By Wendi Rank

When the rideshare arrived, the driver told my mom he was there to take her to Maryland.

The problem? My mom hadn’t ordered the rideshare. My toddler niece, indulging a fantasy most of my family has had at some point, ordered the vehicle. She’d gotten ahold of my mom’s phone, executing a devious plan to ship my mom 130 miles away.

I personally would have sent her further afield, but I appreciated my niece’s effort.

And yes. I’ve said this to my mom. She’s lovely, but Maryland would be a good start.

Fortunately, the rideshare service was forgiving, allowing my mom to cancel the trip without financial penalty. Cailey Rizzo of Travel & Leisure says that kind of flexibility is important if you’re planning holiday travel.

As a healthcare provider, I’ll tell you the best thing you can do this year is stay home. Have Thanksgiving in your pajamas. Watch all twenty-four hours of A Christmas Story on TBS. Track Santa on NORAD’s Santa Tracker.

Yep. That’s a real thing.

But if you, like my mom, refuse to let me control your life, I can at least pass along Rizzo’s holiday travel booking tips.

At this point in November, you’ve missed September’s low airfare fees. You’ve also missed the opportunity to book the recommended sixty to ninety days out from your trip, unless the holiday you’re bent on traveling for is Valentine’s Day.

I promise I’m not lying to get you to stay home. You really have missed those windows.

If you’re flying, set an alert for fee changes. You can essentially refinance your ticket should prices drop. And memorize this article on flying safely.

Beginning car rentals the day before Thanksgiving or the Saturday before Christmas is more expensive, so experiment with dates for best pricing.

Be aware of COVID restrictions at your destination, both geographically and where you’ll lay your head at night. My article on hotel and home rentals here is packed with COVID safety suggestions.

Rizzo says your best bet is not only flexible booking policies but being flexible yourself. Like that Maryland rideshare, be willing to adjust as needed for both your wallet and your safety.

And unlike that Maryland rideshare, can you consider taking my mom with you?

Rizzo’s full article can be found here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wendi Rank is a Willow Grove native with a graduate degree from LaSalle University. She has worked as a school nurse, a registered nurse, and a nurse practitioner in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She has previously written for the journal Nursing.

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