I’m Dreaming of a Travel-Friendly Gift…and it May Not be Snow
Photo Credit: www.Bowdabra.com
Weather delays when traveling can wreck havoc on a planned vacation, particularly during the holidays. Coupled with reduced airline capacity, flying during Christmas and New Year’s might be causing some anxiety for travelers.
According to TripAdvisor’s December holiday travel survey, when asked about the best “gift” for travelers this holiday season, 46 percent of Americans are dreaming of a direct flight without delays, while 23 percent are wishing for good weather.
Other tangible most wanted holiday gifts for travelers as reported by the TripAdvisor survey include digital cameras, frequent flyer miles, noise-canceling headphones, GPS device and an iPod/MP3 player.
While more Americans plan to travel for the holidays, 68 percent of survey respondents said that they will be more budget conscious with their holiday travel compared to the previous year.
Budget Friendly Holiday Tips from TripAdvisor Travelers:
1. “Be flexible! One Advantage of the current economy is last minute deals.”
2. “Crash at a relative’s and say you want a good old-fashioned family Christmas.”
3. “It’s OK to haggle on pricing. Most U.S. citizens are uncomfortable with haggling prices. Try it in New Orleans, or any city!”
4. “Bring leftovers from home and have a nice, hot meal in your hotel room.”
5. “Take a small Christmas tree and ornament hooks in a suitcase and decorate your hotel room with your trip souvenirs.”
6. “Be a traveler in your own state to boost the local economy.”
7. “Finding someone to check in on your pets is far less expensive than boarding them.”
8. “Check for free events happening in the city you’re visiting.”
9. “Avoid parking fees and have a friend take you to the airport.”
10. “Ask locals where they shop and dine. They live there so they know.”
“While more Americans plan to travel this holiday season, people are increasingly looking for inexpensive ways to enjoy this special time of year,” according to Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. “From exploring their own backyards, to taking advantage of free holiday attractions, the majority of travelers will spend time with family and friends this holiday season, while mixing in the occasional ‘escape’ to alleviate stress.”
What is your top frugal holiday travel tip?
Noise canceling headphones and mp3 players are a travelers best friends. Air travel isn’t a very fun experience as it is, but they help you drown out the hum of the plane and the screaming babies so you can enjoy your trip and make it a little more bearable. So they definitely make the top of the list of gifts for any travelers on your list.