HOLIDAY TRAVEL

HOLIDAY TRAVEL
Save money and sanity
Traveling for the holidays? Here's some advice from the travel mavens at Hotwire.com that can help you save money and cut down on hassles.
Planes are less full on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day than on the day before or after, so try to travel on the actual holiday if you can.
Dec. 29, which falls midweek this year on a Wednesday, is also listed by Hotwire.com as a "best bet" if you must travel during peak season. In contrast, Dec. 18 through 23, Dec. 26 through 28, Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 are likely to be the most crowded and expensive dates for travel over the holidays.
If you're not tied to the actual holidays but just want an early winter getaway, plan your trip between Dec. 1 and 16 or after Jan. 3 for the cheapest airfares.
If you're looking for a hotel during Christmas and New Year's, you may be pleasantly surprised, according to Hotwire.com. Business travel is down at that time of year and many leisure travelers stay with families, so occupancy is low in many big-city hotels, which means deals abound.
Finally, shop around. When multiple airports serve the same destination, airlines frequently charge more to fly into one than the other. But if you're leaving your car at the airport while you're away, remember to compare parking prices too so you don't lose the money you save on airfare by spending it on parking.
Associated Press