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How to Save on Holiday Travel: Tips to Save on Flights, Accommodations and Car Rentals

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The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and festive gatherings—but it can also be one of the most expensive times of the year to travel. Whether you’re booking flights, reserving accommodations, or securing a rental car, the cost of holiday travel can add up fast. But with a little planning and strategy, you can still make it to your destination without blowing your budget.

Here’s how you can save money on flights, accommodations, and car rentals this holiday season.

Please note: this post may contain affiliate and referral links which means that if you click through the link and make a purchase or sign up for a service, we may be financially compensated for directing you there.

Save on Holiday Travel Image

1. Save Money on Flights

Book Early (But Not Too Early)
The earlier you book, the better—but there’s a sweet spot. Aim to book flights about 1-3 months before your trip for domestic flights and 2-6 months for international travel. Use flight tracking tools like Google Flights or Hopper to monitor price changes and snag the best deal.

Be Flexible with Travel Dates
Traveling a day or two before or after major holidays can save you big bucks. Avoid peak travel days, such as the day before Thanksgiving or December 23rd, and consider flying on the holiday itself when prices tend to be lower. Non-holiday travel? Consider booking flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays – we’ve often had good luck saving money on fares that way.

Use Points and Miles
If you’ve been racking up credit card points or frequent flyer miles, the holiday season is a great time to cash them in. Check for reward availability as early as possible, as these spots tend to fill up quickly. We’ve had good luck with Southwest Rewards and are currently trying out Delta Miles – both through American Express. Another program you may want to consider checking out is Built – you can earn points that can be redeemed point for point through a variety of airlines and other travel services.

Consider Alternative Airports
If you’re flying to a major city, consider nearby airports instead. A short drive or train ride could save you hundreds of dollars on your flight.

2. Save Money on Accommodations

Book Directly with Hotels
While third-party booking sites can offer deals, sometimes booking directly with the hotel gives you access to exclusive discounts, perks like free breakfast, or flexible cancellation policies.

Try Vacation Rentals and Home Shares
Platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com can sometimes be cheaper than hotels, especially if you’re traveling with a group. Look for properties with kitchens so you can save on dining expenses as well.

Traveling through Mid Michigan? Stay with us at our short-term rental in Lake, MI.

Use Loyalty Programs and Rewards
If you’re a member of hotel loyalty programs (like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, or IHG Rewards), you can unlock discounted rates, free nights, and other benefits. Check if you’re eligible to use your points for holiday stays.

Look for Last-Minute Deals
If your travel plans are flexible, apps like HotelTonight offer steep discounts on last-minute hotel bookings. Just be prepared to act fast since availability may be limited.

Related: Visiting Orlando, FL? Creative Ways to Save $$ On Travel

3. Save Money on Car Rentals

Book Early and Lock in the Rate
Just like flights, rental car rates can increase closer to the holiday season. Book early and look for rental companies that offer free cancellations or rate adjustments so you can rebook if prices drop.

Check Off-Site Locations
Rental car prices at airport locations are often higher due to airport fees. Consider renting from an off-site location and taking a shuttle or rideshare to the rental agency.

Use Membership Discounts
If you’re a member of AAA, AARP, or certain credit card programs, you may be eligible for rental car discounts. Check for coupon codes and partnerships with rental agencies like Hertz, Enterprise, and Budget.

Avoid Unnecessary Upgrades and Add-Ons
Rental agencies may try to upsell you on larger vehicles, GPS devices, or insurance. Decline these extras if you don’t need them. If you have rental car insurance through your credit card or auto insurance policy, you may not need the agency’s coverage.

Compare Prices Across Multiple Sites
Don’t settle for the first price you see. Compare rental prices across multiple sites like Kayak, Expedia, and the car rental’s direct website. Also, consider aggregator sites like AutoSlash, which can apply available discounts automatically.

Additional Tips to Save on Holiday Travel

  • Pack Light: Avoid checked bag fees by packing everything into a carry-on. This also helps you avoid potential delays if luggage gets lost.
  • Travel Insurance: Consider travel insurance, especially if you’re flying during the winter when weather delays are more common.
  • Check Your Credit Card Perks: Some credit cards offer travel-related benefits like free checked bags, travel insurance, or access to airport lounges—all of which can make your holiday travel experience smoother.

