11 Pro Tips for Scoring the Best Holiday Travel Deals to an NFL Playoff City

8. Maximize Credit Card Perks and Travel Insurance

Choose a card that offers purchase protections, trip delay coverage, or trip cancellation insurance and apply those perks to your bookings. Many premium travel cards include baggage delay reimbursement and trip interruption coverage that can matter if games are postponed or travel plans change. Before booking, check the card’s terms so you know the covered events and required documentation. When playoff uncertainty increases financial risk, consider travel insurance for nonrefundable parts of the trip. Look for policies that cover trip cancellation for covered reasons and trip interruption for weather or serious incidents. Read policy exclusions carefully; sports-related events vary by plan and some policies exclude changes due to team performance. As of Nov 2025, broad travel protections help offset the spike risk tied to holiday plus playoff travel congestion.