Thinking of traveling this Thanksgiving and Christmas season? But afraid spending much too much over your next last-minute getaway? Here are some of the best tips to follow if you intend to travel on a budget while enjoying the perfect holiday getaway.
Why not head to Europe for the holidays?
"Europeans tend to stay at home for the Christmas holiday," Travelzoo Senior Editor Gabe Saglie says, and this means for travelers like us, there are going to be more hotel deals in popular European destinations.
New York Times reports that in Paris at Le Méridien Étoile near the Champs-Élysées, one can save a lot since the rooms during the Christmas holiday could go as low as $149 a night. Plus, there's also a 20 percent discount on food. Sounds like a very good deal, eh?
But when you fancy Rome, the Berg Luxury Hotel is best place to be with its $126 a night for a two-night stay promo and its $113 a night for its three-night stay deal. A breakfast for two, a fancy bottle of wine and discounted food at the bar are also included in this really affordable promo.
"The big secret for both Thanksgiving and Christmas is it is absolutely true that airfare is more expensive but hotels are a lot cheaper," Expedia Senior Editor Sarah Gavin quips.
So now that you have a clear idea on where you should be heading to over the holidays, it's time to look for the best airfare deal that matches your budget.
"The absolute best way to find a low airfare now is Google Flights," Airfarewatchdog.com founder George Hobica says.
To do this simply try Google Flight Search, so that you can easily find the perfect flight to Europe from the United States. Interestingly, this will suggest to you the option of flying a day earlier or into a different airport just so you can save some cash.
If you are not from the U.S., Hobica suggests that you should check out Momondo.com instead. "They'll find combinations of flights that you won't find anywhere else."
For your other traveling concerns, you may also check out airline fare calendars and FlightAware.
In checking the airline fare calendars, you will get the chance to schedule your getaway at a time when airfare is at its most affordable state.
However, Saglie opines that you need to consider other things as well in choosing your airfare deal i.e. cost of checking bags and the like. "Just because it's cheap airfare doesn't mean it's the most affordable flight," he says.
Finally, FlightAware will let you know if your flight will likely arrive on time or not. It also lists the airliners' performance history. "You can see flights on-time over a four-month period," Hobica explains.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
