Today we have another guest writer, my little sister, Becca Lax! She is a pilot and has become an expert at planning trips, especially last-minute holiday getaways on a budget! So I asked her to share all her tips and tricks she has learned! Just in case you decide you need to be somewhere else besides home this Christmas! Obviously, these tips can be used anytime not just for a holiday getaway!

Becca Lax

I don’t know about you but I think it’s time for a little rest and relaxation this holiday season. With the ups and downs of this year, we all need to take a minute and regroup….preferably somewhere warm or with the sound of waves crashing!  I love to travel, so in this post, I will tell you my secrets to traveling on a budget and making sure there are plans in place so you can re-plan if necessary (thanks a lot 2020). Let’s talk about planning a holiday getaway.

Step 1 – Location

First up, where do you want to go? Is hiking in the mountains what gets you out of your head? Or is laying on the beach more your style? One thing I like to do when considering a trip is to go to Google Flights or one of the airlines I know provides service to my home airport and click on the interactive map (most airlines do this). There, I can click on an airport and see where all flights are available from my home. It helps me because I don’t like layovers when I can avoid them so direct flights are faster, cut total travel time down, and are cheaper! When I find a route I like, I turn on price tracking so Google will notify me when the price changes and I can wait until I see a price in my budget to purchase!

Pro-Tip

One thing to note right now is a lot of airlines are extra forgiving when it comes to cancelling or modifying flights with the current pandemic. So if you read the fine print at the bottom, there is a cutoff date where any changes are made at no extra cost to you! For example, Allegiant and Frontier show below how they will waive change or cancel fees through Dec. 1! 

Step 2 – Lodging

Just like with airlines, hotels are also trying to be flexible in this time of Covid. Most hotels are offering generous cancellation policies that will work with your ever-changing schedules. Make sure to look closely in your hotel agreement because there is a cut-off date where you can avoid cancellation fees, and with Covid, that date is now unusually close to your check-in date—what a deal!

Packing

The next step is planning bags. With cheaper airline tickets like Frontier and Allegiant, the price of bags isn’t included in that beautiful low one-way fare. I always like to be mindful and think about what I REALLY need on my trips. If it’s a weekend trip, I ask myself if I could get by with just a backpack or if a carry on duffle would do the trick. That extra money adds up when you start adding bags so pack light and pack efficiently!

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Traveling right now can be scary, but when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, there has never been a better time. This time of year is usually the most expensive for traveling to include flights, lodging, attractions, and more, but with the world how it is at the moment, you will not find a better deal when looking to get out of town. Some key things to look out for as well, is the cleaning procedures and what precautions have been put in place to ensure your safety. Happy traveling and Merry Christmas! 

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Are you ready to getaway? As Becca said, this is a great time to do it! Just be safe and careful! Happy jet setting, or at least daydreaming! Enjoy your holiday getaway!

Have you ever booked a trip during Christmas time instead of staying home? Where did you go for your holiday getaway? Drop your answer in the comments below and share this post to your social media accounts to be entered in the Blogmas giveaway!