Priceline’s Tips to Find the Best Deals for the Holidays

According to Priceline, searches are way up for holiday travel despite price increases, and there are still popular and affordable options. Priceline pulled together the most affordable domestic and international destinations for holiday travelers (travel between November 15, 2022 – January 2, 2023), how to save on flights and hotels, as well as data on holiday booking trends. 

Priceline’s research shows that travel during the holidays will be expensive, but if you’re flexible, you may be able to save some money.  Here’s what you should know:

Thanksgiving and Christmas travel is on pace to be the most expensive year to travel ever (due in part to inflation and jet fuel prices). Priceline data shows domestic flights are up 35%, international flight prices are up 44% and hotel prices are up 11%. The price for rental cars is the only travel sector that has a flat price point.  

How LGBTQ+ Consumers Can Cut Down on Holiday Travel Costs

• Extend your trips. Be flexible with your travel dates or visit with your family. Delaying your return (e.g., by 2-5 days before or after each holiday) will make it easier to find lower-cost flights and discounts. As of now, consumers can find affordable flights when traveling on December 27, 29, and 30.  Priceline predicts, Friday, Dec. 23, will be the busiest day for flights and rental cars, but travelers can avoid the crowded airports, traffic…and save by extending their holiday trips. 

• Change your plans. Priceline’s data also shows the cheapest days for airfare in the next three months will be the first 5 days of December.  

• Consider a road trip. Why? Because rental cars are flat in price this year compared to last year.

Of note, Priceline is offering deals in all travel categories during the holiday period, especially on accommodations, with “Express Deals” up to 60% off popular hotels. 

Editor’s Note: Vacationer recommends queer travelers support and work with LGBTQ+ travel agencies and travel advisors when it comes to trip planning especially with a rise in issues traveling, such as flight cancellations to delays.

Deals on Wheels – Car Rental Intel 

If you know you will need to rent a car for the Thanksgiving holiday, book it now! According to Priceline, rates have started to decrease slightly as rental car companies replenish their fleets and better balance their prices, as the travel industry returns to more predictable seasonal demand patterns. 

• However, prices remain significantly elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. This year, the average daily price of a rental car during Thanksgiving week is $97.63 (domestic U.S.). That’s 5.3% lower than last year, but still up 48.6% vs. 2019.

Trending and Affordable Destinations

For those still deciding on holiday travel, there are a few trending destinations, and some are both popular and affordable. For example, Hawaii is trending and searches for hotels in Honolulu are up 151%.

Las Vegas tops the list of popular destination searches, and it is also on the most affordable lists for both roundtrip airfare and hotel. So, Priceline recommends it as “a great place to travel to this holiday season for deals and great experiences.”

Btw, the top 10 trending destinations (based on the hotel average nightly rate) include New Orleans, Honolulu, Las Vegas, San Juan (PR), San Francisco, New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta. 

Take a look a closer look at Priceline’s list of the top 10 most affordable domestic and international destinations below. 

HOLIDAY TRAVEL OVERVIEW

Top 10 Most Affordable Domestic Destinations (based on avg. RT airfare)

1.  LAS VEGAS, NV – $303.29

2.  FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – $317.38

3.  ORLANDO, FL – $321.11

4.  CHICAGO, IL – $349.40

5.  NEW YORK, NY – $356.11

6.   ATLANTA, GA – $372.40

7.   TAMPA, FL – $375.53

8.   DENVER, CO – $386.97

9.   MIAMI, FL – $387.14

10. AUSTIN, TX – $389.16

Top 10 Most Affordable Domestic Destinations (based on hotel avg. nightly rate)

1.   LAS VEGAS, NV – $132.95

2.   SEATTLE, WA – $156.15

3.   SAN ANTONIO, TX – $177.56

4.   ATLANTA, GA – $178.29

5.   CHICAGO, IL – $178.39

6.   ORLANDO, FL – $179.90

7.   SAN DIEGO, CA – $182.48

8.   LOS ANGELES, CA – $191.23

9.   FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – $199.75

10. ANAHEIM, CA – $199.89

Top 10 Most Affordable International Destinations (based on avg. RT Airfare)

1.   PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – $514.76

2.   SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. – $528.46

3.   LOS CABOS, MEXICO – $561.36

4.   KINGSTON, JAMAICA – $569.26

5.   CANCUN, MEXICO – $597.75

6.   PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – $609.42

7.   MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA – $616.95

8.   LISBON, PORTUGAL – $621.21

9.   MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – $654.53

10. DUBLIN, IRELAND – $656.87

Top 10 Most Affordable International Destinations (based on hotel avg. nightly rate)

1.   BARCELONA, SPAIN – $103.91

2.   MANILA, PHILIPPINES – $106.71

3.   LISBON, PORTUGAL – $106.83

4.   REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – $124.68

5.   MADRID, SPAIN – $134.09

6.   ISTANBUL, TURKEY – $135.87

7.   AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – $137.50

8.   TOKYO, JAPAN – $151.00

9.   ROME, ITALY – $156.97

10. VANCOUVER, CANADA – $161.48