If you want to save money and avoid the airport crowds during the holiday season, you’ll want to fly on the holiday itself or several days before and after it. NerdWallet analyzed the Transportation Security Administration’s data of passengers screened at U.S. airports and found the Sunday after Thanksgiving and Dec. 23 to be two of the busiest days all year. However, airport traffic is low on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and they could be good days to travel if you can catch an early flight. The winter holidays might be especially crowded because Hanukkah also falls around the same week as Christmas this year.

If you're looking for airline tickets or a hotel room around the holidays, you'll probably pay more than you did the last time you traveled over Thanksgiving or Christmas. Part of the reason is that airlines are still operating fewer flights than in 2019 even though passenger numbers are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. That's squeezing the supply of seats. Hotels are charging more to cover high labor costs. Rates for car rentals aren’t as crazy as they were during much of 2021, although supplies could be tight in some cities. U.S. consumers are facing the highest inflation in 40 years, but that's not preventing them from traveling.