The Real Cost of Getting There: Home for Christmas Costs Less If You Book This Week

Christmas is six and a half weeks away, and the cheapest way to get home for it is on sale right now. Train companies release their lowest advance fares around 12 weeks before travel, and the cheapest seats on the busiest days before Christmas sell first. Wait until December and the same journey can cost two or three times as much.

The real cost of getting there is not only the fare. It is the stress of a sold-out train, the hours on a jammed motorway and the cost of a missed connection. Eight small decisions this week bring all of those down.

Advance Fares Booked Now

Advance tickets tie you to a specific train, and they are usually the cheapest fare for any long journey. Check when your train company opens bookings for late December, and book as soon as your dates are certain.

If you need flexibility, compare the price of two advance singles with an off-peak return. On some routes the return costs less, and it lets you travel on any off-peak train that day.

A Railcard Bought Before You Book

Most railcards take a third off adult rail fares for a year, and many pay for themselves on a single Christmas return. There are railcards for 16 to 25-year-olds, 26 to 30-year-olds, people over 60, two adults travelling together and families with children.

Buy the railcard first and then search for fares, so the discount applies to every ticket you book this winter.

Split Tickets on Longer Journeys

Buying separate tickets for different legs of the same journey often costs less than one through ticket, even when you stay on the same train. Several booking sites search for split fares automatically.

Check that your train stops at every station where your tickets change, and keep all the tickets together for inspection.

The Days Before and After the Rush

The Friday and Saturday before Christmas and the days straight after Boxing Day are the busiest of the season, and fares and road traffic reflect it. Travel a day or two earlier, or come back on a weekday, and you pay less and travel in more comfort.

No trains run on Christmas Day, and few run on Boxing Day, so plan your return around those gaps.

Engineering Works Checked in Advance

Network Rail uses the Christmas break for major engineering works, when fewer people commute. Lines into some London terminals and other busy routes can close or run reduced services between Christmas Eve and early January.

Check the National Rail website for your route before you book, so you do not buy a ticket for a train that will not run.

The Coach as a Serious Option

For many city-to-city journeys, a coach costs a fraction of the train, and advance coach fares can start at a few pounds. Coaches take longer, but overnight services save a night's accommodation and a day of travel.

Book coach seats early as well. The cheapest fares on the busiest days go first, just as they do on the railways.

The Car, Shared and Timed

If you drive, the cheapest journey is the one where you share the fuel and leave at the right time. The roads are busiest on the afternoons before the Christmas weekend. An early-morning start can save hours of sitting in traffic.

Check your tyres, oil, screenwash and battery before you set off. A breakdown on a cold motorway costs far more than an hour of checks at home.

Flights Booked With Your Rights in Mind

If you fly, book early and avoid the most popular days. Under current UK rules, a flight that arrives more than three hours late for reasons within the airline's control can earn you compensation of £220 to £520, depending on the distance.

Keep every receipt for food and drink during a long delay, and claim directly from the airline rather than through a claims company that takes a share.

At a Glance

• Advance train fares: usually released around 12 weeks before travel
• Railcards: a third off most rail fares for a year
• No trains: on Christmas Day, and few on Boxing Day
• Busiest days: the weekend before Christmas and just after Boxing Day
• Flight delay compensation: £220 to £520 for delays of over three hours within the airline's control