9 Super Easy Hacks for Affordable Holiday Travel

Because travel shouldn’t break the bank!

The holiday season is magical, but let’s be real—it can also get ridiculously expensive! Between shopping for gifts and stocking up on snacks and vino, your wallet’s going to feel the holiday squeeze. The good news? Affordable holiday travel is possible—even if you don’t have a sleigh.

Follow these budget-friendly travel hacks, and jingle all the way—into some serious savings!

• • Choose Off-Season Destinations

    Less popular = less damage to your budget.

    Affordable holiday travel begins with choosing the right holiday destination. Holiday hot spots can be pricey, for everything from flights to hotel rooms. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for someplace that feels less-than-exciting. Aspen and Miami Beach may be out of your budget, but plenty of fun destinations aren’t!

  • Be Flexible with Flights

    Flying on the weekends is an easy decision. You guys get extra time at your destination, without taking extra days off work.

    But that’s how everyone else feels, too. Which is why these flights are the most in-demand… and most expensive. Ouch! If you can be more flexible with your flight dates, you may be able to find some pretty solid mid-week deals.

  • Sign Up for Deal Alerts

    Um, speaking of deals—have you signed up for deal alerts yet? Just a few minutes on your phone, and you can make affordable holiday travel a reality!

    Sign up for fare alerts on websites and apps such as Google Flights and Hopper. They’ll track flights to your destination and let you know when the prices drop. You’ll snag the best deals as soon as they pop up!

  • Check Smaller Airports

    Flying straight into a big city seems easier, until you consider the cost—and the chaos.

    Most major cities are serviced by multiple airports, including smaller regional airports. When you’re hunting for affordable flights, expand your search to include the smaller airports as options, too. Just be sure you have an easy, cheap way to get to the city, like shuttles or public transportation.

  • Book Group Accommodations

    Traveling with family or friends? Instead of paying for individual hotel rooms, pool your resources and book an Airbnb or vacation rental.

    The cost per person is usually less than the cost of booking multiple hotel rooms. Plus you’ll have more space, including a common area where you can continue the holiday fun into the wee hours. Mistletoe martini, anyone?

  • Use Rewards

    The best way to save money? Find alternative ways to fund your travels—that won’t hurt your budget.

    Cash in credit card points or mileage rewards and use them to pay for flights, hotels, or experiences. It’s the perfect time of year for off-setting costs and enjoying those hard-earned perks!

  • Mix in Some Free Activities

    Sure, you want to make the most of your holiday getaway. But that doesn’t mean that everything you do has to cost money.

  • The secret to affordable holiday travel? Mix some free activities into your vacation schedule: hiking, free museum days, public art walks, and so on. Then spend your money on those truly splurge-worthy activities.

  • Use Discount Apps

    What about those “can’t miss” experiences that aren’t free?

    Popular coupon apps such as Groupon and LivingSocial can help you save on restaurants, entertainment, and local attractions. Headed to a hot destination or big city? Check out multi-attraction passes from City Pass. Their Chicago pass, for example, saves you almost 50% at must-see spots such as the Shedd Aquarium or Field Museum.

  • Ship Your Luggage

    Budget airlines charge per bag; big airlines build them into their fares. Either way, you’ll have to pay for your bags, right?

    Not this holiday season! For less than the cost of the average checked bag, you can ship your bags to your destination with LugLess. No stress at the airport, no stress on your budget. So you’ll make holiday travel cheap and easy. Win-win!

  Ready to make some amazingly affordable holiday travel plans? Follow these hacks to keep your costs low but holiday spirits high!