Travel experts say flexibility is one of the biggest weapons in the battle against rising prices, particularly when it comes to choosing departure dates, airports and times.
Anyone travelling to see family and friends this holiday season could be in for an expensive surprise, thanks to the soaring cost of flights, hotels and rental cars.
According to travel platform Hopper, average domestic round-trip airfares for Thanksgiving are currently $402, up 31 percent from last year – while Christmas flights are averaging $452, up 23 percent.
Experts we spoke to emphasized that leaving arrangements until the last minute could prove a costly mistake this year.
To help you cope, we asked the experts for their best tips on ways to lower your travel costs, from flying on the actual holiday to considering alternatives to air travel – and being more selective about the extras you pay for.
Flexibility is your biggest ally in the battle against rising prices, particularly when it comes to choosing departure dates, airports and times.
Sally French, a travel analyst at personal finance website NerdWallet and co-host of the Smart Travel podcast, told the Daily Mail that travelers should not bank on last-minute airfare bargains.
Waiting for prices to fall could backfire, as fares for popular holiday dates are expected to rise between now and Christmas – and both holidays are on course to see their highest airfares in a decade, with elevated jet fuel costs contributing to the squeeze.
Hotel prices are also climbing, although the picture varies depending on when travelers are going. Christmas hotel stays are averaging $197 a night, up 18 percent on 2025, while Thanksgiving rates are holding relatively steady at around $170.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas among the busiest travel periods of the year, leaving arrangements until the last minute could prove a costly mistake
Sally French, a travel expert at personal finance website NerdWallet and co-host of the Smart Travel podcast
The usual approach of travelling on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and returning on the Sunday after turkey day could be a very expensive mistake this year.
Hopper estimates that domestic round-trip tickets involving a return on Sunday, November 29, will average around $604.
By contrast, returning home on Monday or Tuesday could pay approximately $350 – offering an easy way to potentially save as much as $250 per ticket.
Departing for your destination on Monday, November 23, is also expected to be cheaper, with fares averaging $370, compared with around $420 for a Wednesday departure.
And for those willing to sacrifice a little family time, getting on a plane on Thanksgiving Day itself could be a surprisingly wallet-friendly option, with average fares around $371.
'I know, nobody wants to spend Thanksgiving morning at the airport,' said French. 'But since the holiday itself is usually one of the cheapest days to fly during the holiday season, this is the easiest way to save.'
The same principle applies at Christmas, when shifting departure dates away from the weekend immediately before December 25 could make a noticeable difference.
Susannah Streeter, a personal finance expert at Wealth Club, also recommends comparing fares across the entire week rather than becoming fixated on one particular departure date.
'With demand surging around Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cost of getting from A to B can take a hefty bite out of holiday budgets,' Streeter told the Daily Mail.
'If you can shift your departure by a day or two, compare fares across the week rather than locking yourself into a particular date. Nearby airports and different departure times are also worth checking.'
For those willing to sacrifice a little family time, getting on a plane on Thanksgiving Day itself could be a surprisingly wallet-friendly option, with average fares around $371
Susannah Streeter, a personal finance expert at Wealth Club
Anyone still holding out for a dramatic airfare price drop may want to rethink their strategy.
French warned that, unlike hotels and cruises, where last-minute deals can sometimes appear, cheap flights are much harder to find as departure dates approach.
Her advice is to book rather than wait in the hope that fares will suddenly tumble. Hopper is also urging travelers to secure their flights and hotel stays before Halloween, warning that prices are already elevated and availability will become increasingly limited.
Once tickets are booked, the time of day you travel can be just as important as the date. French recommends choosing the first flight out in the morning, as delays can snowball throughout the day when aircraft and crews are held up by earlier disruptions.
An early departure gives passengers a better chance of getting away on time and, if something goes wrong, leaves more opportunities to be rebooked onto another flight.
She also advises avoiding tight connections, particularly during winter when bad weather can wreak havoc with schedules.
If a layover is unavoidable, allowing extra time between flights could save the misery of being stranded overnight in an airport.
And while paying more for a nonstop flight might initially seem painful, it could prove money well spent during the busiest travel period of the year.
Amtrak trains are another possibility on suitable routes, although travelers should remember that rail and bus fares can rise when demand is high, too
Kara Gammell is a personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket
For families traveling together, taking to the road could work out considerably cheaper than buying individual plane tickets.
Streeter suggests comparing the full cost of driving against flying, including luggage, airport transfers, parking and car rental.
Long-distance buses such as Greyhound can also provide a more affordable way to travel between US cities, particularly for those booking ahead and avoiding peak departure times.
Amtrak trains are another possibility on suitable routes, although travelers should remember that rail and bus fares can rise when demand is high, too.
A longer journey does not necessarily have to mean a miserable one, with downloaded movies, podcasts, games and playlists helping to keep passengers entertained.
For those hiring a car, however, the advertised daily rate is only part of the story. Additional-driver charges, tolls, fuel policies and one-way drop-off fees can quickly inflate the bill.
Kara Gammell, a personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, advises shoppers to examine the small print before committing to a rental agreement.
She also suggests checking whether an existing auto insurance policy or credit card already provides suitable rental car protection, rather than automatically paying for additional cover.