How to Save on Holiday Travel

posted in: Blog, Financial Tips 0

Whether you’re going on a Caribbean holiday vacation with the family or simply traveling home for the holidays, travel can get very pricey this time of year.  Do a quick airline search and you’ll find that flights are filling up quickly and that tiny airplane seat is going for a pretty penny.  But, there are ways to save on travel this holiday season, and we’ve compiled some of the best for you.

 

Research the best flight options

Being flexible with your flight times and even airports can save you an enormous amount of money on flights.  There are six major airports in Southern California alone, and that’s not counting the small airports that serve the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.  If your destination has more than one major airport, don’t skimp on digging into the cost of convenience.  Sometimes it’s worth it to take a long cab ride to save hundreds on a flight.  Make sure to look into parking at an airport if you plan to leave your car.  There are many details that can go into booking a flight, decide how flexible you can be and research your options.  

 

Be Aware of Fees and Policies

Nothing puts a damper on your holiday quite like flight cancellations and delays.  For peace of mind, take advantage of any insurance the airline provides for you.  That being stated, make sure you understand what the insurance does and does not cover.  If your ticket is nonrefundable and your flight gets cancelled, an airline doesn’t necessarily have the responsibility of refunding that ticket.  You will likely be issued a flight voucher to be used in the future.  Another fee that can come as a surprise is a checked bag fee, if your bag is too big to carry on, you could be charged to check it at the gate – which is not a fun way to spend $50.  Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.  

 

Confirm Your Stay

Any successful travel plan comes down to attention to detail.  Sites like Airbnb allow their hosts to decide their cancellation policies, which can mean as little as a 24 hour notice.  Before booking your stay, pay particular attention to things like cancellation policies, guest reviews, and responsiveness.   Then confirm your stay with your host by sending them a message through the site you’ve used to book.  Don’t book anything that allows a 24 hour cancellation if you’re flying to your destination city.  Especially during the holidays when spots are limited, this causes unnecessary scrambling around and you could end up staying in a pricey hotel as a last option.

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