November 18, 2004  Email this  Print this
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Five Ways to Get Home for the Holidays
by Erin Burt & Lisa Dixon & Cameron Huddleston  Maybe this isn't your first holiday away from home, but it could be the first time you want to prove to yourself -- and Mom and Dad -- that you can pay your own way. But in the back of your mind you keep thinking about high fuel prices, demand for holiday flights and how much last-minute airfare is going to pinch your entry-level salary or stipend.
Relax, prices may not be as high as you think, and there are plenty of cheap alternatives to full-fare flights. If you're longing for Mom's home-made stuffing, want to revisit your old haunts, or heck, just get away on your own, here are some cheap ways to do it.
First the bad news: Be ready for more travelers this year. The AAA expects 37.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving. That's up 3.1% from last year, and near the record level set in 2000. The good news: "Many trips are less expensive than in 2000," says AAA spokesman John White. "Increased competition from discount airlines has caused airfares to plummet on many routes and hotel rates have only recently begun to rise after tumbling during the recession."
Snag a cheap flight
And believe it or not, there is still time to snap up a cheap fare for a Thanksgiving trip. A recent search on Orbitz found a $274 round-trip fare from Chicago to Dallas on Continental Airlines (and regional partner Express Jet). Other airlines were charging more than $800 for the same flight.
The secret: Be flexible. You can save a bundle if your timeline isn't set in stone. Orbitz has an easy-to-use flexible-search option. We saved big by altering our travel plans by just a couple of days.
When you do airfare searches this season, says Orbitz spokesperson Terri Shank, consider flying on the holidays themselves. Tickets are usually cheaper for flights Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas, she says.
Also be sure to check more than one travel search site. Not all airlines participate on Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia, so it's a good idea to check them all, including discount airlines' Web sites. Carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest Airlines advertise fares only on their sites.
And if price matters more than departure times and layovers, try looking on Hotwire.com or bidding for a seat at Priceline.com. You might find a cheaper fare, but this is sort of like flying blind. Both sites tell you the day of the flight, but withhold the departure time and name of the airline until after you buy.
If you just can't find a ticket in your price range, sign up for free e-mail alerts from Orbitz or Travelocity, so you can act quickly if fares drop into your comfort zone. Learn more ways the Web can steer you to good deals.
Here's another tip if you plan to fly home regularly: Join a frequent flier program. You could score a free flight. Just don't overpay for a ticket to earn a few miles or you could end up paying for your "freebie" yourself. Join an airline that has a hub in a city near you to ensure plenty of flights whenever you're ready to go. And don't overlook programs at discount airlines.
Get behind the wheel
If you don't think your beater can make the trip home, consider renting a car. There are some definite advantages to renting -- if the car breaks down, you don't have to pay for it, and you can typically get another car fairly quickly.
If you already have auto insurance, you're covered for a rental too. Don't pay for the added coverage the sales clerk will inevitably pitch.
If you rent an economy car for a week and make the same drive from Chicago to Dallas you would probably pay about as much as the discounted air fare we found -- almost $300, including fuel and meals along the way. But you have wheels when you get to your destination. On the downside: An 800 mile trip will take you more than 14 hours (one way).
To get the best price, rent on weekends and choose an off-airport location to avoid additional charges, says Orbitz's Shank. But watch out for extra fees if you intend to cross state lines. And if you're under age 25, a rental gets more expensive. Some companies, such as Alamo, Avis, or Hertz, won't even rent to you. Budget, Enterprise, Dollar and Thrifty will, but they may charge an extra $10 to $25 per day for drivers age 21 through 24.
Share a ride
Driving is definitely the cheapest alternative if you have a reliable car. Your biggest expense will be gasoline, now averaging $1.96 per gallon nationally. If your car averages 20 mpg, you're looking at a total round-trip expense of $156.80 on an 800-mile trip. Throw in meals, snacks and tolls and you might break $200.
But you'll still need to sit hours behind the wheel -- unless you find someone to come along. Sharing the costs and the driving with a travel partner or two can make your road trip more appealing.
You can match up with someone planning to travel along your route on eRideShare, Craigslist or AlterNetRides.
If you live in a college town, make use of campus bulletin boards where students often request or offer rides to their hometown.
But your best bet -- particularly if you aren't comfortable driving long-distance with a stranger -- is to break out your networking skills. Ask friends, or check with coworkers and members of your alumni club.
Hop on the bus, Gus
It may not be the most glamorous mode of transport, but if you're really pinching pennies, the bus is your ticket home. Right now you can travel Greyhound's Northeast routes to and from New York City for as little as $12 one-way. Travel between the Midwest and Florida and between the Northeast and points South costs $99 or less one-way. Blackout dates are December 16, 17, 22 through 24 and January 2.
For other destinations, snag the best rate by following these tips from Greyhound's Kim Plaskett:
- Travel on a weekday.
- Book your trip at least seven days in advance, and buy a round-trip ticket.
- Travel with a friend. When you buy one adult ticket, you get 50% off for a companion.
- Get a Student Advantage card ($20) to save 15% on tickets purchased the same day of travel.
Try the train
Don't expect to find many bargains on the railways during the holiday season. The few deals Amtrak's currently offering are off limits November 22 through 30 and December 17 through January 2. But if you don't mind waiting until the last minute to book a ticket, you might find a gem in the weekly specials.
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