Top Travel Deals

The holidays are a crazy time of year. You have to fit in shopping for presents, attending parties, and spending time with your friends and family. If you plan on traveling for the holidays, you also have to make time to book your hotel room. But, this doesn’t have to be a super long, drawn-out process. Here are some tips for finding cheap hotel rooms at the last minute!

Do your research.

If you don’t have a ton of time, this step can feel like a burden. However, it’s truly necessary if you want to get a great price on your hotel! First, figure out how the ideal location of your hotel. If you need to be close to family, search Hotels.com for the nearest hotels. If you’re heading to a specific destination, decide if you can branch out a little (like drive 10-15 minutes). Locations a little off the beaten path or away from tourist locations will most likely offer some cheaper options.

If you don’t need to be anywhere specific for the holidays and just want to jet off, try cities that regularly host conventions if you’re looking for cheap hotels. Places like Orlando or Vegas have large hotels, but there aren’t usually any conventions going on around the holidays. That means they’re looking to fill empty rooms and are way more likely to offer low prices! Considering going overseas? Most places abroad consider the holidays to be off-season, so hotel rooms are much cheaper than during the rest of the year.

Compare options.

You should definitely take the time to compare hotels. Narrow down your choices by including your must-haves (a continental breakfast, gym on-site, etc.). Most travel sites let you compare different hotels to see which one best fits your preferences and budget. Make sure you’re realistic about how much you’re willing to spend - you don’t want to be searching for 5-star hotels if you can really only afford 3-star accommodations!

Check last-minute deals.

Before you book, check out the last-minute deals on Hotels.com. You can save anywhere from 10% to 50% off select locations simply by searching the site’s options. All you have to do is type in your destination, the dates of your trip, and the number of people in your party, and see what deals pop up.

Use coupon codes at checkout.

Your best bet for finding the cheapest hotel is to use a discount code at checkout. You could get even more serious savings (like $20 off a 3-night stay) on top of the last minute deals you snagged by going to a discounted hotel.

So, don’t give up hope that you have to shell out a ton of cash on a hotel during the holidays! Follow these tips, and you’ll be all set!

It can get a little boring spending every Christmas the exact same way - at home. The good news is that there are plenty of places around the globe that you can visit that will help you get in the holiday spirit. Here’s a look at 10 of the best destinations to celebrate the holidays!

1. Vienna

There are plenty of gorgeous places to visit in Europe for the holidays, and Vienna is one of the best. There are tons of decorations lighting up the architecture of the city, and tourists will love the 3 separate Christkindlmarkts (or outdoor markets). You can buy crafts, Christmas ornaments, or just enjoy some spiced wine (called gluhwein). For entertainment, you can take in the famous Vienna Boys’ Choir concerts.

2. Puerto Rico

Prefer palm trees over pine trees? Puerto Rico is a great destination if you’d rather be in a warmer climate during the holidays. You can take an adventurous tour through the El Yunque rainforest or explore the 500-year old colonial city. Puerto Rico celebrates the holidays like no other place - with salsa music and delicious Latino cuisine.

3. Nashville

If you’d like to stay in the US, head to Nashville for one of the brightest celebrations of the holidays. There are plenty of light displays to get you in the holiday mood, or you can take tours of antebellum mansions decorated for the season. There are also Opryland concerts to satisfy your Christmas music cravings.

4. Quebec City

Want a European feel to your holidays without actually traveling overseas? Quebec City’s 400-year history and cobblestone streets will definitely have you feeling like you’re abroad. Traditional French cooking, Charles Dickens’ story readings, and German Christmas markets will give you an international vibe while allowing you to stay in North America. Plus, environmentally-friendly folks will love the Christmas tree made out of recycled sheet metal and cyclist-powered lights!

5. Amsterdam

Still believe in Santa Claus? The legend has a mighty presence in the Dutch capital with major Christmas celebrations everywhere you look. Houses dating back to the 1500s are adorned with festive lighting, and there are several outdoor skating rinks for you to enjoy.

6. New York City

New York is one of the most fun places to head for holiday festivities. You can visit Rockefeller Center to view the famous ice rink and decorated Christmas tree, or check out Columbus Circle in Central Park for a Holiday Market with over 100 vendors. Really get in the spirit with ice skating or a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city.

7. Zurich

If you believe snow is an essential part of the holidays, you’ll love Zurich, Switzerland. The Alpine City creates a display every year of over 12,000 crystal lights that is truly a sight to behold. There are also several fantastic traditions, like the Conelli Christmas Circus, concerts at the Grossmunster church, and a candle-lighting ceremony on the Limmat River.

8. Nuremberg

One of the most popular Christmas markets is centered in Nuremberg, Germany - they get more than 2 million visitors every year! The market includes exclusively hand-made goods and toys, and there are over 200 vendors that compete in the Most Beautiful Stall Design contest - ensuring that you’ll love not only what they’re selling but also the aesthetics! Kids will also enjoy the wooden Ferris wheel, carousel, steam train, and the Toy Museum.

9. Finland

If skiing and actual reindeer rides sounds like fun to you, Finland is a fabulous option for holiday travel. Adventurous types will love the Urho Kekkonen National Park (a 90-minute flight from Helsinki), and kids will be obsessed with Rovaniemi, Lapland, where they can take part in Elf School or bake cookies with Mrs. Claus. There’s also Ranua Zoo, which has baby polar bears, moose, and wolverines. There’s even a hotel with igloo rooms, so you can see the northern lights in action.

10. Los Angeles

Sometimes a little bit of sun is just what you need to escape the holiday doldrums. Spot some celebrity sightings at The Grove (an outdoor shopping mall with fun Christmas decorations) or go ice skating in the rink outside the Staples Center - you won’t even need a jacket! For some fancy decorations, head to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills! You can also truly enjoy the sunshine by heading to the beach - make your friends back at home jealous with pics of you with your toes in the sand!