4 vacations to book now for the best savings

SALT LAKE CITY — According to early airline reports, holiday travel bookings are already up 2% over last year. But travel expert Kamree Price said there’s still time to find deals if you know where to look and when to book.

Booking on Certain Days of the Week

Price debunked the rumor that booking flights on particular days of the week or at certain times of day guarantees lower fares.

“There’s actually no data that suggests that booking on a Tuesday is cheaper  or in the morning or anything like that,” she said.

Instead, she said the best way to find a good deal is by using the calendar view when searching for flights.

“ It’s the most underutilized button that anyone uses when they’re looking for flights,” Price emphasized. “There could be a $50, $100 or $150 difference just by one day before or after.”

Deal #1: Cruise Promotions

Most families don’t think to go cruising over the holidays, but Royal Caribbean is running a holiday promotion with 60% off the second passenger and free sailing for kids.

“If you’re last minute and want something to do, you’ve got your destination, food and activities figured out,” Price said. “It’s not a bad option.”

Royal Caribbean Holiday Cruises

• Up to 60% off second guest + kids sail free
• Short 3-5 night cruises: up to $500 savings per stateroom
• Longer 6+ night cruises: up to $900 savings for suites
• Thanksgiving and Christmas sailings available

Deal #2: Delta’s Hidden Flight Discounts

Delta Airlines has a lesser-known section on its website for fall and winter deals.

“You can just Google Delta’s fall or winter deals and type in Salt Lake,” Price said.

She has recently found round-trip flights to Mexico and Hawaii for around $300, and European Christmas market destinations for about $600 round trip.

Delta Airlines Holiday Deals

• Seasonal flight deals to 65+ destinations worldwide
• Delta vacations packages (save up to $250 per booking)
• SkyMiles members get additional perks and bonus miles
• Check delta.com/deals for current seasonal promotions
• Round-trip to Europe: look for fares of $400-$800
• Round-trip to Hawaii: look for fares of $300-$500
• Caribbean and Mexico packages with hotel included

Price also mentioned extra discounts military personnel can get with Delta.

“ If you do end up booking those packages, you can get a pretty decent deal,” she said.

Price emphasized that it’s still important to do your research before booking a package, as you can usually get a better deal booking accommodations yourself.

Delta Airlines Perks

• Military personnel save up to $200 off per booking
• Earn Medallion qualification dollars toward elite status
• Bundle flights + hotels for bigger savings

Deal #3: Black Friday Disney Tickets

If a trip to Disney is on your radar for 2026 or you want to gift a trip for Christmas, Price said Black Friday is the best time to buy tickets.

“It’s through Get Away Today and Undercover Tourist. Don’t go through Disney direct,” she advised. “ These are two verified sellers.”

Black Friday is usually when you’ll find the lowest ticket prices of the year. You can often find deals like adult tickets at kid prices or free days. Price also recommended following Get Away Today and Undercover Tourist on Instagram and joining their email lists to stay up to date.

Deal #4: Rent a Timeshare

Even just getting into a new environment can be a fun trip. Price recommended looking for people renting out their unused timeshares.

“There’s a platform called RedWeek where people rent out their unused timeshares,” she explained.

Some recent deals include a three-bedroom Marriott Vacation Villa in Hawaii for up to eight people for $350 a night, or one-bedroom villas at reputable properties in Mexico for $150 to $200 a night.

Holiday Travel Tips

Book Now & Act Fast

Price recommended booking holiday travel immediately.

“We’re already past the real good deal time,” she said.

Be Flexible & Consider Alternatives

She also advised against flying on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is historically the most expensive travel day.

“If you can travel on the holidays, so like New Year’s, New Year’s Eve or Christmas Eve, and I know that’s not always ideal,” Price noted, “But it’s about 15 to 30% cheaper when you travel on the holiday versus right before or right after.”

Stack Your Savings

Price also suggested leveraging credit card rewards.

“Work those credit card points,” she said. “Get a good credit card and use those points to offset costs.”

Find more travel advice from Kamree Price at ourfamilypassport.com, or on Instagram @ourfamilypassport.