5 Not-Terrible Options for Holiday Travel Procrastinators

Also consider just how much this visit means to you. If it means enough to extend your stay, consider flying Dec. 18 or earlier. We realize that's a bit far ahead, but airline surcharges and peak travel days only make it tougher from that point on. Otherwise, you're flying in on Christmas Day and not leaving until Dec. 29 or 31. According to Priceline(PCLN) , those are the best days for pricing and availability, and even that's not saying much.

Bundle up
Seaney and SmarterTravel's Ed Perkins recommend travel packages as a way around onerous winter holiday pricing.

Perkins notes that most big airlines and big online travel agencies bundle packages that often cost less than arranging the individual parts on your own. Back in September, Perkins found that an air-rental car package on Allegiant from Eugene, Ore., to Honolulu for the holiday week tacked on only $372 more than airfare for a one-week car rental, compared with the best car-only deal available on Expedia(EXPE) for more than $600.

We can't promise you'll save a whole lot on airfare, but at least you'll get a cheap ride or room for your trouble.

-- Written by Jason Notte in Boston.

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