Three Tips for Holiday Budget Travel
Avoid the peak travel days.
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is usually a lonely time to fly. Sometimes flights are canceled because there are too few takers.
By contrast, the day before Thanksgiving is among the busiest days of the year.
Supply-and-demand economics tells us the slower days are probably the best days for snagging bargains. One caveat: watch out for blackout dates. Sometimes, the very slow days are excluded from airfare deals and discounted room rates.
Train stations are less crowded than airports.
If you really want to bypass the North American airport bustle, why not take the train? You'll save a lot of money for gifts and grocery bills, too.
A recent sale fare offered passage from Chicago to St. Louis for under $20 USD. Gasoline alone would cost that much on a driving trip between those cities.
Observe the speed limit.
It's simple, preachy advice. Many will tune it out.
But as the year closes, many police departments step up highway patrols. They're watching for fools who drive drunk. While they're there, they'll flash the radar gun, too. It's justified. Speed kills, and some of the year's bloodiest accidents occur between Thanksgiving and the New Year.
A simple speeding ticket usually starts at $100, and the amounts double in construction zones. Add in the extra money it will cost on auto insurance, and you have a formula for wrecking the travel budget.
Plan your trip efficiently at home, and you can afford to arrive a few minutes later.