When it comes to booking flights for holidays like Christmas, you need to do it sooner rather than later to ensure that you get access to cheap Christmas flights. The closer the holiday is, the higher the airfare will be.
So, you need to book them in late summer or at best in the fall to get the best deals.
Haven’t you done that? Don’t worry. Here, before we present you with a list of the best places to travel for Christmas and why they are a good bet, first let’s talk about how to get the cheapest Christmas flights.
Get Started Today!
The first piece of advice we have for you is that you need to book the holiday flights as soon as possible.
The longer you wait, the higher the prices. Please don’t waste your time trying to game the system, as it might be fruitless.
In the last few years, people were able to get last-minute cheap deals or less busy flights due to COVID-19, but that’s no longer the case. So, you won’t find cheaper deals during the holidays.
The Cheapest Days
The best days to fly around Christmas are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as most people prefer to fly sooner.
The most expensive day to return is the day after Christmas, December 26. So, the longer you wait to fly after Christmas, the cheaper the airfare will be.
It’s a good idea for those seeking cheap flights on Christmas.
Changing the Christmas Flights
Many people wonder whether they can book holiday flights now to make the most of Christmas flight deals and change them later.
If you are wondering the same, then you should know that yes, you can do that, but there are a few things you need to remember.
If you use large US carriers like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, it’s easy to change your ticket without paying a change fee.
So, if you find a cheaper flight after a few weeks, you can rebook and get airline flight credits to make up for the price difference between the two flights or get a full refund when canceling certain higher-level tickets. It also applies to using miles in some programs.
How to Change Flights Booked Through AMEX and Chase Reward Points
If you want to change flights using AMEX Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate rewards points, you need to use an online cancellation form.
You should know that you can use the form only if there are over five days remaining until your flight is set to depart and if the flight was booked more than 24 hours back.
If canceling a flight booked through AMEX Membership rewards, you need to call AMEX Travel to cancel flights. They will guide you through the entire process.
When flying with American, Delta, and United, you should know that the above usually applies to domestic flights (with regular economy tickets) and all flights originating in North America. But it’s better to check your carrier’s individual policy in case you want to change an international flight.
How to Book Cheap Christmas Flights Now?
If you are planning to book Christmas flights now, here are a few ways to make sure you stay within the budget.
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Be flexible with the travel dates and ensure that you use filters on the travel to see the cheapest Christmas travel dates.
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Change the destination – If you have no one waiting for you in the city you plan to travel to, you can ask your family to meet in a city that has cheap Christmas flights.
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Hold a flight when possible, even if you are not 100% sure. It will give you time to make up your mind.
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Use Capital One Travel’s price protection feature if you have a travel credit card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
It will give you access to the site’s airfare algorithms to suggest whether you book now or wait for prices to drop. It will make you eligible for credit if the price unexpectedly drops.
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Make use of Google Flights’ amazing function that tells you how current fares compare to historical data.
It will help you choose the best itinerary. It will also ensure that you plan the cheapest Christmas vacations.
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Also, you must consider other ways to save money beyond airfare. For instance, you can choose a cheaper hotel that is lesser known.
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It is also smart to consider flying at inconvenient hours to save some money, like late at night or super early in the morning, as you will not only avoid the rush but also save some money.
Use Travel Miles and the Right Credit Cards
You can use credit card travel benefits whenever possible to save cash. Some of the credit cards you can use for Christmas travel are:
| Name of the Card | Travel Benefits | Welcome Bonus | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Get 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, |
60,000 bonus points |
$95 |
|
Get 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. |
75,000 miles |
$95 |
|
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card |
Get 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, |
75,000 bonus points |
$149 |
Get up to 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants, |
60,000 bonus points |
$250 |
|
Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, |
75,000 miles |
$395 |
|
Get 5 Membership Rewards Points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and on flights booked directly with airlines or AMEX travel. |
80,000 bonus points |
$695 |
What are the Best Places to Travel for Christmas?
When it comes to the best places to travel for Christmas, you have countless choices. To make things easier for you, here’s a list of the best options and how to make the best of each journey.
Some of them are cheap places to travel for Christmas, while some are magical. Explore as many as you can.
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Gran Canaria Canary Islands Spain
One of the best answers to where to go for Christmas is to explore the Gran Canaria Canary Islands in Spain. Whether you are a bachelor or you want to travel with family, it is a great choice.
In addition to enjoying walks along the coast, you can also take a dip in the water. During Christmas, you can explore the beauty of historic churches, charming towns, and attractive markets.
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Phuket, Thailand
If you want to enjoy clear water laps on stunning beaches and sandy shores, Thailand should be your first choice.
With pine trees, splendid resorts, and cost-effective hostels, your travel would be very soothing. During Christmas, we recommend that you explore the raucous parties and kaleidoscopic fireworks displays.
Also, the colorful explosions illuminate the Chao Phraya River are unforgettable.
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The Cotswold village of Broadway Worcestershire, England
Those of you who want a taste of the quintessentially English Christmas must explore this option.
With chocolate box villages dusted in snow, cozy pub fires, and the chime of churchbells ricocheting off period properties, your Christmas will be unique.
And yes, we recommend the mulled wine.
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New York City, USA
The words best Christmas vacations and New York often go hand in hand. Most people are aware that Christmas in New York is extraordinary.
From riding the gorgeously restored, vintage Jane’s Carousel on the East River front to ice-skating under the Rockefeller Center tree, every experience is unique.
We also recommend that you stroll with your partner across a twinkly Brooklyn Bridge and get the New York at Christmas movie magic experience at The Plaza.
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Iceland
Did you know that the festive season in Iceland lasts 26 days, not 12? Yes, you can also enjoy the 13 Santa Clauses who bring presents to children across the country. In December, you also get a rare opportunity to see the Northern Lights here.
We recommend that you spend Christmas day enjoying some ice skating at the frozen central pond of Tjörnin, located in the capital Reykjavík, while spending a memorable night enjoying a delicious dinner of smoked lamb and langoustine.
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Cusco, Peru
For many people, Christmas is a time for giving. If you believe that too, you can explore a festive break with International Volunteer HQ.
We recommend you explore Cusco, where you, as an IVHQ volunteer can wrap presents and prep Christmas decorations for underprivileged local children.
After that, you can have a thrilling adventure too by independently opting for the Inca Trail trek to nearby Machu Picchu. You could also wait to see the whole city explode with fireworks at midnight.
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Himalayan Trekking, Nepal
Looking for a Christmas getaway with a spiritual touch? Explore Hindu temples and Buddhist prayer in Kathmandu.
Here, you will also see many Santa hats, decorated trees, and glittering lights that will bring in the Christmas cheer.
Enjoy some blissful quiet time at the Roof of the World on an Annapurna trek. Word of caution- Please carry ample layers and a warm sleeping bag, as the mercury will usually dip below freezing.
Final Words
The list of best places to travel for Christmas is long, and so, we have mentioned the top ones here. We also mentioned some smart ways to save money on Christmas travel so that you stay within your budget while enjoying the most. Happy holidays!
