Holiday travel often means spending time with loved ones. However, this year, most travelers said they’d prefer their own hotel room versus staying with family, according to HotelTonight’s latest survey.
The hotel-booking site recently released its first Holiday Travel Report, surveying 1,500 of its users to find out the top pain points and habits regarding the upcoming holiday travel period, from what makes the worst type of traveler to how early they’re getting to the airport.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner – and a record-breaking number of Americans hitting the road, skies or seas – travelers should gear up for crowds and pack some extra patience. (And maybe don’t be late if you’re traveling with a group, per the survey results.)
Here are the findings of HotelTonight’s report.
Travelers arrive at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on November 25, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
1. Most Americans won’t arrive super early to the airport.
Despite the longstanding advice that you should buffer in plenty of time at the airport during the holidays, most travelers plan to get there one to two hours before their flight, according to the survey. There are even some bold last-minute travelers, with 17% saying they’ll arrive 30 minutes before their boarding time to spend “the least amount of time in the airport.”
HotelTonight’s General Manager Ron Sandel told USA TODAY that although he’s one of those travelers, he doesn’t suggest everyone follow suit. “While I wouldn’t recommend cutting it so close during the holidays, the findings show that travelers are planning to make the roughest part of travel as smooth as possible,” he said. “Twenty-five percent of respondents have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, which is a total game-changer, but I’d also recommend checking into flights via mobile apps, booking flights on non-peak days of the week, and even opting for smaller and less congested airports.”
2. Flight delays are the biggest worry.
As of Tuesday, Thanksgiving flight delays and cancellations were low, but it remains top of mind for many travelers. In the survey, 44% of travelers reported flight delays as the top concern out of their control, followed by severe weather disruptions.
3. Running late makes you the worst type of traveler.
Traveling with others isn’t always easy, and 51% of respondents said they are most annoyed by travel companions who are always running late. Other traits that make you a not-so-ideal person to travel with are not planning anything, overpacking, and having to put your belongings in someone else’s luggage.
4. Americans are booking last-minute holiday trips.
Americans are being strategic about saving money for their holiday trips. According to the survey, one-third of travelers are waiting until the last minute to score the best deals, and 62% are traveling on non-peak days to save money.
“Put another way, two-thirds of travelers are spending too much. Last Thanksgiving, our guests saved nearly 10% by booking the same day vs. the day before,” said Sandel. “It’s a common misconception that hotels are completely booked as we approach major holidays.”
5. Travelers prefer a hotel room to staying with family.
Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said they’d prefer to stay in a hotel rather than with family for the holiday season. The top reason for that choice is privacy, cited by 52% of travelers, followed by 26% who want to avoid family tensions.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The most annoying thing you can do as a traveler is this