5 Ways To Get the Best Deals on Holiday Travel in 2024

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates’ editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

Holiday travel planning requires smart strategies and careful timing, especially with rising airfare and accommodation costs. For example, knowing when and how to book your travel could save you hundreds of dollars.

It also helps to keep travel planning as simple as possible, said Cody Hand, a travel consultant with Luxe Mouse, a company whose primary focus is Disney vacations. “Getting the best deal is usually done by taking the simplest route,” he said. “I find that people tend to spend more when they try to be creative and cobble together discounts from various places.”

From using your points to off-season destinations, here are fiveways to get the best deals on holiday travel in 2024. 

Book With Points

Using your rewards points can save you money. You can use the points you’ve earned from rewards programs or credit cards instead of spending cash. 

“The best credit card loyalty programs are those that are not tied to an individual company, such as Capital One Venture Rewards or Chase Blue Sapphire,” Hand said. “They provide statement credits rather than paying outright reservations. The catch is you have to book the travel with that specific card to get the credit.” 

In addition, airline loyalty programs like those offered by United Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, and Air France allow you to combine your points with a cash payment to book a flight when you don’t have enough points. While you can choose how many points you use and how much cash you’ll pay, not all flights allow for this option — be sure to check first.

Travel on the Holidays

Save money, time and hassle by traveling on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. In addition, you’ll avoid large crowds because most people prefer to travel before or after the holiday.

Hand recommended travelers book their trip to arrive on Sunday or Monday to get the lowest prices. “Travel two or more days before the holiday itself and return two or more days after, with the cheapest travel day being the holiday itself,” Hand noted. “The week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is the peak travel week of the year. Avoid being in transit any of those days to save money.”

Make your money work for you

Get the latest news on investing, money, and more with our free newsletter.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks!

You’re now subscribed to our newsletter. Check your inbox for more details.

According to Expedia, travelers who booked on the busiest and most expensive days during the holiday season paid $100 or more than those who traveled on holidays or during the previous week. 

Find Your Booking Sweet Spot 

A study by CheapAir.com concluded that the best time to buy a ticket for domestic flights this year was 42 days before you leave, which is almost a month earlier than last year. Factors such as destination, budget and travel dates affect how early you should book your airline tickets. For example, the study found that travelers flying in January saved about $125 more than those traveling in November — the most expensive month to fly.

“Booking airfare is tricky, but I recommend the sweet spot of seven weeks out,” Hand said. “Most airlines will not honor a difference in refund if they drop their prices, but some will. For hotels, the prices are pretty much set now. However, book your hotel as soon as possible, as the cheaper rooms are often the first to sell out quickly.” 

Use Warehouse Gift Cards to Save 

Hand recommended buying discounted gift cards from warehouse stores to help pay for your vacation. 

“All the big box clubs offer discounted gift cards,” he said. “A shopper could purchase a $500 gift card for $450 (or whatever the discount is) and then use that card to make a $500 payment on your vacation.”

Consider Off-Season Destinations

The most affordable destinations are those that are off-season. For example, if you want to save on holiday travel this year, avoid trending destinations like Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas, Tokyo and Madrid.

“Head north in the winter and south in the summer,” Hand clarified. “During the holidays, the most affordable destinations aren’t the tourist hot spots during the holidays. To save money, think about major cities other than New York, Paris and London. Think golf-centric resorts because there aren’t many winter golfers.”