For many individuals and families, the Christmas holiday season is bustling with excitement and joy. However, not everyone anticipates the holiday with a heavy dose of enthusiasm. Christmas can represent a time of too much planning, too much shopping, short-lived decorating, and obligatory entertaining, which add up to a hefty expense.
It is becoming more common for people to ditch holiday traditions altogether and opt for a travel experience instead. If you’re thinking about joining those ranks this year but are unsure if the benefits are enough to make a move, here are a handful of reasons to plan a trip for Christmas this year.
1. Will Save on Travel at Christmastime
Most people are traveling to see family or friends during the last few days of the year, and rightfully so, they want to arrive before the actual holiday and leave after the festivities end. Because this is the norm, airfare, and hotel rooms are more costly a few days before and after Christmas.
You Can Save Money on Airfare and Hotel Stays
Contrary to popular belief, traveling during the busiest season of the year is a lot more affordable when you’re vacationing, particularly if you can plan flights and hotel stays on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Especially when traveling to vacation destinations.
You May Be Able to Save Your Vacation Days
You may also be able to save on taking time away from work, as many employers have reduced hours or closed doors from Christmas to New Years. Not having to take unpaid leave or vacation days may help you save even more.
2. Can Save on Gift-Giving and Meal Costs
On average, Christmas shopping in the gifts category comes in at just under $1,000. This amount includes presents for family, friends, co-workers, and service professionals, all of which are lovely gestures but a significant expense each year. After adding in food and travel expenses you could be looking upward to $1,500 or more!
While planning a vacation instead of the normal Christmas get-together still comes at a cost, avoiding major gift-giving and meals can save a few to several hundred dollars per household.
3. Can Reduce Your Overall Stress
Whether you are the type to plan an extravagant holiday party each year or a smaller family gathering at your home, putting together the details for meals, entertainment, and potentially lodging for guests can be incredibly stressful.
It takes time and effort to ensure everyone is satisfied throughout the holiday season, but it is all too common for planners to skip over their own well-being and relaxation during the busiest time of the year.
Opting for a holiday trip instead of hosting a party for the entire family or trying to fit in everyone else’s takes away some of this stress, and in the end, you get a vacation out of the deal.
4. Resets Your Mind and Body for the New Year
Many people indulge during the holiday season, not just with the bevy of sweet and savory foods but in the financial department as well. When spending gets out of control, it is easy to turn to credit or small personal loans to help cover the excess.
However, when the New Year rolls in, credit card and other holiday debts have to be repaid. This causes more stress than necessary for many American families. Wouldn’t it be nice to relax on a holiday cruise or sunny beach once in a while instead?
Final Thoughts on Skipping Christmas and Vacationing Instead
Instead of stretching yourself too thin with travel, entertainment, gifting, and the like, start planning a vacation the summer before. Set aside a small amount each month or pay period into a dedicated travel account and start gathering details about costs.
Once everything is added up, you might be surprised at how much you save opting for a getaway this holiday season, especially when used as an alternative to a major summer one.
For more helpful money saving tips, see our article on how to save money for vacation.
