This week, I’m in Austin.
Loving it: The greatest adventure of my life began one year ago. On Oct. 29, I boarded a one-way flight to Mexico City to begin a long-term trip through Central and South America. My goal was to chase summer and avoid winter. I had no return date or set plan except to check three places off my bucket list: Patagonia, Cuba and Bolivia. Everything else was left to serendipity.
Living it: The first challenge of my trip was to decide where to spend the holidays. In early November, I priced options in Central America. While flights still seemed reasonable, accommodation rates tripled. The warm weather and beautiful beaches in Puerto Escondido on Mexico’s Pacific Coast made it easy to procrastinate. Fast-forward a few weeks, and the one-way flight to Costa Rica I found for $150 turned into $350.
I took buses from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Panama with detours to the beaches of Puerto Viejo and Bocas del Toro. A friend from Panama City, whom I met in New Zealand in 2009, invited me to spend Christmas with her family. Afterward, I stayed in the historic Casco Viejo area of the city and took Spanish classes until early January, when prices began to drop. My next stop was Colombia, but one-way flights were $400, which is absurd for a 90-minute trip. I discovered a new ferry service (the ferry being a European cruise ship) making the voyage to Cartagena. Seats were $100, but I splurged on my own cabin for $150 and spent 24 hours lying in bed because of a head cold and rough seas.
Even though this wasn’t my first Christmas abroad, it was my first experience traveling during the holidays. Learn from my mistakes. Here are a few tips for hassle-free holiday travel:
Research: Even if you haven’t booked Thanksgiving or Christmas flights, deals are still available. Check out for a free detailed analysis and predictions for finding the cheapest fares from city to city. Consider traveling on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day to cut costs.
Plan ahead: Airline prices spike on international routes from mid-December to mid-January. Domestic prices drop a few days into January. For the best prices, and to take advantage of award travel deals, book at least three months in advance next year. Set a reminder in your calendar for next September to research flights and hotels.
Travel light, and early: Carry on all luggage to save time. Avoid baggage fees by booking with airline credit cards that include free checked bags for you and companions. Early and late departure times usually have lower rates of delays/cancellations, and red-eye flights can save the cost of a night’s accommodation.
Pack snacks: Airport food is notoriously expensive and rarely life-changing. Snacks are great for your budget, mood and appetite.
Dreaming it: The secret to avoiding post-travel depression is to never stop traveling. The minute I return from one adventure, I start planning the next. I usually start with small road trips to visit friends. Last year, I met two Americans in Cuba who lived in Las Vegas. I could not resist the offer to visit and booked a flight for my birthday weekend. What could be better than a Cuba reunion in Vegas for my birthday?
Anna Mazurek has been traveling the world and working (as an English teacher, photographer, bartender — whatever keeps her moving) as she goes since 2008. She has visited 43 countries and lived in five. In this monthly feature, she files dispatches on the challenges and rewards of being a full-time traveler. Follow Anna at travellikeanna.com.
