| If you're going away for the holidays | | | | for work without sacrificing any weekend |
| this year, you're probably unhappily | | | | time. |
| anticipating a hike in gas prices, long | | | | • The average age of Thanksgiving |
| lines at airport security and delays | | | | travelers is just under 34, as opposed |
| all-around. According to the Bureau of | | | | to right above 36 for the Christmas and |
| Transportation, Thanksgiving and the | | | | New Year's holidays, according to the |
| winter holiday season are the busiest | | | | BTS. |
| long-distance travel times in a given | | | | • Preview airport restrictions and |
| year. While travelers cannot avoid hefty | | | | laws implemented for safe air |
| waits at check-in and traffic on the | | | | travel…you cannot avoid them and will |
| highway, there are plenty of measures to | | | | save a world of time if you plan ahead. |
| take in order to alleviate any holiday | | | | • Book a trip off-season. For example, |
| season travel stress. | | | | go to New England when the leaves aren't |
| • Know when to travel: For local | | | | changing…you'll save on local bed and |
| excursions, people tend to leave on | | | | breakfasts, whose popularity heightens |
| Thursdays. If traveling over 100 miles | | | | during the fall. |
| away, Wednesday through Sunday are the | | | | • Consider booking through an online |
| most popular days. | | | | travel agency. You can find new |
| • About 90% of Thanksgiving travel is | | | | discounts and sales each day, as well as |
| through one's vehicle. | | | | vacation packages unavailable elsewhere. |
| • The Sunday and Monday after | | | | The best discount travel online can be |
| Thanksgiving are the busiest days to | | | | found through sites such as Orbitz and |
| travel back home. If you book a flight | | | | Expedia, according to If you're an avid |
| or drive on Tuesday, you'll avoid a lot | | | | planner, you'll be able to customize |
| of traffic. | | | | your own trip homepage, complete with |
| • Weather delays don't always depend | | | | photos, video and comments through |
| on where you're flying out of. If you | | | | Orbitz's TripHub. |
| live in Florida but are flying to New | | | | If you're like most travelers, saving |
| York, you may experience delays due to a | | | | money is important when going away |
| snowstorm, for example. | | | | during the holidays. When booking |
| • Allow ample time to check in at the | | | | through Travelocity, you can save just |
| airport and make it through security. | | | | by using a particular credit card. |
| More travelers means more time to wait | | | | Before the cold weather arrives, |
| as each individual is screened. | | | | consider booking travel online and |
| • Travel on Saturday as opposed to | | | | taking advantages of discount flights |
| Sunday. Most people want to make it back | | | | and destination-stays. |