money-saving options that Erenfeld recommended:
Stay local: Drive somewhere. Take a trip during the work week to a nearby mountain in New Hampshire or Vermont for a quick and affordable getaway.
For the skier: For winter skiing, Europe might be a good option, and Colorado can be affordable on off weeks when most people are back at work or in school.
For the beach bum: Though tropical locations are most affordable during the summer, the most affordable beach destinations during the winter are Cancun, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic.
For the explorer: Costa Rica and Beliz are excellent options for those looking for an adventure. Again, booking travel outside of the average vacation time will yield the most affordable options.
Image by Sean Locke via www.digitalplanetdesign.com
