As the holiday season swings into full force, many of you are beginning to count down the days to your winter holiday and much-needed vacation. Whether you’re heading home to see family, taking the family for a sunny cruise to the Bahamas or going for a romantic getaway to Aspen, you won’t want to miss out on these tips to keep the stress-levels down when you’re travelling this winter holiday season.
TripAtlas.com, the World’s Largest Online Travel Resource, is bringing you insider-tips on Stress-Free Holiday Travel to get you through this Christmas and New Year’s travel season. Find out about the best/worst dates to travel this 2008/2009 winter holiday season, how you can avoid long lineups at the airport, how to save money, and get some great travel deals, and how to avoid long (and dreadfully painful) flight delays.
The Inside Scoop on Holiday Travel and How to Fight Airport Stress this Winter
Book early for Christmas and New Years holidays.
At any other time of the year, it’s not a bad idea to wait for last-minute deals. However, for Christmas, New Year’s and major holidays, booking early is the rule to follow. Prices will get more expensive and fewer options will be available the later you wait to book. In the end, it will cost you not only in higher costs, but also comfort and accommodations.
Worst times/dates to avoid this winter holiday season.
Here’s the inside scoop. Based on this year’s calendar, avoid travelling the weekend of December 19 to 21, 2008—the Friday before Christmas is always one of the busiest days. Similarly, avoid travelling the weekend of December 26 to 28, 2008 since you’ll be brushing elbows with the New Years holiday crowd.
January 2 to 4, 2009 will be the busiest travel weekend of the year hands down, since everyone will be returning home from holidays. Try to book your return for the Monday or Tuesday after to save yourself from rushing and to avoid cranky kids and crankier parents.
Best times to travel this holiday season and how you can save money.
Travelers avoid airports on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. So, if you can handle spending a few hours in the airport on these days, they’re the least busy days of the season and you’ll likely get a great deal. Generally, it’s a better idea to travel a few weeks before or after the holiday rush. Thanksgiving until one week before Christmas and anytime after New Year’s are the best times to travel: hotel prices and flights are cheaper and you won’t have to fight the lineups. Also, if you book flights earlier on during the day, the less likely you are to get stuck in long lines and have a delayed flight.
