Forget about the presents and the Christmas parties; it’s easy to remember to plan for these holiday extras. Traveling, on the other hand, can be one of the biggest budget destroyers during the holiday season. Depending on where you live and where you’re traveling, fuel costs, airfare, or train or bus fare may eat up a significant chunk of your budget, and that’s not even including the cost of food, boarding your furry family members, lodging, and everything else that makes a long-distance trip tolerable.

Don’t overlook the costs associated with traveling! Here are five tips for traveling on a budget.

Buy Now

In all likelihood, today, tickets are at the lowest price that they’re going to be through the holiday season; as the days and weeks go on, the tickets are only going to go up. Go ahead and book your tickets now using one of the many discount travel sites out there, and investigate websites that will provide you with a refund if prices drop. If you are making last minute plans and Black Friday & Cyber Monday are just around the corner, those are both great days to pick up your tickets.

Comparison Shop Across Several Modes of Transportation

Obviously, if you’re only a couple hundred miles away from your destination, traveling by car will likely be your cheapest and most convenient option. However, if you have several hundred miles of ground to cover and you have an extra day or two to spare, comparison shop across several modes of transportation. Traveling by train, while it may take longer, is generally significantly cheaper than flying and, unless you’re traveling with a family, it is often cheaper than driving. It’s also more comfortable, and as a bonus, you can walk around, have easy access to your belongings, or even enjoy a meal while you’re traveling.

Choose Your Travel Days Wisely

If possible, plan to travel on a weekday. Traveling on a Friday or a Monday, as opposed to a Saturday or a Sunday, can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare and lodging. If traveling a day or two early isn’t an option, then consider making one of your travel days on the holiday itself. Everyone is flying on the days leading up to or directly following Christmas; few people are flying on Christmas, so bargain ticket prices will likely be available.

Take Your Own Food

Whether you’re driving or traveling by plane or train, if you wait to buy snacks and drinks until you actually want them, you will pay a significantly higher price. Don’t buy food at the gas station or airport gift shop; instead, purchase your snacks at the grocery store ahead of time to get a much better price.

Don’t Drive to the Airport

Leaving your vehicle at the airport is expensive, especially when you consider the fact that parking prices often take a big jump during the holiday season. Instead of driving your own vehicle and paying to leave it there for several days, see if a friend or family member can take you to the airport. If that’s not an option, check out public transportation options, cabs, and ridesharing services.

Traveling can be expensive, but with some extra planning, the savings stack up.