10 Lesser-Known Holiday Travel Tips—According To Travel Agents

The most wonderful time of year can also be the busiest and most stressful, especially if you plan to travel for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Whether you’re traveling internationally to European Christmas markets or flying within the United States to visit with family or friends, the following holiday travel tips from travel agents can help make your trips go smoothly.

Ahead, a look at the busiest days to travel during the holiday 2024 season, plus travel agents share their favorite, lesser-known holiday travel tips to help alleviate some of the stress that comes with flying during those busy stretches in November and December.

What Are The Busiest Holiday Travel Days in 2024?

If the busy summer travel season was any indicator, airports could be braced for a banner year this holiday season — the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says summer 2024 was the busiest on record.

The busiest date to travel during the 2024 holiday season will be Dec. 23, according to a new survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of IHG Hotels & Resorts. New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) will be the most common travel day on the trip home, according to the survey that polled 2,000 Americans who are planning holiday travel.

Thanksgiving 2024 falls on Thursday, Nov. 28. The day before Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) as well as Nov. 30 are the most popular 2024 travel days surrounding Turkey Day, according to the Talker Research poll.

Top Holiday Travel Tips for 2024, According To Travel Experts

You probably know some of the golden rules of traveling during the holiday: Arrive at the airport with plenty of extra time to get through security and enroll in TSA Pre Check to help you get through security more quickly.

Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. But some airports get extra busy, especially during the holidays, and recommend shifting to two hours before your boarding time for a domestic flight and three hours before boarding for an international flight.

Here’s some lesser-known travel tips and tricks that will help holiday travel go smoothly, according to travel agents and experts.

1. Pre-Book Airport Lounges

Whether it’s a long layover or delayed flight, an airport lounge can be your sanctuary from holiday crowds but they often command waits during peak travel times, points out Athena Livadas, founder of Páme Travel. When airports are busy, and delays are rolling in, the lounges fill up quickly, prompting long lines to get in and waitlists that may extend past your boarding time.

However, some lounges allow you to make reservations a day in advance, Livadas says. If you have Priority Pass with your travel credit card, download the app ahead of time and check to see if your airport’s lounge takes reservations, and snagging one if so.

2. Reserve A Spot In The Security Line

A growing number of airports now have programs that allow you to reserve a spot ahead of time in security lines. This is a separate program from PreCheck and borrows the fastpass idea from the amusement park world, allowing travelers to book their time slot in the security line. The program rules vary by airport, so check out the details of which security line the reserve program is offered in and how far in advance you can book your security slot.

The following U.S. airports have options for reserving spots in TSA security lines in advance:

• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (IAH)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (JFK)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
• New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

3. Use Digital Hotel Keys For Faster Check-In

Many hotel chain programs, like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, offer digital key options through their apps, allowing you to skip the front desk and head straight to your room, says Livadas. This faster check-in is convenient for late arrivals or for avoiding busy lobbies during peak holiday times.

4. Download Mobile Passport Control

Global Entry can save you time in busy customs lines and come in handy if you have a tight connection. But if you don’t already have Global Entry, and can’t get in for an interview before your holiday travel, you’ve got another option.

Download Mobile Passport Control (MPC), a free app accepted at many U.S. airports for expedited customs processing. It’s ideal for last-minute travelers, as there's no need for a pre-approval interview, Livadas says.

5. Check In On Rental Car Prices

Reserve your rental car as soon as you decide on flights or an itinerary, recommends Ben Armstrong, CEO of Famvia Travel. But check the price of the same rental the week of your trip to see if you can get a better deal by canceling and rebooking.

“Rental car agencies use dynamic pricing and any sudden cancellations by others may help you get a better price on a new reservation,” Armstrong says.

6. Take The First Flight Of The Day Out

Yes, you’ll have to set your alarm extra early (or maybe even stay up late), but opting for the first flight of the day, especially during the busy holiday travel season, has its perks.

Morning flights are less likely to face delays or cancellations, says Carolyn Weppler, senior vice president with Goway, a travel company that creates personalized itineraries.

If your early-morning departure does hit a snag, you’ll have a shot to get on one of the flights scheduled for later in the day. However, Weppler also recommends booking a “buffer day” to help make sure you arrive to your destination in time for any important holiday celebrations.

7. Don’t Wrap Your Gifts Ahead Of Time

Travel experts are fans of carrying on bags, especially during the busy holiday travel season. That way, you don't have to wait at baggage claim or worry about your bags getting lost.

If you’re planning to carry-on, though, don’t pack wrapped gifts, Weppler suggests. While wrapped gifts are allowed through TSA, an agent may unwrap those presents if they trigger the need for additional screening. It’s less likely that gifts in checked bags will be unwrapped, but it’s still a possibility.

8. Ask For Hotel Room Decorations

Many hotels go all out during the holiday season. If you’re traveling with kids, Weppler recommends connecting with the hotel’s concierge ahead of your travels to help make the holidays more memorable by arranging for gifts to be delivered by Santa, having an in-room menorah set up or displaying a Christmas tree. These types of requests can be met depending on the hotel and availability, she says.

9. Book Your Rideshare In Advance

Consider reserving your ride share in advance, especially if traveling during a holiday like Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, Armstrong recommends. That way, if a driver accepts the reserved ride and cancels or falls through, you will have priority on getting a car to you. There could be less people out driving on the holidays, so this may help you lock in a better price in advance.

10. Make Sure Your Passport Meets Requirements

You probably already checked to make sure that your passport isn’t expired. But some countries have additional rules, like requiring two consecutive pages to be empty, says Jonathan Adler, a luxury travel advisor and founder of Jonathan’s Travels. Also, make sure that your expiration date is more than six months out from your return as that’s a requirement for many countries. You can check with the U.S. State Department to see which countries have the six-month passport rule.