The holiday season is on its way, which means a lot of people will be traveling to get to their loved ones or to simply enjoy some time away from their hectic lives. Holiday travel can be pretty pricey if you’re not careful, especially when you’re traveling in today’s world. Covid-19 restrictions could cost you a lot more money and stress. These ten tips will help you to find exactly what you need to travel so you can embrace the holiday season with as little financial strain and stress as possible.

1. Book Non-Crowded Flight
Flying is probably the fastest mode of transportation, but not usually the cheapest. If you’re worried about Covid-19 then your best option is to purchase a ticket for a flight that won’t be as crowded. For instance, flights in the late-night hours to the early morning hours are generally less crowded and might even be cheaper. Flying out on a Tuesday can also save you quite a bit of money while allowing you to feel more secure on your flight. Luckily, flying isn’t as bad as other modes of transportation as the air inside a cabin is generally fresher and from outside. Most flights are also trying to enforce a vaccination rule, so you also have this to consider when flying as opposed to taking other modes of public transit.

2. Book Early
Another thing to consider when you choose to plan your trip is how early it is. You are going to want to schedule most things well in advance to ensure you lock down at a good rate. It might already be a bit too late to book a Thanksgiving flight at a reasonable price, but you may still be able to find some decent deals. Booking a flight for Christmas now is a good option though and will help you ensure you have the best possible price. Of course, you should book more than just flight information. Hotels, especially, should be booked in advance, as hotels tend to raise their prices as the holiday season guarantees them more bookings. Even if you’re traveling by train or bus, you should still consider grabbing the ticket as soon as possible to lock in a good rate and ensure you get a seat when you need one.

3. Purchase Cancellation Insurance
In these trying times, it is hard to predict what is going to happen when we plan ahead to travel. So, one of the best things you can do during this time is to purchase cancellation insurance. Cancellation insurance can actually be added to a wide assortment of options, including flights and rentals. This will ensure you are able to get your money back on your hotel if your flight is canceled, and so on. Cancellation insurance isn’t expensive either. So, even if your plans aren’t canceled you won’t be out a lot of money, which can definitely make you feel better about the purchase. Cancellation insurance can also make it a lot easier to cancel other reservations if something does fall through.

4. Consider Driving
When it comes to safety today, one of the best ways to travel during the holiday season is by car. This will help limit your exposure to illnesses like Covid-19, so you will feel more comfortable about getting around. Apart from that, it will also allow you to travel at your own pace, which can make the experience a bit easier for you. Of course, gasoline can be a bit pricey, so it is best to be strategic about fueling up. If you find a good price, you should stop and top off your tank to help save money in the long run. You should also fuel up outside of cities. There are many gas apps that can help you find fair prices along your route; however, you should never push your gas tank too low, as you don’t want to end up stranded if there are large gaps between towns.

5. Stay with Loved Ones
If possible, staying with a loved one while traveling is one of the best options to take. Hotels can be very expensive during this time, especially with so many people hoping to travel this year. In fact, you can probably save hundreds if you just stay with someone. Sleeping at a loved one’s home will also help limit your exposure to illnesses. Since you will already be exposed to the loved one and other family members, it will cut back the number of people that you encounter. Plus, it will allow you to get the most out of your experience with friends or family after having to spend so much time apart.

6. Avoid High Traffic Areas
Areas with high traffic can be a real pain during the holiday season. Generally, these areas will have even more traffic than you would expect on an average day which will mean you will be burning more gasoline by traveling through them. Not only that but passing through large cities can be confusing which might leave you feeling frustrated. Apart from that, restaurants and stores may charge you a bit more for items that you’d buy cheaper elsewhere, so it is best to stick to routes that aren’t as trafficked. Of course, if you’re worried about Covid-19, then you may be more exposed if you stop in these areas as well.

7. Pack Extra Supplies
No matter how you choose to travel, one of the best things you can do is pack extra supplies. One of the most important things to have on hand is clean masks. If you have reusable masks these are great. However, while traveling you might want to invest in some disposable masks. These will allow you to always have something on hand so you’re not carrying around a bag of soiled masks while you travel. You should also keep the sanitizer on hand. You can only have small bottles on an airplane, so sanitizing wipes might be the best option for you. Other than that, you should keep some snacks and water on hand when you can, especially if you’re driving. This will ensure stops are purely for gas and bathroom breaks.

8. Plan Your Seating
Another important thing to consider when traveling is where you are going to sit. Some modes of travel don’t have the restrictions that others do, so it is important to protect yourself in these circumstances. Your best option is to sit near a window if you’re on a bus or train. This will allow you to let in the fresh air, so you can ensure airflow near you. If you can, sit with the people you are traveling with or alone to ensure you aren’t being exposed to others. If you are on a plane, don’t choose a middle seat. In fact, see if there are any spots where the middle seat is not taken. When traveling, always wear your mask and sanitize when necessary.

9. Avoid Cash
Although it is always wise to have a little cash with you when you travel for emergencies, it isn’t wise to carry around a lot of cash. In this day and age, you want to limit the amount of transactions you make that require you to touch things that other people have touched. Giving cash as payment and receiving change, just makes you more vulnerable to getting sick, especially if you don’t sanitize right after each transaction. On top of that, traveling with cash makes you a target for crime. If you do travel with cash, always keep it hidden away so that potential muggers or con artists won’t attempt to steal from you and put you in a dangerous position.

10. Pack Snacks
Snacks can be one of the best travel hacks known to man. When you pack snacks, you will ensure you have food, which can bring you comfort even if you’re not conscious of it. Having snacks on hand also means you can go without spending money for longer periods of time, and you won’t have to touch things that could be infected. Of course, traveling with kids makes snacks absolutely crucial. No matter what mode of transportation you take, you will need snacks to keep children satisfied. If you are traveling by car then you should also keep drinks on hand. This will allow you to drive for longer stretches so you can arrive at your destination in a timely manner.

Traveling during this time can be nerve-racking and spending money is inevitable. However, there are many ways that you can travel without having to spend a small fortune. These ten tips will help you to find more peace of mind as you embrace the world of holiday travel again.