The ability to travel to be with loved ones during the holiday season is something many of us found challenging even pre-pandemic due to geographic and financial constraints. Here are a few tips to help you plan for the upcoming holiday season so you can spend time with loved ones—and potentially save money along the way.

SET UP A TRAVEL SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

If traveling is a priority for you and your family, a travel savings account could be a wise savings strategy. With a dedicated account for travel, you can save a little every month toward the cost of a flight, hotel or whatever you need to finance for your next big adventure. Being intentional about setting aside a predetermined amount regularly will help make large-ticket travel purchases more manageable.

BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR PLANS.

Many airlines, hotels and rental car companies offer deals on weekdays or the weeks directly before or after peak travel days. If you’re flexible on the dates of your trip, you could potentially save money by planning around [does ‘planning around’ actually mean ‘avoiding traveling on’?]weekends or popular holidays. While it’s always recommended to plan far in advance, companies looking to sell excess inventory may also offer last-minute deals on purchases closer to your trip.

REDEEM UNUSED POINTS OR OFFERS.

If your credit card offers points or rewards, odds are it has accumulated a redeemable balance over the past year, given the likelihood that your travels were limited. Even if your points or rewards are not enough to cover the full cost of your travels, using your credit card’s rewards program to book travel may help to offset service or baggage fees that you’d otherwise pay out of pocket.

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