Travelers are expected to spend a record of nearly $311 billion on flights and hotels this holiday season. What are the most popular strategies to save on travel costs?

Answer:

1. Fly on a non-peak travel day
2. Stay with family members/ friends instead of getting a hotel room/ vacation rental
3. Tied: Use points/ miles to pay for at least some of my holiday travel; Use social media to help me find travel deals

Questions:

• Do you or your family usually travel for holiday celebrations? Why or why not?
• What factors might make someone MORE likely to travel for the holidays?
• How can planning ahead help you save money on travel?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (Nerdwallet): 

"Nearly half of 2025 holiday travelers (48%) say they’ll keep their usual holiday travel plans this year, regardless of expense. But everyone could benefit from saving money on their trip costs.

According to the survey, almost all 2025 holiday travelers (91%) will take action to save money on their upcoming holiday travel-related expenses. Three in 10 (30%) say they’ll fly on a non-peak day and more than a quarter (26%) will stay with loved ones instead of getting a hotel room/vacation rental."

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.

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