by Danielle Garrett of PlanIt Itineraries for The Aha! Connection
There has been a growing trend of last-minute bookings. Pre-Covid last minute bookings would usually financially punish the traveler. Demand was so high for travel that “last minute deals” had become a thing of the past. With so many travelers now pulling the trigger later than normal, the booking windows that airlines and hotels had become accustomed to have shrunk considerably. Recent data from Kayak has found that domestic flights in the U.S. are pricing 16% cheaper than last year. The biggest price drop is to Florida cities, which is down 29-34%.
Normally in mid to late October, flights for places like Miami or Denver would have already jumped in price for Thanksgiving and Christmas week. If pondering a flight for the holidays, check out Google flights (Southwest Airlines is not on Google flights, so you must look there separately). I love this tool to find the least expensive days to fly. Click here for a list of the current U.S. state travel restrictions.
If a road trip is more your speed, check out the TripTik app. This is AAA’s road trip travel planning app. AAA’s TripTik even has great information on suggested road trips, including National Parks. You do not have to be a member of AAA to use this app, but I highly recommend joining AAA! It is as low as $68 per year for a classic individual membership. I have been surprised many times by the cost savings for the AAA rate at hotels but have also personally used the tire change service. It was incredibly easy…within 30 min an AAA rep was changing my tire (free with your membership).
Please remember to travel responsibly, wear your mask and do not travel unnecessarily if you are elderly or immune-compromised!
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