Related: How to Redeem FREE Travel Miles When Your Luggage Is Late

Holiday travel doesn’t have to drain your wallet. By following these tips for flights, accommodations, and car rentals, you’ll be on your way to a more affordable, stress-free holiday trip. With a little flexibility, early planning, and smart use of loyalty programs and travel tools, you can keep your travel budget intact and enjoy the holiday season to the fullest.

How to Redeem FREE Travel Miles When Your Luggage Is Late

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Travel can be an exciting adventure, but nothing dampens the mood faster than waiting endlessly at the airport carousel for luggage that just won’t show up. Luckily, several airlines offer compensation in the form of free travel miles when your luggage is delayed. In this guide, we’ll break down the steps for how to redeem these miles and which airlines offer this perk.

Redeem FREE Travel Miles when luggage is late

Step 1: Check if Your Airline Offers Compensation

First, find out if your airline participates in compensating passengers for delayed luggage. The following airlines are known to offer free travel miles for this inconvenience:

  • Delta Airlines: Delta’s “Bags on Time” guarantee offers 2,500 SkyMiles if your checked bags don’t arrive at the carousel within 20 minutes of your flight landing.
  • Alaska Airlines: If your bag doesn’t show up within 20 minutes of your flight’s arrival, Alaska Airlines will compensate you with 2,500 Mileage Plan miles.
  • JetBlue Airways: JetBlue also offers 1,500 TrueBlue points for delayed luggage, though there’s no specific time frame, so it’s important to check with the airline when you’re at the airport.

Step 2: Time Your Wait

Once your flight lands, note the time. Most airlines begin counting the luggage delay from the moment your flight arrives at the gate. To claim your free miles, you need to be sure your luggage is officially delayed by the airline’s standards. Generally, this means your bag must arrive at the baggage claim after 20 minutes.

  • Tip: Use your phone to set a timer when your flight lands so you can track the time easily.

Step 3: File Your Claim

If your luggage is delayed, you’ll need to file a claim to receive your free miles. Here’s how to do it with each airline:

  • Delta Airlines: Visit Delta’s dedicated “Bags on Time” page. You’ll need to enter your bag tag number and flight information. If eligible, the miles will be credited to your SkyMiles account within a few days.
  • Alaska Airlines: You can contact the appropriate Airport Baggage Office to make your claim. Make sure you have your flight number, baggage tag number, and the time your luggage arrived to ensure quick processing.
  • JetBlue Airways: You’ll need to contact JetBlue’s customer service either by phone or in person at the airport to request your compensation.

Step 4: Monitor Your Mileage Account

Once you’ve filed your claim, keep an eye on your frequent flyer account to make sure the miles are credited. Depending on the airline, this can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

  • Tip: If your miles haven’t been credited after the specified time frame, follow up with the airline’s customer service team to resolve the issue.

Additional Tips

  • Be proactive: Always keep your baggage claim ticket handy, as you’ll need it to file your claim.
  • Sign up for mileage programs: Ensure you’re a member of your airline’s frequent flyer program before your trip. Otherwise, you won’t be eligible for free miles.
  • Know your rights: Some airlines will also compensate you with vouchers, meals, or hotel accommodations if your bag is delayed for an extended period—so it’s worth asking!

Delayed luggage is never fun, but redeeming free travel miles is a small silver lining to help soften the blow that many people don’t realize they can benefit from. By keeping track of time, knowing which airlines offer this perk, and filing your claim promptly, you can turn a luggage delay into your next travel reward!

Happy saving—and happy travels!

SOLD OUT: iFLY Hardside Checked Luggage Fibertech 28″, Ocean Sunrise – only $49 (Regularly $109!)

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Get ready to travel with this great deal on luggage. Regularly priced at $109, this iFLY Hardside Checked Luggage for only $49!

