Ways to Save Money on Holiday Travel

The holidays are here again and many people across the country will be planning some holiday travel. Times are hard and money is tight so saving money is at the top of most to-do lists this time of year. Here are some tips to help you save some cash on holiday travel. Consider your mode of travel; planes, trains or automobile. It used to be that trains were cheaper than planes and automobiles were cheaper than both when traveling but now days there are a lot of "ifs" in this area. For instance, if your flight would be fairly short, say, around two hours or so then taking a train, Amtrak for instance, may be a lot cheaper. Consider that a flight from Boston to Philly takes around 2 hours and a train ride takes around 5 but the train costs about 40% less than the flight would. That is a pretty big hunk of savings if you have the extra time to spare. A bus ride (yikes) might even be cheaper. Considering that a bus ride from Austin to Dallas takes only about 3.5 hours and is a straight shot with no stops or transfers and costs only $140 round-trip for two adults (only $96 if booked 7 days in advance) then it might well be worth the pain for a few hours. Keep in mind that the cheapest rates will be from big city to big city.

Alas, you might have to take your own car or perhaps you just want to. In either instance there are some things you can do to save money. If you have two cars then take the one that gets the best gas mileage if possible. Have your car checked out before leaving to make sure it is in good running order. Be sure the tires are properly inflated and stay on the highways for best MPG. If you know the exact route you are taking find out which gas stations along the way offer the best gas prices. Gas prices are going down it seems so that is good news for the holiday travel crowd.

Another way to save on holiday travel is to consider which hotels you will be staying in. Don't be a snob about this. Stay at the less expensive hotels such as Super 8 or Motel 6. I promise I won't tell anyone that you stayed at the Super 8 and not the Hilton. Take advantage of any discounts the hotel may offer. For instance, Super 8 offers discounts for Auto Club members, AARP members, government employees and senior citizens. Don't be shy; ask about any discounts that may be available to you. Check out www.super8.com for locations and prices and reservation info.

Perhaps the easiest way to save money on holiday travel is to stay with family whenever possible. Come on, you can put up with Aunt Agnes and her yappy little dog for a few days if it means saving big on hotel fees. Plus, your meals will be free and you won't have to pay extra for pay per view movies.

Last, consider inviting everyone to your house this year. Then they will be the ones stressing over how to save money on holiday travel. Yes, you will be exhausted and grumpy by the time it is all over but you will have saved big on holiday travel. Happy Holidays!