3 easy steps to save money on that perfect holiday vacation
Nationwide travel reporter and expert Dayvee Sutton offers a little-known secret on how to save hundreds once at your destination.
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Travel expert Dayvee Sutton on how travelers during the holiday season can avoid bad weather and save money.
If inflation is causing you to rethink your travel budget this holiday season, don't pack it quits just yet.
Nationwide travel reporter and expert Dayvee Sutton offers a little-known secret on how to save hundreds once at your destination.
1. Book early
Many people look to book their trips well in advance, but for those still looking, it is too late to plan right now, according to travel reporter and expert Dayvee Sutton.
"Typically, holiday travel, you want to have it booked by mid-October. So we just missed that time," she said.
You need at least two months in advance for the best prices available for flights, hotels and attractions, she adds.
The other issue, especially this year, is that flights can be sold out.
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2. Avoid domestic
Thanksgiving is exclusively an American holiday and also one of the busiest times for domestic travel. So if you want to give your family a special travel moment, take them on an international trip, Sutton said.
"Demand for international travel will be low, and it's your best chance to get a great deal abroad," she said.
Traveling during Christmas is a growing trend for families, but it can be pretty expensive to go to destinations like Europe and the Caribbean and Mexico, all popular for Americans, Sutton said.
"I encourage families to think about taking a cruise," she adds. "Many cruise lines are offering sales right now for last-minute travel for the holidays."
Cruises offer all-inclusive experiences in which you can customize the entertainment for all ages, and you can make them as relaxed or as adventurous as you want.
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3. Download and save
If traveling overseas is not your thing, you can still save on your budget at those big U.S. city attractions.
One place you might consider is Universal Studios, which is popular during the holidays. Another is the Statue of Liberty, which is celebrating its 136th birthday on Friday.
If you are going abroad to Paris and want to see the Eiffel Tower, Sutton offers a travel hack using the Go City app to save up to 60% on entrance to attractions for more than 25 of the biggest cities.
Sutton highlights that people also don't realize that often at these attractions, you have to book your time in advance, and you can do that on the app and have your ticket in hand and look just like a pro.