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click on them and make a purchase, we may be financially compensated.

credit: Walmart.com
Check Out this Deal Online

This luggage case has great reviews and plenty of them. Featuring fun and bright colors, its sure to catch your eye while also being plenty functional.

Want to save even more? Shop through your Drop app right now to get 7 points per $1 spent when you shop at Walmart (1000 points = $1). Haven’t signed up yet? Sign up through our referral code and start saving today.

Updated: Jessica Simpson Vibrance 3-Piece Hardside Luggage Set, only $199.99 (Regularly $550)

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Summer travel plans have you ready to hit the road? If you need luggage, we loved this deal on this Jessica Simpson Vibrance 3-Piece Hardside Luggage Set.

Jessica Simpson Vibrance 3-piece Hardside Luggage Set
credit: Macys.com

Whether you love the bright Barbie pink OR are looking for another fun hue that stands out (you’ll have six to choose from!), this Jessica Simpson Vibrance 3-piece Luggage Set has great reviews and a pretty great price too.

Customer reviews indicate that this set is sturdy and rolls nicely when walking through busy airports. Plus, the colors are bright enough to stand out when picking up your bags from luggage claim.

Regularly priced at $550, this set of three is currently on sale for $199.99. That still may seem like a lot, but it was the lowest price with the highest customer reviews.

Plus, this order qualifies for free shipping too.

Want to save even more? Get 10% cash back when you shop through your Rakuten account. Don’t have one? Sign up through our referral link and you’ll get $30 cash back on this purchase. We’ll also get $30 for referring you – we just thought you should know.

8 Ways to Save Money on Gas for Your Car

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With gas prices on the rise, you may be looking for ways to save on fuel. Discover a few top recommendations we’ve received to help make every dollar at the pump stretch its furthest.

Our family last summer on a camping adventure!

If you want to save money on gas, here are a few simple ways to get started:

Scope out the best price at the pump and get cash back on each fill up. One of my favorite cash back apps, Checkout 51, offers you great deals not only on groceries and prescriptions, but gas too! Pull up the gas tab and you’ll see the price of gas in your area and the amount per gallon in cash back you’ll get. We typically get ~$0.10-$0.15 per gallon, sometimes up to $0.25, in cash back through this app and can withdraw it by either PayPal or check once a $20 balance in cash back is hit.

Be a more relaxed driver. This one might take some practice, but is another great way to save on the number of trips you’ll need to make to the pump. In fact, the US Department of Energy indicates that if you ‘hit the breaks’ on aggressive driving – hard breaking, quick accelerating and speeding – you can reduce your gas mileage by 15-30% at highway speeds and 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic. That’s an equivalent gas savings of $0.36-$0.44 per gallon. Need some help, newer cars have a helpful gas mileage feature on their dashboard console.

Not sure what speed you should go? The most fuel efficient speeds have been found to be between 55 and 65 mph.

Check Your Tires. It may not seem like routinely checking your tires would impact your gas use; however, maintaining proper tire pressure will make an impact on the frequency of your fill ups. Underinflated tires can actually increase consumption by up to 3%.

Clean out your car. If your family is like mine, it doesn’t take very long for things to accumulate inside our vehicle. Those items not only clutter up the inside, but add to to overall weight of the vehicle. The more weight, the harder your car has to work and thus the more gas it has to use. Get rid of the heavy stuff just sitting there.

Park further away. No one likes parking further away. Especially in Michigan, in winter. But if you are able to find a spot more quickly by parking a little further away, do it! Not only will this use less fuel than if you spend your time circling around a parking lot or a street looking for a spot, but walking a little further is good for your body too.

Carpool when you can. This one may not be realistic for every family – I know its not for mine; however, it is when I think about some of the work trips that I take. When possible, I try to carpool with others from my office if we have a meeting outside the office we need to attend together.

Work from home if you can. Again, this one might not be realistic for everyone; but if your work allows you to work from home even just occasionally, this can help you save on gas too.

Join a Fuel Rewards Program. Another way to save a little money on gas fill ups is to join a fuel rewards program. Many gas stations offer them. For example, we save $0.05 per gallon at Marathon gas stations through their fuel rewards program. If you shop at a certain brand of gas stations more often than others, this can be another way to save a little more when you fill up on gas.

