Travel Hacks for the Holiday Season

*This post was sponsored by KAYAK. However, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you clicked in to read this post, chances are you love to travel and hopefully, you take an interest in my travels that I share online too! Over the past few years, the travel section of my blog has taken me all over the globe. I’ve had the opportunity to experience many incredible destinations, hotels and airlines, but I’ve also had my share of travel “bloops”, ie. disappointments, frustrations and blunders. So this post is all about the best travel hacks that I’ve learned along the way to help you get the most out of your future travels and don’t make the same mistakes that I have. Especially, as we approach the holiday season, travel is about to get a lot more chaotic.

1. Book your trip in advance, on the right day of the week. We’ve all heard the rumors of which day of the week is best to book a trip- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, don’t book on Fridays etc… Well, now there’s a better way to find out and get the best price for your booking, with KAYAK‘s Price Forecast tool. When you search for a flight, KAYAK will show you the likelihood of your preferred flight’s price increase within the next 7 days, so you can decide whether to book right then or later. If planning in advance, you can also sign up for custom Price Alerts, which will let you know immediately via email or text if the flight or hotel you want decreases in price. Also, when it comes to booking flights, make sure you look for deals and discounts, especially around the time where many people don’t tend to travel. With it being as simple as checking out shoppok ads, for example, the idea of saving money even before traveling could make a difference in terms of spending money. Plus, who doesn’t like saving a few pennies?

2. Combine one-way flights to create your own return. Most of the time, buying a return ticket to and from your destination is the most cost-effective flight booking. However, every now and then it’s more affordable to book two one-way tickets. However, making such a discovery can take hours of searching online and comparing. This is where KAYAK’s Hacker Fares come in. When you search for flights to and from a destination on KAYAK, you’ll see “Hacker Fare” clearly identified under the price, which combines two one-way flights alongside the round trip ticket options. Another great way to find yourself flying business class to your next destination!

3. Avoid traveling on weekends. While the best day to book your trip can vary, it’s definitely best to avoid actual travel on weekends, when possible. There’s a huge difference in airport travel between say, a Wednesday morning and a Saturday. Sunday night at the airport? Forget it. I’ve been through airports on all days of the week and all times of the day and this seems to be the trend across the board. I’ve been told that it’s because most long haul flights happen on the weekends, not to mention the influx of weekend getaway travelers as well. So if you do have a choice, try looking for a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon.

4. Check your flight status. Have you ever gotten to the airport hours before your flight, only to realize that your flight is delayed and you then had to spend an entire day (or more!) at the airport waiting? It sucks, I know. I can’t stress how important it is to check your flight status, especially if your flight has even been canceled! It happened to me once, and I wasn’t even notified by the airline. During the holidays, flight delays and cancellations should almost be expected, with winter weather conditions and higher than average number of travelers. KAYAK has come up with a solution, implementing their own Flight Tracker tool that will notify you of any delays/cancellations, as well as any terminal or gate changes. Equally great for those on the other end, waiting to pick you up at your destination!

5. Dress appropriately. And by that I don’t mean dress up, but rather wear the right clothes that will get you from your origin to destination comfortably and in style. Firstly, a shoe that you can slip off and on is essential. It’ll make getting through security more efficient, as well as getting up and down once you’re on the plane. Layering is also key. I always wear a T-shirt as a base and layer up from there. That way I’m prepared for whatever temperature the airport and airplane throw at me and I’m also prepared for the weather (which i in my destination. A hoodie and a mid-weight jacket are my usual go-to’s for layering. In terms of your travel look, I definitely recommend dressing how you would any other day, just with the tips I mentioned in mind. You’ll look and feel good and when you get to where you’re going, even though you just got off a plane, you won’t look like you did.

6. Send gifts in advance. This one is mostly for those traveling abroad for the holidays. However, if you’re staying in town and want to do this for convenience, go right ahead too! My family is all in Vancouver, so I’ve been going back west every year since I moved to the east coast. My tip for gift giving is: do it in advance and do it online. Shopping online has made gift giving so much easier and during the holidays, most retailers include an option to have your purchases gift wrapped as well. Do that and have your gifts sent directly to their destination, saving you the hassle of having to bring them with you in your suitcases.

*This post was sponsored by KAYAK. However, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.