It’s that time of year again– the smells of turkey, the shouts of football, the crazy colors of the parade all fill your vision with the sights and sounds of Thanksgiving. While you look forward to spending time with family, and let’s be honest, eating your heart out, you have to survive Thanksgiving travel first.
With 2020 basically canceling all travel plans, there’s a surge in travel — especially for Thanksgiving — in 2021. Kayak reports in Travel and Leisure that last-minute bookings are trending, and the demand for car rentals is up 224% compared to 2020. Here’s how to beat the crowds, survive Thanksgiving travel, and save yourself money and stress in the long run.
Nowadays, tried and true practices of booking your flight in advance or planning your road trip route, still holds relevant today. With many travelers hesitating to purchase their flights until last minute, they risk prices going up and availability going down.
But prepare to be flexible – you may need to extend your trip if you test positive for COVID-19, and you may need to stay longer at your destination to quarantine. Book with travel insurance in advance so you can easily get refunded if you have to cancel your flight or change travel plans.
If you need to rent a car, make sure you book at least a few weeks ahead of time, and try to be flexible with your dates if you’re unable to book the dates you want. If you’re flying, download multiple rideshare apps on your phone because currently there are more riders than drivers, and rideshare apps are struggling to meet this high demand.
Avoiding the crowds becomes more pertinent this year, both for safety against COVID-19, and due to the stress of traveling with millions of other Americans during this season. If you’re road tripping, the most popular day to start your Thanksgiving travel in past years, was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. However, research suggests that due to remote work, the Monday before Thanksgiving may be the busiest travel day in 2021. Try to avoid traveling on these days, either by plane or by car. If you must travel during those days, catch a red-eye flight or consider driving at night to avoid the crowds. Review your road trip route and see if you can take more scenic, local routes to avoid congested highways on your way to your final destination.
Finally, a key component of any holiday travel is lodging. Once you get to your destination, where will you stay? 7 out of 10 travelers admit they don’t like staying with relatives, and we don’t blame them. In fact, a 2019 survey conducted by the American Automobile Association, concluded 65% of travelers would stay somewhere else besides relatives’ home, citing reasons including anticipating family arguments, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, and insufficient space. In partnership with AAA, AAA Best Western Rewards members can get up to 15% off on room rates. When you’re traveling, the last thing you want to worry about is family drama or sleeping arrangements. Book your Thanksgiving travel lodging with Best Western Hotels & Resorts instead, and remember to have a Happy Thanksgiving!