Hope this helps you save a few bucks at the pump. Have any additional ways you save? Share them in the comments.

Visiting Orlando, FL? Creative Ways to Save $$ On Travel

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Our family just recently traveled to Orlando, FL and if you are looking to plan your next visit to the family-friendly Florida city, we have a few tips to help you do so more affordably.

Our family at Disney World during our trip to Orlando

Visit Universal Studios City Walk at night or Disney Springs for FREE!

Did you know that you can visit the Universal Studios City Walk for free in the evenings? Or Disney Springs at no cost? Even parking is free! This is a fun way to get a taste of either park. We enjoyed taking in all the sites and window shopping while there.

Use your reciprocal membership at the Sea Life Aquarium and get 50% off

If you’ve been reading our blog for awhile, you are probably already aware that we are big fans of reciprocal memberships. These truly are the best way to get the biggest bang for your buck no matter where you go. If you have a zoo membership, check to see if it gives you access to the Sea Life aquarium through a reciprocal membership. If so, you’ll get 50% off the admission price.

PLUS, we were even able to apply it to the already discounted two-attraction deal that was being offered. We got into both the Sea Life Aquarium and Madam Tussaud’s wax museum for under $25 a person.

Stay at a hotel or an Air BNB location with a kitchen and save on meals

Orlando has a wide variety of accommodations to choose from, but we highly recommend selecting a location that includes a kitchen or kitchenette. We chose to stay at a Air BNB rental that was big enough for our family and Aaron’s parents who traveled with us. We were so grateful that it included a full kitchen so that we could pick up groceries for breakfasts and lunches. This saved us a ton of money and our guts (at least for those of us 30 and up!) thanked us for it too.

Download restaurant apps to get exclusive app savings and coupons

When you do go out to eat, be sure to look for restaurant apps you can download to your phone. We saved half off at Uno’s Pizzeria and got exclusive savings at Popeye’s too. Mind you, we ate at plenty of local restaurants too, but mixed it up a little bit with a few most cost-effective options as well.

Use the Checkout 51 cash back app to save on gas

Although we flew to Orlando, we had to drive to the airport and utilized a rental car to get around to all our excursions. To save on gas, we used one of our favorite apps – Checkout 51. Its pretty common for us to get anywhere from $0.05 to $0.15 off per gallon through this app.

Pack reusable $1 water bottles to fill up at the parks

We traveled to Florida in June, so it was pretty hot when we visited the Magic Kingdom. Instead of relying on in-park purchases to stay hydrated, we packed reusable water bottles we picked up for a dollar at a nearby store. Yes, you CAN take water bottles into Disney World parks but they have to be empty at time of entry. Fill them up at water fountains throughout the park (usually located near the restrooms) to stay hydrated all day long.

Shop for souvenirs off-site

Another great tip – shop for souvenirs off-site. Our kids had fun identifying items they liked at the in-park stores; however, we found the prices to be quiet high. So instead, we took the kids to a few souvenir shops off-site and saved a ton! For example, we found autograph books for only $1.97 and Minnie purses for only $8.97. Way cheaper than what we saw in the parks!

Look for more affordable tourist stops – like Old Town Orlando

One of our favorite stops was at Old Town Orlando. Our kids were able to ride a few rides and we enjoyed walking through the old town shops. Parking was free and you only have to pay for the attractions you want. Our kids rode go-karts, a roller coaster and some smaller carnival rides. Compared to some of the amusement parks, this might be a fun, more cost-friendly alternative if you’re looking for something the family will enjoy.

Visit the Orlando Science Museum for FREE with, you guessed it, a reciprocal museum membership!

Although it may seem like EVERYTHING in Orlando costs money, we are happy to report that with another type of reciprocal membership, you can get into the Science Museum at no cost if you have a museum membership.

If you are traveling to Orlando, we hope you have a fantastic time no matter your budget! Hopefully, these tips will help you keep things a little more affordable as you travel.