Book flights well in advance around your home country's festival and wedding seasons, because prices spike sharply and seats vanish. Many long-term expats set aside a fixed annual travel budget so trips home are planned expenses rather than financial shocks.
Think hard about vacation days. If you spend every day of leave on family visits, you may go years without an actual restful holiday, which breeds quiet resentment. Some people alternate: one trip home, one real vacation, or tack a few days of personal travel onto the home visit.
Emotionally, trips home are wonderful but rarely relaxing, with relatives to visit, obligations to fulfil, and errands to run. Set expectations with family in advance about how you will spend the time. Also check the practical side: visa or residency rules in some countries limit how long you can stay outside without affecting status, so track your days abroad if you hold or are pursuing permanent residency.