It’s time to get your Christmas travel plans sorted
Written by
Monday 14th October 2024
Whether you’re visiting family or heading off for a festive season under the sun, you might be wondering when’s best to get your flights booked and your accommodation sorted.
Here are our top tips for booking Christmas travel…
1. Time it right for the best price
Christmas is understandably one of the busiest times of the year, so prices tend to rise the closer we get to the festive season.
Experts recommend booking your Christmas travel as soon as you can, ideally long before Halloween, to secure your flights and get the best price.
2. Be prepared to take risks
Monitor fares using comparison sites such as Skyscanner, Kayak or Momondo to catch the best deals. There are also seasonal sales just around the corner, such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday, though it may be a risk to leave it so late to book your trip.
Of course, you’ll never know when the price is absolutely at the best it can be, so you’ll have to take a chance when you see an opportunity to bag a good deal.
3. Dodge popular travel dates if you can
This one’s obvious, but peak travel dates are always going to be the most expensive. Everyone’s hoping to hop on the most convenient flight to their festive destination, so travelling just before Christmas or right after New Year’s tends to be more expensive.
You could secure cheaper flights if you extend your stay at either end – though, of course, you’ll have to consider extra accommodation costs if you’re not staying with friends or family.
4. Be flexible with your flight plans
You may find larger airports such as London Heathrow or Gatwick more expensive compared to regional airports – same goes for airports at your destination. Research whether it might be cheaper to travel to a smaller airport to fly.
It’s also worth looking into non-direct flights, if you don’t mind a bit of waiting around. This can often be a cheaper option than booking direct routes, particularly if you’re catching an international flight.
5. Opt for non-traditional destinations
If you’re simply travelling to enjoy a change of scenery over the festive season, you could save some cash by heading to non-traditional holiday destinations.
The likes of New York, Lapland, Vienna or Paris are particularly popular at this time of year, so you may find destinations such as Prague, Spain, the Canary Islands or even Bali more pocket-friendly over the festive season.
6. Decide whether to scrimp or splurge
Baggage fees, seat selection, airport parking and transfers can add tens if not hundreds of pounds to your travel expenses. If you’re keen to avoid extra charges, try to pack light and only use hand luggage.
That said, it is Christmas, so you might wish to spend a little extra on making your experience as enjoyable as it can be. Plus, if you’re travelling to see friends or family, you’ll need room for presents!
7. Be a strategic Santa
This brings us nicely on to our next point… gifting. You don’t want to be weighed down with presents on either leg of your journey, so choose lightweight, physically small gifts if you’re planning to bring them with you on your travels. Think gift vouchers, accessories or even duty-free presents you can buy at the airport.
Our top tip? Keep any gifts you bring with you from home unwrapped, in case airport security want to inspect your belongings. Plus, research customers regulations and stay within duty-free limits for gifts to make sure you don’t inadvertently break any rules!
8. Spot deals on hotel websites
You may wish to splash out on a hotel stay while you’re celebrating Christmas. While hostels, B&Bs or Airbnb might be cheaper, you’re not guaranteed the same level of service.
Hotels offer all sorts of deals and packages on their websites. So, while it’s a good idea to use online platforms to compare prices, always check out a hotel’s site directly to see what offers they’re promoting.
9. Research your accommodation
Professional websites and promotional photographs might give you an idea of what a hotel might be like but take a look at real traveller photographs on social media and review sites to really get a feel for it.
Do they have all the amenities you’re looking for (such as luggage storage, Wi-Fi or an on-site restaurant)?
It’s also worth checking out the cancellation policy, particularly as you’ll likely be travelling during unpredictable weather. It might cost more to book a stay with a flexible cancellation policy, though, so weigh up whether it’s worth it to you.
10. Get your budget sorted
It’s so easy to go over budget at this time of year. There’s always one more expense around the corner, which is easily exacerbated when you’re combining all the usual Christmas costs with a holiday too.
It’s important to work out your budget for the festive season and stick to it! That doesn’t mean you have to scrimp or cut costs at every stage, though. Simply have an idea of how much you think is reasonable to spend, and what realistically fits within your travel fund. This will help to make sure you don’t end up overextending your budget.
Written by
Luke Hilton is a Warrington-based email content writer and designer in the financial services industry. He enjoys mixing analytics and creativity and can usually be found with his head buried in stats, piecing together the patterns that make good content. In his spare time, the drive to figure things out continues with what can only be described as a love-hate relationship with DIY. With a keen love of the outdoors, Luke is usually up a mountain somewhere or in his garden growing his own oasis.