Holiday Travel Planning - Vacation Calendar Part 2

In a previous article, we discussed the creation of a “vacation dream calendar”. If you missed part one of this series, you can read it here. 

I thought now would a good time to discuss MAJOR holiday travel planning. If this applies to you, then you’re in luck! If not, go ahead and pass it along to that friend who every October bemoans the “airline tickets for Christmas are so expensive”. 

Scheduling for holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years can be tricky, because it oftentimes involves extended family members who aren’t as prepared as you are! Be that as it may, do your best to book these travel plans as early as possible to potentially save yourself a lot of money and headache at a very stressful time of year. ​

Booking Air
If you know your travel dates and they include an airline ticket purchase, then begin looking at those rates now. If you’re not positive about travel dates, then have a look at the general time of year you’ll be traveling. Set up price alerts on platforms such as Kayak.com so you get a notification when those prices fall throughout the year. In addition, look at alternate airports to your holiday destination. 

Hotel Booking
Once your air is booked, then check hotel options and book as soon as your wallet permits. The same is true for your car rental.

Driving
If you are driving to your holiday get together, then now is the time to review the specific dates for 2020 (or the year you are traveling). Try NOT to drive when everybody else is on the road - for one or BOTH of your travel days. By doing so, it will save you valuable time and help preserve your sanity. 

Once your holiday season travel plans are confirmed, it will be a HUGE weight off your mind for the year. This may also affect your decision-making for the other parts of the year. 

Major Trip
If you desire to take a major trip this year (a vacation longer than three nights), then I would begin researching pricing and timing for that trip. Once again, the sooner you book the greater the likelihood you’ll get a better deal. If you have children, consider Spring Break and the summer break travel times. 

In an upcoming article, I’ll discuss Spring Break and Summer Travel. If you have any additional thoughts or questions, then please leave them in the comments below. 

Happy Travels!
Erik

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