Have you made your holiday travel plans yet? If so, where are you going? On this episode of #WakeUpCLT To Go, we’re talking about holiday travel! AAA predicts 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving, with 2022 projected to be the third busiest for Thanksgiving travel since AAA started tracking the data in 2000.

If you still haven’t booked a flight for your holiday travel, get ready to pay a lot more than you did for tickets.

The best time to book holiday travel was in September. So what does that mean if you haven’t booked your trip? Simply put, you’re going to pay quite a bit more.

Rising fuel costs, staffing shortages and fewer scheduled flights are factors leading to more costly airfares. Just how much more? According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, airline tickets have increased 42.9% since last October.

And it’s only going to get more expensive the longer you wait, experts say. Ticket prices are expected to close even more the closer we get to Christmas. That’s not to say there aren’t things you can do to make sure you’re not paying too much. #WakeUpCLT #Flight #Thanksgiving

The Best Places to Live in Charlotte North Carolina

Charlotte is one of the best places in the country to find a job. According to Glassdoor, Charlotte is one of the best cities to find a gig in 2017. The unemployment rate in Charlotte was 4.9% in 2017 and the median salary was higher than the U.S. average. Its low crime rate and great schools also help make it a desirable place to live.

The Charlotte area is also home to several notable cultural institutions. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is a great option for transportation. The CATS runs along I-485 and provides convenient transportation. It is an excellent way to avoid rush hour traffic and get to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Taking public transportation to work is another great option.

Charlotte’s low cost of living is another perk. About 40% of its population moved to Charlotte from another state. The median home value is lower than the national average, making it affordable for many people to move to Charlotte. The city is also home to some of the best public and private school districts. Regardless of your preference, there’s a neighborhood in Charlotte that will fit your lifestyle.

Besides being a great place to explore nature, Charlotte has plenty of art museums and attractions. Children can visit Discovery Place Nature to learn more about nature. Adults can visit The Mint Museum, which showcases classic and contemporary art. For art lovers, The Bechtler Museum of Art is another great choice, featuring around 1400 pieces. While the Bechtler is one of the city’s top art attractions, it’s also home to several museums.