10 Ways to Avoid Disastrous Holiday Travel

Stress-free and disaster-free holiday travel is a skill that can sometimes take years to master. Between the sky-high prices on everything from airfare to hotel rooms, the crowds constantly surrounding you, and the potential for weather-related flight delays (not to mention flat-out cancellations), holiday globetrotting can make a visit to the dentist or filing your taxes seem downright appealing by comparison. To help you survive the pitfalls of the season, we asked travel industry insiders to share their top tips and hacks. Here's what they had to say.

The first step toward having a disaster-free holiday is not paying a fortune for airline tickets. To do this, book tickets at least three weeks in advance of flights, says Hipmunk's Kelly Soderlund. (If not sooner, really.) To identify the best price, set fare alerts from your favorite sites. And while you're at it, check multiple airports and multiple departure and arrival dates, says Soderlund. "If you're really looking to save and your schedule allows, try traveling on the holiday," Soderlund added. "It's the least crowded and least expensive."

A non-stop flight that departs in the morning is likely to have fewer problems, said Klee of CheapAir.com. "If a flight that includes a connection is delayed, it can possibly cause you to miss your connection," explained Klee. And the later the first leg of your flight departs, the less likely it is that there will be an alternative flight available if you miss your connection. "It can snowball into a disastrous travel experience," said Klee, adding that if you do pick a travel itinerary that includes a connecting flight, be sure to find a schedule that includes plenty of time between connections.

If storms or otherwise inclement weather issues start to crop up, even two to three days in advance of your flight, call the airline and express your concerns, says Klee of CheapAir. "In some cases, they may be able to reroute you to avoid bad weather, usually at no additional charge," said Klee. This handy link from the FAA can give you a big-picture look at trouble spots as they start to develop.