Celebrate the holidays with travel deals and discounts

Posted by citiYellow

Saturday, 21 January 2012 07:32

(ARA) - The holiday season is the perfect time to hit the road and celebrate with loved ones, but travel expenses tend to skyrocket around this busy time of year. With a bit of planning and research, there are many easy ways to save on travel, lodging and activities around the holidays.

As you plan your upcoming trip, take time now to research deals and discounts that can help make your vacation more affordable. Here are a few that can get you started:

* Online deal and savings sites such as Groupon, LivingSocial or Yipit are extremely popular and a great way to save money in your local city. However, you can also take advantage of these sites while traveling. Check out the deals offered in your destination city to save money on restaurants and entertainment this holiday season. Often, these can allow your family to take advantage of the attractions without breaking the bank.

* When visiting friends and family this holiday season, consider staying at a hotel that provides the comforts of home, while providing extra savings. Hilton Garden Inn is currently offering the Fast Ways to Free Stays promotion through Hilton HHonors. Members can choose between earning double points per stay or earning a free night certificate after four stays or 10 nights at participating Hilton Garden Inn hotels through the end of the year. Sleeping in a comfortable hotel bed will ensure your family gets a great night of sleep and is rested for the festivities, without burdening your holiday hosts or your wallet. With more than 525 locations worldwide, Hilton Garden Inn also offers free Wi-Fi for guests - allowing you to remain connected without extra costs.

* Start searching now for your plane reservations. Look for and book your travel deals on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons, when airlines tend to reduce fares. Consider being flexible in your travel dates and airport choice. Sometimes you may find better deals when traveling during the middle of the week, rather than over the busy holiday weekend. By avoiding major airports in favor of smaller, local airports, you may find increased availability and lower prices on major airline and budget carriers, with shorter check-in and security lines.

The holidays are a great time to get together with family, especially if you can find special deals and discounts to make the trip more affordable, giving you more money to put toward holiday gifts or activities.