Holiday Deals - Travel Deals

Labor Day Travel Deals

laborday4Most of us can remember the joy that the first days of summer vacation brought with them – and on the opposite end of the spectrum, the sadness that came with the last vacation before school started again. Labor Day weekend is, in the United States, essentially the end of summer and the last chance most Americans have for a vacation before the December holidays.

In other words, it’s an incredibly popular time for people to get the heck out of their houses for even a couple of days – and that means all the vacation spots nearby are way more popular than usual.

With popular travel dates and destinations come higher-than-average travel prices, so finding Labor Day travel deals gets more challenging the longer you wait to plan your trip. Here are some articles to help you figure out your Labor Day travel plans, whether you’re booking a few days in advance or several months ahead, and we hope these tips will save you some cash in the process.

>> Labor Day in 2013 is on Monday, September 3rd.

>> And if you’re looking for other holidays we’ve covered, have a scroll through our Holiday Travel tips category and see what pops up!

Labor Day Travel Tips for the Airport

laborday3So you’re planning to fly somewhere over Labor Day weekend? The good news is that getting through the airport won’t be as much of a headache as it can be (and usually is) around Thanksgiving or Christmas. The bad news is that the airport is still going to be busier than normal, and planes are still going to be full. Which all adds up to one thing – it’s a very good idea to be prepared to handle a busy airport, even if said airport doesn’t materialize.

Because the worst case scenario then is that you’re over-prepared and have a little more time to kill at the airport. Which is a helluva lot better than being under-prepared and missing your flight.

Most of these tips are going to be applicable whether you’re traveling on a busy holiday weekend like over Labor Day weekend or whether you’re traveling at a quieter time of year. It is, for instance, never a good idea to get to the airport just at the last minute. But because flying over Labor Day weekend doesn’t tend to be as crazy-busy as flying around some other holidays, you might have a little more wiggle room when it comes to time.

Now, don’t take that as my blessing to arrive at the airport 20 minutes before your flight is supposed to leave and then get irritated with me because I said you didn’t have to be as strict with your time. Be realistic, people. If you don’t mind missing your flight, that’s one thing. But if you actually want to get on the plane and go somewhere, then always give yourself plenty of time at the airport – no matter what time of year it is.

Assuming you’re doing the smart thing and getting to the airport early, here are our tips for making your passage through the airport over Labor Day weekend as hassle-free as possible.

>> Labor Day in 2012 is Monday, September 3th

How to Find Cheap Labor Day Airfare

laborday2Labor Day weekend in the United States generally means backyard barbecues or summer picnics, and usually it’s a big gathering of family or friends (or both). Most of the time, it just means a road trip to wherever the festivities are taking place, but the idea of getting a great deal on a plane ticket over Labor Day might just make you rethink the ho-hum barbecue route.

(That is, of course, not meant to be a slight against your family’s barbecue routine. I’m sure your dad’s grill skills are legendary, and your Aunt Clara’s potato salad enough reason to make the trip, but if they’ve done the same backyard party every year then they’ll be doing it next year, too, right? You can escape for one year. I promise.)

In this article, we’ll look at some of the ways you can get a Labor Day travel deal on a flight out of town for the weekend. Some of these tips are applicable at other times of the year (around other holidays and also between holidays), but some of them are more specific to holidays like Labor Day when people don’t feel the same compulsion to travel as they might around Thanksgiving or Christmas.

And hey, if you fail to find a killer price on a flight over Labor Day, then you’ve always got Aunt Clara’s potato salad to look forward to.

>> When is Labor Day? In 2012, it falls on Monday, September 3rd

Best and Worst Days to Travel for Labor Day

laborday1The three-day weekend that is Labor Day in America is the traditional last hurrah of summer before kids head back to school and adults think about digging sweaters off the high shelves at the back of their closets – so it’s not surprising that people try to make the most of it by getting out of town and traveling one last time before they start hunkering down for the fall and winter.

Because Labor Day falls on the same day of the week each year (although the date itself will change), it’s actually fairly easy to talk about what days are the best and worst days to travel for Labor Day, regardless of the year or the date. But because it’s only a three-day weekend, there are huge numbers of people who drive (rather than fly) to wherever they’re spending the holiday.

So while it’s a short trip and the airports may be busier on Labor Day weekend than they are in the weeks before and after it, people who are flying over Labor Day won’t have to deal with the same kind of crush at the airport that they’d face over, say, Thanksgiving.

>> In 2012 – Labor Day is on Monday, September 3rd

Memorial Day Travel Deals

memday6Memorial Day is traditionally considered the kick-off event for summer, so it’s not surprising that it’s a big weekend for holiday trips. For many people, that means a getaway to a nearby beach or the first of the season’s many camping trips. For others, it’s the perfect excuse to take advantage of travel deals before the high summer prices kick in. Whatever your reason, whatever your destination, we’d like to help you get there for less this Memorial Day.

Over the past week or so, we’ve published a few articles each meant to assist you in saving money and time when you travel for Memorial Day weekend. So now it’s time to pull them all together into one article so that you don’t miss any of this valuable and money-saving advice.

>> Memorial Day in 2012 is on Monday, May 28.

Memorial Day Weekend Travel Tips for the Airport

memday1Most of the time travel tips are more location-dependent, which is why you’re going to find guidebooks for places in the bookstores rather than something called a “Memorial Day Travel Guide.” But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some Memorial Day travel tips that are good to think about regardless of where you’re going.

Memorial Day weekend is a popular one for travel, whether it’s a road trip to the beach or to a Memorial Day parade, or a quick getaway before the summer travel season gets into full swing – so that means more people on the roads and in the airports. You can alleviate some of the travel stress that’s likely to come up by paying attention to a few travel tips for Memorial Day weekend like the ones outlined below.

>> Memorial Day in 2012 is on Monday, May 28.

How to Find Cheap Airfare for Memorial Day Weekend

memday4For many people, Memorial Day weekend travel plans usually include nothing more than heading to the backyard of whichever friend or relative hosts the best barbeque in town. But if you’d like to have grander plans for this kickoff-to-summer weekend, then you might want to consider some places you can’t easily drive to. Which means you’ll want to figure out how to find cheap airfare on Memorial Day weekend.

Getting a deal on a Memorial Day weekend airline ticket usually involves some of the same tricks and tips as finding cheap airfare at any time of year does – but it’s even more important to pay attention to those tricks and tips when you’re talking about traveling over a major holiday like Memorial Day. You won’t be the only one traveling, or the only one trying to finagle a deal on a flight, so you can’t approach this quest without some knowledge in your back pocket.

>> Memorial Day in 2012 is on Monday, May 28.

Here are the tips you’ll need to find cheap airfare for Memorial Day weekend.

Cheap Flights to Portland, Oregon

Cheap Flights to Portland

Why go: Portland’s charm comes from a variety of sources: its gorgeous setting among coastal mountains, a mild climate, attractive buildings and gardens, friendly inhabitants, impressive arts and culture, and lively nightlife.

Portland is oriented to the outdoors, from the many parks in the city to the nearby beaches and Cascade Mountains. The climate is so mild and rainfall so plentiful that Portland is a paradise for gardeners. Semi-tropical plants like camellias thrive. Spring comes to Portland while much of the rest of North America is still shoveling snow.

For rainy days, Portland has a good art museum and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. There are several local theatre companies, a symphony orchestra, chamber music group, and opera company. There are good restaurants and, this being the northwest, of course good coffee. In addition, Portland has so many microbreweries and brewpubs, it’s been called Munich on the Willamette.

Cheap Flights to Portland