I would never pay retail for airfare. Only use points. That being the case, it does take awhile to accumulate enough to fly our family of 4 internationally to the popular destinations we want and with kids, when everyone else is going too. We do international trips every other year and national trips the years we don't. We do 2 big vacations annually - 1 spring OR winter and 1 summer and 1-2x local driving trips over summer as well. We have $25k to spend and let me tell you it goes quick even with points. Everything really is crazy $$$. Unless you are driving to a national park and camping or staying at Motel 6, it's gonna be some $$. There's not a lot of difference between a $250/night and $400/night hotel at a major city really but if you did want another level up, it's substantially higher than $400/night. It definitely adds up.

My friend is from San Diego and she goes at least twice a year. She travels a lot though, I think she uses points.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just back from SD. My round trip with tax and fees was slightly less than $400 but one stop each way. Wasn’t too bad

SD? San Diego? Or South Dakota?

San Diego

Get used to it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any truth to the myth that booking flights on holidays are cheaper? Ie, buying on Memorial Day for a trip over the summer.

The one exception is that flying anywhere late on Christmas Eve or anytime Christmas Day is very affordable.

Thanksgiving Day is also cheap. My family is very spread out and we eat dinner on Friday. Everyone travels on Thursday.

We always fly mid day thanksgiving. A few years ago the 4 of us went to France on thanksgiving for $2000 total.

You have to book far in advance if you want any kind of “deal.” If you are booking now for summer, the deals are long gone.

I'm cheap. We're doing a combo of traveling less, going to cheaper destinations, and doing driving trips.

Agreed, flight prices are very high. And, yes, we're paying them occasionally. With kids in school, there isn't much flexibility about when to travel. Life is short, and we prioritize family travel and have worked hard (and are fortunate) to be able to afford it. We always fly economy and look to other ways to save money.

We paid under $400RT nonstop to Cancun the last two winters. This year, it's $1000RT, and we have to stop on the way down. Yes, $1000 for a flight that's less than 4 hours. I looked at other warm weather winter break destinations, but everything was expensive for winter break. And my family loves the place we stay in Riviera Maya - and it's reasonable. We did shorten our trip compared to the last two years given the higher cost of flights. I started looking at flights for winter break as soon as they were available and they were never reasonable.

When I found tickets to Japan for spring break 2024 dates at $1200RT nonstop, I bought them quickly. That price seems somehow very reasonable for a 13 hour flight. As I'm now beginning to research what to do in Japan, I'm finding many others online who are also planning Spring 2024. Travel planning has shifted with so many folks trying to be early birds. I should still be able to find decent lodging this far out, but have been surprised by how many places are already booked or have limited availability.

Anonymous wrote:Is there any truth to the myth that booking flights on holidays are cheaper? Ie, buying on Memorial Day for a trip over the summer.

If it’s a day when most people are busy with other things and not searching flights, then you might see something. Usually the prices are fixed by demand on the date of travel, not just the date that you happen to book the trip.

Also the Sundays of a three day weekend like this Sunday is a pretty good fare day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any truth to the myth that booking flights on holidays are cheaper? Ie, buying on Memorial Day for a trip over the summer.

The one exception is that flying anywhere late on Christmas Eve or anytime Christmas Day is very affordable.

Thanksgiving Day is also cheap. My family is very spread out and we eat dinner on Friday. Everyone travels on Thursday.

Anonymous wrote:Is there any truth to the myth that booking flights on holidays are cheaper? Ie, buying on Memorial Day for a trip over the summer.

The one exception is that flying anywhere late on Christmas Eve or anytime Christmas Day is very affordable.

Anonymous wrote:Is there any truth to the myth that booking flights on holidays are cheaper? Ie, buying on Memorial Day for a trip over the summer.

No

Is there any truth to the myth that booking flights on holidays are cheaper? Ie, buying on Memorial Day for a trip over the summer.

We have a running list of places we want to visit. We price out multiple options for each trip and then decide where we want to go. It’s rare we say “we are only considering going this one place and nowhere else.” So if one is pricey; we choose the one that seems a better value. It’s so volatile, you can get better deals this way.