December is one of the most popular travel times for airlines and cruises.

It is next to impossible to get a seat on a plane if you wait too long to seek out your tickets to go home and visit family and friends for the holidays.

That does not mean that each year you are going to have to pay an arm and a leg to get home to Mom and Dad, or that you have to drive yourself or rely on bus service to get you there in time. You just have to know where and when to search for those December travel deals. A few well timed phone calls or inquires can get you the price you seek.

The trick to getting December travel deals is to book very early. This does not mean the beginning of November or even in October. Think about books your flights and your hotels, if you need them, during the summer months. If you want to be extra sure you get your reservations secured at a decent price, look as early as March or April. For some companies, reservations are only accepted eleven months early, so booking for Christmas the next year on Christmas Eve may not work, but call as soon as you know you are going to want to go.

Early is not the only way that you can get December travel deals. You can also call at the last minute. This is very risky because you may not get what you want. However, if it happens to be a slow year for some reason, or there have been some cancellations, you may get an incredible deal on airline tickets if you call the day before you want to go. Chances are not good for getting what you want, but if you just found out you are going, it certainly does not hurt to try. If the airlines feels they may not fill those seats otherwise, you may get an incredible deal.

The airlines are not your only options for December travel deals. If you are not going very far, you can get cheap bus or car rental deals so you do not have to bother with the airport. Look early and look often, but don’t worry too much if you are booking pretty late in the year. These are not nearly as hard to find as December travel deals through airlines. You can usually find what you like, and if you look around, you can find competitive rates from companies that want your business.

If your search online for December travel deals is leaving you frustrated, you have a few options. You may have better luck finding that deal or last minute ticket if you call the airlines directly and talk to their representatives. You may also want to take a trip downtown to see if you have any local travel agents. They often find what you can not find on your own. They are forgotten in the days of Internet travel search sites, but they are still out there and can find things that you may never see on your own.

Travel Deal Updates – December Travel Deal Questions? Travel and Leisure has a Great Deal Page.

More on December travel deals coming soon!