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