Five Holiday Travel Tips
Post Date: December 16, 2011
Traveling during the holidays can be a love-hate relationship for most people. You love to visit friends and family during the season but you know it will be stressful since everyone else is traveling at the exact same time. Crowded airports, lost luggage, flight delays, hotels already booked up, and bumper-to-bumper traffic are just a few struggles while traveling during the holiday. Although there is probably no solution to keep away from all of these holiday hassles, there are several tricks you can use to make things a little easier for you and your family.
1. Plan ahead
Arrange your airfare and accommodations as soon as possible. Using websites like Travelocity.com during the early part of the year will not only guarantee your spot but it will also make your trip cheaper. Buying early is a great way to save for those family trips. If you always visit grandma for Christmas, why not book earlier? If something ever comes up you can always cancel. If you need to plan a last minute trip, you can always use a Travelocity promo code to avoid those last minute fees.
2. Avoid peak travel days
When planning your trip, avoid “peak days.” For example, most people travel on Wednesday to be able to relax on Thanksgiving Thursday. If your work or school allows you, try booking your flight on Monday or Tuesday to avoid planes being filled up. Likewise, most people do not leave Friday morning. Not only will you be able to book your flight easily but it will be cheaper than leaving on Sunday.
3. Getting to the airport
Traveling to the airport can be a stressful event in itself. Not only does this drive set the pace for the rest of your trip, but with traffic you might even miss your flight. First off, leave early. Most airlines encourage you to be at the airport two hours early. This is highly recommended for holiday traveling so plan appropriately. Also, try not to take the traditional route to the airport. Avoid the freeway and the closest main roads as these are most likely to have traffic jams. A different route may seem longer but may save you time in the long run.
4. Luggage
With so many people traveling during the holidays, luggage can easily be lost or left behind when switching flights. This can be disastrous if you aren’t prepared for such a curve ball. If you can, bring a tote bag or small rolling suitcase as a carry-on to fit essentials to tide you over for a couple of days just in case. An extra pair of clothing, underwear and personal hygiene products should do the trick. And always remember to put a luggage tag with contact information on any baggage that needs to be checked.
5. Gifts
Do not take wrapped gifts in your carry-on bag. Due to safety reasons, many airports will require you to unwrap your lovely gifts so they can make sure nothing harmful sneaks by. Save yourself the trouble (and the paper and bows!) by simply storing your wrapped gifts in your checked luggage or simply wait to wrap them when you arrive at your destination.
About the author: Although Steff Scholl isn’t able to travel as much as she’d like, visiting her family during the holidays is a must. That’s why she plans ahead and books her flight early using a Travelocity promo code to save her money for other things such as family gifts.
Categories : Blog, Travel Tips
