With the holiday season just around the corner, the prospect of long wait times, crowded airports and parks can be stressful. We have created a few simple steps you can take to avoid long lines and minimise your wait time while traveling during the holiday season.
If you have not experienced travel crowds before, here are a few key things you should know about how holiday travel crowds can affect your travel.
- Longer wait times – During the holiday season, you may experience a much longer wait times at airports, train stations, bus terminals as well as if you are visiting theme parks such as Disneyland due to the higher volume of travellers
- Higher prices – The costs to travel may be higher during peak holiday travel periods. Because there is a higher demand than the low season, companies like the airlines are likely to charge you more.
- Crowded conditions – Popular tourist destinations such as Japan may be more crowded than usual during the holidays. This might make it a little more difficult to enjoy the attractions, shops and activities you had planned.
How to Avoid Holiday Travel Crowds
There are 2 main ways to avoid holiday travel crowds. First is to travel during off-peak season which could be traveling the days just before or after the major holidays. The second way is to book your travel and activities as early as possible. This will help you secure your preferred dates and times, and at the same time it can also help you save money. Booking early will give you more flexibility to adjust your travel plans, many attractions and airlines have free cancelation policy which means you can always change your dates later on if needed.
Plan ahead and book in advance
One of the best ways to avoid long lines and crowded airports is to plan ahead and book your flight or train ticket as soon as possible. Booking early will help you secure a seat on the most convenient flights and trains, so that you can get to where you’re going without too much hassle. Additionally, by booking ahead, you’ll have plenty of time to change or update your travel plans if something unexpected comes up.
According to some online studies, you could save up to 18% if you book your flights in advance.
| How Far In Advance to Book | Saving comparing to booking at the last minute | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flights | 21 weeks in advance | Save up to 12% |
| International flights | 22 weeks in advance | Save up to 18% |
Book at least a month before for domestic flights and six months before for international flights to save 10%: Travellers that booked in these periods saved 10% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute
Fly or train during off-peak hours
Whenever possible, try to fly or take the train during off-peak hours. By avoiding busier airports and train stations, you’ll avoid long lines and a crowded environment. If your flight schedule is flexible, consider taking the earliest or latest flight out of the airport instead of one in the middle of the day. You should also consider taking trains that don’t run during peak travel times (weekends and holidays).
For example, if you are traveling in Sydney you can receive a 30% off discount if you travel outside of peak times.
| Days of the week | Sydney metro/train network peak times | Intercity trains peak times | Off peak fares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 6.30am-10am3pm-7pm | 6am-10am3pm-7pm | You will receive a 30% discount when you travel outside of peak times |
Look for alternate airports nearby with less traffic
If you’re flying, you may be able to avoid the holiday travel rush by looking for alternate airports nearby. Look into smaller airports that don’t have as much traffic and offer more affordable ticket prices. You can often find flights to major airports operating out of these smaller hubs, so it’s worth checking out your options before booking your ticket.
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