Between Black Friday shopping, preparing for family meals, and travel, holiday costs can stack up quickly, making saving money where you can a big priority. Securing your plane tickets in advance is the number one cost saver when planning holiday travel, but after you book your flights, how can you continue to make budget-friendly travel decisions? With Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas close behind, we’re sharing our holiday travel budget tips.
When flying out of a smaller airport, like the Casper/Natrona County International Airport, it’s even more important to book your tickets as early as possible. As a local airport with seven daily flights, availability gets tighter as the holidays draw closer. If you’re ahead of the game and have your flights booked, here are a few additional ways to save money on other big-ticket holiday travel expenses.
- Don’t wait to book rental cars or excursions. Rates often increase as your travel dates approach, so book early to lock in lower prices.
- Ship your holiday gifts to your destination to avoid packing extra items, paying overweight luggage fees, or forgetting a gift on your kitchen table. Plus, you might be able to take advantage of seasonal free shipping promotions!
- Consider travel insurance to protect your plans in case of sickness, winter storms, and other unforeseen circumstances. It’s always safe to have a backup plan for delayed or canceled flights to help manage unexpected expenses.
- Check your memberships and rewards. Rewards and membership perks can save money by providing free or discounted travel costs (like rental cars and dining), cash back for other expenses, and perks like free checked bags or lounge access.
Now that you’ve secured a rental car and understand the benefits of your memberships and rewards, it’s time for money-saving tips for before and after takeoff.
- Pack light so you can carry-on and save on checked luggage fees.
- Bring your own snacks for waiting at the gate and a water bottle to fill up in the terminal to avoid pesky food and beverage prices. Remember: empty your water bottle before going through security!
- If you skipped the rental car in favor of a ride-share service, consider public transportation if available, to avoid car service fees.
- Find free or discounted activities to enjoy where you’re visiting. Ask a local for their recommendation! They often know options to avoid tourist traps.
- Take advantage of happy hours and local deals on food.
- Bonus Tip: If you’re renting a vacation home or Airbnb for your holiday trip this year, hit the grocery store to stock up on snacks and breakfast items to save on daily meal spending.
Not only will these tips help keep your holiday budget in check during holiday trips, but overall preparation before flying and during your travels helps eliminate unnecessary costs and spending. When it comes to taking a successful trip, never just wing it. Instead, plan ahead, track your spending, and research potential fees or additional costs to ensure you stay within budget.
Ready to plan that trip? Here’s our ultimate travel budget tip: avoid the costs of driving, parking, and staying in Denver and fly out of C/NCIA instead. Consider the cost comparison here, and book your flights today at https://iflycasper.com/flight-information/.
