Where to Save Money on Your Holiday Travel
Spend your holiday budget on smile-makers. New experiences, yearly family traditions, and wild adventures with your soon-to-graduating teenagers. These kinds of gifts are so rewarding, despite airline baggage fees and full-price amusement park admission tickets.
This is why we’ve compiled a list of ways to save money and time while traveling during the holidays. Whether you’re going to the beach, the mountains, or grandmother’s house, it’s never bad to save money.
Here are several simple ways to save money on holiday travel!
Save Money When Booking the Flight & Hotel
Think of your trip as one big adventure. Bundling your flight, hotel and rental car as a trip package (rather than booking individual services) can save you hundreds of dollars. Brainstorm your overall trip plans, then start scanning for the best package deals. Check out these offers:
- Expedia: Get 40 percent or more off on the Daily Deals through February 1, 2018.
- Travelocity: Save $100 off $1,000 with a three-night booking until October 2, 2017.
- SmartFares: Browse the Spectacular Christmas Special Sale and get up to $30 off.
- Groupon Getaways: Looking for an all-inclusive stay in Cancun or 10-day trek in Nepal? Groupons Getaways has them!
You can also set up a Google Alert to stay informed of the best seasonal deals. And don’t forget to pay with a credit card that offers cash back rewards or frequent flyer points when you use it for your booking. All those perks really do add up.
Save Money While Booking Entertainment
Now that the basics are covered, let’s daydream about amazing holiday ballets, savory restaurants, exciting sports events and cool outings, like ice skating as a family.
Check out Groupon and TicketCity for limited-time offers on admission fees and tickets to events in the city where you’ll be staying for the holidays. Since these companies buy in bulk, they can pass the savings on to you. But if you see a deal that you love, act fast. The crazy low offers sell out quickly!
Save Money Day of Travel
As you’re running between airport gates, dining in food courts and hopping on city buses, don’t overspend! With a little pre-planning, you can get discounts on the things you need when traveling to and from your destination.
First, stock up on travel snacks. Fill your carry-on and the kids’ backpacks with munchies so you aren’t tempted to pay too much at the airport gift shops. We love the healthy snacks from Graze and they’re offering a free box of goodies if you sign up by September 30, 2017.
Next, lighten your load! If you know your flight is full, listen for announcements during the boarding process. Airlines will often offer to check carry-on bags for free to make more room in the cabin. Lighten your load (especially if you have several connections) and save on baggage fees with this opportunity.
Save Money on Dining Out
Finally, once you get settled in your new location, skip a few costly restaurant meals and turn them into bonding time instead! If you stay at a hotel with suites featuring kitchenettes, make a batch of pancakes to share.
If you’re staying with relatives, suggest a family dinner at their place. Firing up the grill on a cool evening or showing off your favorite new recipe is sure to please everyone at the table for half the cost of dining out! Have a package of Omaha Steaks shipped to their address as a little surprise.
You can also snag discounted restaurant gift cards from Restaurant.com. Right now they are offering restaurant + movie ticket packages to Regal and Cinemark theaters to make your night out on vacation even more relaxing!
Are you ready to plan your holiday getaway? Browse ShopAtHome to learn more ways to save on holiday travel, for everything from flights and hotels, to rental cars and tickets to attractions. If you can book it ahead of time, we’ve got a deal for you. Shop today.
