That’s a wrap! The best of Out Travel The System 2022

Air travel hacks

In our Holiday Planning episode, we learned that strong traveler demand for flights coupled with airlines not fully up to their pre-COVID capacity levels sent ticket prices soaring in 2021, especially during key holiday periods – and we saw these high prices continue into 2022. It’s likely that prices will ease in 2023 as airlines continue to increase their capacities, but it always pays to consider your departure dates (and even the day of the week that you make your booking!) if you want to bag the best possible deal – especially for holiday travel. For example, when it came to 2022 Thanksgiving flights, you could have saved between 20% and 30% by departing on the Monday before the holiday instead of over the weekend.

For more tips on how to save on your flights, check out Expedia’s 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report.

Additionally, in our Loyalty Hacks episode travel finance expert Katherine Fan shared her tip for travelers to keep a running list of the places they’d like to go so they can periodically plug them into a flight search tool to see when there are dips in prices. Expedia’s Price Tracker Tool – available on select flights via the Expedia app – can also help you keep track on flight prices and help you predict the best time to book. The price predictions aren’t guarantees – but they’re still a great place to start!

Doing Disney World like a pro

There’s nothing like a trip to Disney World, but the price can add up, especially if you’re traveling as a family. But as we learned from Lou Mongello – a Disney super fan who has visited Disney World over 1000 times, and has written the books and produced the award-winning podcast to prove it – if you can be flexible in your dates, you can save a lot by traveling during ‘value season’. According to Lou, there are multiple value seasons every year, which often fall just before or after the major holiday periods. Visiting during value season can help you nab some of the park’s best accommodation deals, which can save you around 40% on your stay.

Picking the right destination

In our Disappearing Destinations and Doppelgänger Destinations episodes, our guests – former New York Times correspondent Elizabeth Becker and former Travel + Leisure editor Siobhan Reid – shared some of their favorite examples of lesser-traveled destinations to explore if you’re looking to indulge in the beauty of hot spots like Venice, Santorini, and Bali, but without some of the baggage that comes with overtourism. For example, Siobhan told us how much she loved Paros – a stunning Grecian Island near Santorini and Mykonos. Paros is home all of those classic Greek Island sights and experiences – the bright white houses covered in pink flowers, dazzling Aegean Sea views, incredible Greek Island cuisine, and jaw-dropping sunsets – but for an average of $200 less per hotel night (even in peak season!) than Mykonos.

By going against the crowds, you’re also more likely to secure reservations at amazing restaurants and hotels, as we learned in our Megamoons episode with Anne and Mike Howard – the world’s longest honeymooners. It’s also a great tip for those looking to be more conscious with their travel habits, as picking less-visited destinations is also one way to travel more responsibly and sustainably.

Perfect planning

“Don’t overplan” and “Leave some flexibility in your schedule” were two tips that nearly every expert repeated this season. But in our Holiday Planning episode, our family and group travel expert Nevin Martell shared another pearl of wisdom. If you’re planning a big family vacation or getaway with all your friends, then try to pick at least a couple of activities that are just slightly outside of people’s comfort zones. This will introduce them to new experiences – from foods to activities – and will add an element of adventure to the holiday that will make it even more memorable for the whole group.