The easiest way to save money on holiday travel this year

In the face of skyrocketing inflation, many of us are still planning trips At some point during the holidays this year. NPR report Airlines are already reporting high demand and rising prices, so now is the time to book. But before you actually schedule your trip, it’s a good idea to talk to your family about staying home longer than usual. Flexible travel dates are the easiest way to save on travel this holiday season.

Flexible travel dates

Save more by avoiding flights during peak travel times. This rule already applies to any weekday, such as choosing to go home on Monday instead of Sunday.

W.All reports from the Street Journal The busiest travel days before Thanksgiving are, predictably, the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holidays.The next peak hours to avoid are Thursday and Friday Previous The week of Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. If possible, plan now to book your trip on these busy (read: expensive) days.

Another dangerous money-saving hack is flying on holidays.These numbers from Nerd Wallet To back this up: One-way fares for a direct flight from New York to Paris this Christmas week are $868 on December 22nd and $910 on December 23rd. If you risk flying on December 24th or December 25th, those flights drop to $482 or $563.

Speaking of Christmas forbes It reports that flying just before the Thursday and Friday before a holiday can lead to significant savings, averaging 15% depending on the destination.

If possible, plan now to arrive early or stay late with your family this holiday season. The savings may be worth the little extra time to get home.