Last Minute Tips For Holiday Travel

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Last Minute Tips For Holiday Travel

If you are planning on traveling for the holidays, but have been procrastinating when it comes to booking your holiday travel, there’s still plenty of time left. You should be able to find a plane ticket to where you are going and possibly score a good deal. Also, Make sure to check COVID restrictions before you book domestic or international travel.

Check out our last minute tips for holiday travel.

Use The Right Sites
There may still be some deals on sites like Google, Kayak, Expedia or Orbitz for flights. The key to finding a deal is to be flexible. Don’t stick to just one airline or time of day to depart or land. If a round trip ticket is pretty pricey, check to see what the cost would be for two, one way tickets. You might have to fly on different airlines when you are departing and returning from your trip, but could possibly save some money.

If you are looking for a last minute cruise deal, use this free cruise price tracker. For last minute hotel deals our favorite app is HotelTonight they offer substantial savings, in some cases almost 50% off.

Check nearby airports. Most of us live close to a couple airports. Sometimes if you are willing to drive to an airport that is a little bit further from your home but offers more flights you will save money. Many destinations have multiple airports that service the area. This would give you more airline and itinerary options and, of course, different prices to choose from.

Look at one-way tickets. Roundtrip flights aren’t always the best priced. Sometimes it can help to book two one-way tickets depending on your destination. This would also give you the ability to mix and match airlines. So search for both roundtrip and one-ways to see which last-minute flights price out the best.

Wait A Week
If you just want to see your family and don’t necessarily have to be there for the holidays, delay your trip a bit. By waiting to fly a week after the holidays, you can save money on airfare and hotel rooms. Prices tend to drop dramatically after New Years, so it might be worth waiting if you have a limited budget. In general, you can also save money by traveling on a Tuesday versus traveling on a Saturday or Sunday.

Ship Your Presents
Have you recently seen the fees to check a bag? They can be pretty substantial, especially if you need to check more than one bag. If you plan on bringing presents with you on your trip, you may end up spending a lot of money just in these fees. One way to save money is to ship your presents instead of bringing them with you. Sure, you will spend some money to ship them, but if you have a lot of items you might actually save overall. Another bonus is that you won’t have to deal with hauling numerous bags throughout the airport, which is a pretty big hassle in and of itself.

Choose The Right Flight
No matter what day you fly, you probably don’t want to deal with a flight delay. You can lessen the likelihood of this happening by flying first thing in the morning. Being on the first flight can mean that you get to your destination on time and spend less time waiting at the airport.

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Sue Lobo
Sue Lobo is a four-time Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist (2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026) and Senior Travel Advisor at Atlas Travel Center, one of the most decorated travel agencies in the United States. With more than 35 years of experience in the travel industry, Sue has planned, booked, and personally accompanied trips for thousands of clients — from first-time cruisers to seasoned luxury travelers who have circled the globe multiple times. Sue's areas of deep expertise include ocean and river cruising, European tours, group travel coordination, luxury travel, honeymoon planning, and family vacation design. She is a CLIA-certified cruise specialist and works within an agency that holds IATA and ARC accreditation and maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Over her career, Sue has been involved in more than 30,000 bookings and has personally coordinated over 200 travel groups — from faith-based group cruises and HBCU alumni trips to women's retreats, family reunions, and corporate incentive travel. What sets Sue apart is not just the credentials — it is the firsthand experience behind them. Sue has personally traveled to more than 20 countries across three continents, including Cuba, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout Europe. She has sailed on dozens of cruise ships across nearly every major line, walked the river cruise routes she recommends, and eaten at the restaurants she suggests to clients. Her recommendations come from personal experience, not brochures. In addition to advising clients, Sue writes extensively about travel for The Traveler's Atlas blog — covering everything from cruise line comparisons and overtourism trends to destination guides and practical travel tips. Her writing is grounded in the same expertise she brings to every client conversation: honest, specific, and built on decades of real-world travel experience. Sue is based in the United States and available to help travelers plan cruises, European tours, group trips, river cruises, honeymoons, family vacations, and more. To work with Sue, contact Atlas Travel Center at atlastravelweb.com.