• Thanksgiving is a perfect time to get together with friends and family, and for those of us who live far from home, that can often involve the stress of traveling long distances to get there. But don't worry. With a little planning (and some good information), you can make your Thanksgiving travel as smooth as Pumpkin Pie. Check out this page for vacation ideas and tips for traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday.

• 1. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November in the United States
  2. Thanksgiving 2009: November 26
  3. Best 2009 departure days: November 21, 22, 23
  4. Best 2009 return days: November 27, 30, December 1
  5. Tends to be one of the busiest travel days of the yearUSA Today: Air Officials Get Set for Travel Trial

• Thanksgiving Travel Tips

  It is recommended to book Thanksgiving flights early, since it is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Luckily, in 2009, holiday airfares are down 15-20%, so even last-minute travel can be booked for less money than in years past.

  To avoid paying higher costs, Fodor's recommended planning a Thanksgiving trip outside the "normal date range." For example, consider flying in on Thanksgiving and leaving on the following Monday. Fodor's also suggested taking a bus instead of a plane for shorter trips.Fodor's: How to Save on Last Minute Thanksgiving Flights (October 1, 2008)

• Thanksgiving Events

  Thanksgiving festivities range from parades (like the popular Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade) to theme parks. Travel + Leisure also listed the top 25 destinations for the holiday, with Honolulu, Charleston, San Diego, New York City and Phoenix rounding out the top five for 2008.Travel + Leisure: America's Favorite Cities - Thanksgiving 2008

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