Thanksgiving can be a great time to take a vacation. It's one of the rare times of the year both kids in school and parents at work have time off. The biggest downside to travel at Thanksgiving is dealing with traffic on the road, crowds at airports and higher costs at hotels.
Also, of course, there is the challenge of telling family they must travel with you or not spend Thanksgiving with you. If you've ever done a Thanksgiving that involves trips to various families and feeling bloated from three dinners, you will appreciate a more simplified Thanksgiving.
Ease Costs and Hassle of a Thanksgiving Vacation
There are a few tactics that can make a Thanksgiving vacation easier and more affordable.
- Plan to drive or fly pre-dawn if possible. You will avoid most crowds and, as a benefit for flyers, you will pay less.
- Scour for hotel deals or package deals. Book travel that has a flexible cancellation policy. Right before your trip, do another search for last-minute deals at hotels that are not full. If you find a great deal, book it and cancel your original reservation.
- Plan ahead as much as possible. If you have dogs, reserve their spot at the dog kennel weeks ahead of time. If you want to have dinner somewhere nice on Thanksgiving while on vacation, book that well in advance as well. Many restaurants will be closed.
Celebrate Thanksgiving While on Vacation
For parents and children used to a classic Thanksgiving, it can be tough to let go of traditions like making food from scratch and being at a family member's home. Here are some tactics to make Thanksgiving feel more like Thanksgiving while traveling:
- Make plans to have a full Thanksgiving meal dining out. Most popular tourist destinations and towns will have a restaurant offering a traditional meal, as will some hotel restaurants. Be sure to check ahead so you aren't scrambling (and stressed out) on Thanksgiving day driving around looking for a place to have dinner.
- If you are traveling to a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, look for American themed restaurants or shops. Many times, you can find a Thanksgiving dinner even outside your country.
- Instead of a hotel, get a vacation rental and cook your own dinner. Just know that you'll probably need to buy some supplies even in a rental with a stocked kitchen. For example, it probably won't have a roaster pan for the turkey or a thermometer.
- Look for a Thanksgiving takeout restaurant. These orders usually need to be placed ahead, but you could even pick up a full meal and have it in your room. Just be sure to get plates and book a room with some sort of table, such as a suite hotel room.
It is still possible to have a Thanksgiving vacation and have Thanksgiving, although it requires a little pre-planning and research. In many ways, having a Thanksgiving with only your household family can be more simple and enjoyable. As a bonus, you can spend Black Friday shopping in a another city. Just be sure to call other family members and wish them a happy Thanksgiving.
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