Five Ways to Save on Thanksgiving, Christmas Travel

Sept. 3, 2010— -- "2009 was definitely the year of the deal," says John Peters, vice president/general manager of digital strategy and travel for Rand McNally, and former CEO of Tripology. "Everyone had unplanned inventory to unload. This year, we're telling people, is not a wait-and-see year. For the past year we've all been spoiled with really inexpensive flights, and [now] they're just not there."

If you're planning on traveling during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays this year, advance preparation is the name of the game. But how early is too early? When's the best time to book? While I don't have a crystal ball to tell you exactly when you should purchase your airfare and accommodations, there are some good practices that can help you find a fair price.

Expect Lower Prices in Early Fall

If last year is any indication, airlines will start pitching holiday sales right after Labor Day, and holiday flights will be at their cheapest the first two weeks of October. However, you can start comparing airfares now to see what current prices are, then see if they drop in September or October.

I compared several routes that SmarterTravel's airfare experts tracked last year for the holidays and found that prices are currently higher than they were in late summer 2009, although it's early enough that the airlines have little incentive to slash prices for holiday travel yet. Right now, it's still a seller's market; but it could become a buyer's market in the coming weeks. Remember, though, with capacity cuts, fewer seats at lower prices will be available. Once you see a good price for your budget, you'll want to snap it up.

"There's more to it than just price," says Steve Barsh, CEO of PackLate, which offers last-minute deals on vacation rentals. "If [it's] what you want, book it."

For More Information on This Topic and Other Travel News Visit Our Partner SmarterTravel