• Introduction
• 1. Factor New Airline Fees into Travel Costs
• 2. Monitor Your Route for Best Fares
• 3. Don’t Hold Out for Last-Minute Deals
• 4. Be Flexible: Avoid Peak Travel Days
• 5. Book a Flight & Hotel Package for Overall Value
• 6. Fly on the Holiday Itself
• 7. Consider Alternate Airports
• 8. Shop Around on Many Sites, Including Airlines’
• 9. Be Prepared to Layover to Cut Costs
• 10. Get Grounded: Look into Trains, Buses & Cars

Book a Flight & Hotel Package for Overall Value

If you'd rather not sleep on Aunt Edna's couch this Thanksgiving, consider booking an air-and-hotel vacation together, which can save you a bundle over booking each component separately. Locking in one of the great-value hotel bargains that pop up around the holidays can really help balance out the overall cost efficiency of the trip. Though flights may be on the steep side, hotels are posting even lower holiday rates than in years’ past, in an attempt to lure guests during the sagging economy. Business hotels boast particularly good deals around the holidays, when they’re completely devoid of their normal clientele – do look to hotels near convention centers and business districts for some of the best package rates. Again, ShermansTravel’s QuickSearch tool offers a great means of comparing holiday rates on several package provider sites, while just having to enter your travel information once.

See United States Travel Guide