Travel industry leader shares top tips and underrated destinations of the season

With thousands of twinkling lights and the scent of cinnamon and pine, the holidays are undoubtedly the most wonderful time of the year – but they can also be the busiest for travel. Being prepared and expecting the unexpected go a long way to help keep travelers calm, collected and looking forward to reconnecting with loved ones or exploring new destinations. To navigate the mayhem of the year’s busiest travel days, industry leader Alamo Rent A Car shares these four tips:

1.     Use apps to track your flight. By downloading an app, you can check into your flight online before heading to the airport, which may ultimately help you skip long lines and choose your preferred seat. Getting updates on your flight status through the app can also save you unnecessary wait times at the airport in case of cancellations or delays.

2.     Pack light. Packing only a carry-on means that you’ll not only travel lighter, but also save money, since checked baggage fees can add up quickly. Traveling with only a carry-on also means that you’ll never have to worry about your bag making it to your destination. Hoping to get bumped to an earlier flight, or change your routing? Airline staff is more apt to make these adjustments if you don’t have any checked bags.

3.     Travel during off-peak times. Due to high-demand, holidays are typically the most expensive time of the year to travel. While booking travel way in advance can help you snag cheaper fares, avoiding the busiest travel days altogether will also ensure you get a great deal. Most people travel one or two days before a holiday but traveling the day of might yield some deep discounts.

4.     Visit small towns. Skip the crowds of major touristic cities and venture into the smaller towns that go all out for the holidays like St. Augustine, Florida and Solvang, California. Every year St. Augustine hosts Night of Lights, a month-long spectacle that illuminates the city with two million white bulbs. On the opposite coast, the small Danish town of Solvang celebrates the season with traditional Christmas decorations, decking its four windmills with bright lights, raising Christmas trees outside every storefront, and even selling high-quality toys.