These are the ‘sweet spots’ for securing holiday travel deals

With the holiday travel season just around the corner, The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly joins Wealth! to discuss his top tips for securing travel deals.

“It’s going to be a really busy holiday season, especially with the economy showing signs of giving consumers a little relief… I think people are just feeling good about spending. And all the reports we’ve seen on consumer spending, people are shelling out for travel,” Kelly tells Yahoo Finance, noting the significant interest in South Africa safari vacations.

He highlights that airfare prices are below 2019 levels, and as consumers look to book their holiday travel, he encourages them to look at the “total picture.” Kelly explains that fees are higher than ever before, so the total cost of flying can be more expensive than originally expected.

“But the fact of the matter is, we’re not seeing the crazy airfare inflation like we were in 2022 with that revenge travel. So there are deals out there,” he adds.

For those looking to book Thanksgiving travel, Kelly calls booking 45 days in advance “the sweet spot.” He encourages the use of tools like Google Flights, where you can monitor flight prices and ensure you get the best deal on your booking. He also highlights Points Path, a platform that gives you recommendations on the cheapest way to book a flight — whether by airline miles, credit card points, or cash.

Kelly advises booking international flights three months in advance, as prices often skyrocket closer to the departure date.

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Wealth!

This post was written by Melanie Riehl