Holiday planning season is upon us, and I am already scrambling to find deals or at least airline fares that don’t make my eyes bleed as I travel to Houston, Texas, for Christmas and New Year’s. But regardless of the horror stories we hear about holiday travel, it’s a time of cheer, family and trying something new. I have been to Houston more times than I can count, but, this trip, we are planning a road trip to Austin, a city I have always wanted to experience.

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To make your travel a bit smoother, here are a few tips I collected over the years. I use these tips on my travels throughout the year, as well.

– Now is the time to book for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Don’t procrastinate; it will cost you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

– Book your flights on a legacy carrier versus low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier, as they don’t have the network for when a flight gets canceled or has mechanical issues.

– Book directly with your hotel or airline. You can search for deals on Expedia and Orbitz, but book with the company’s website directly, as they are in a better position to help or move reservations.

– Get the airline or hotel app, as it will be easy to get alerts and make changes on the spot.

Safe travels, everyone!

— Carly Allen, executive vice president, associate publisher