Road Trip’s top 10 tips to help you ease your Thanksgiving travel
By: Terrence Boykin
Holiday season is here once again. Great food, family, football and crowded airports. The staff at Road Trip wants to make sure your travel is as stress free as possible.
1 – Wednesday is the Big Day. At Thanksgiving, Wednesday is the critical outbound “avoid” day as a rule. Traveling on Thanksgiving day is often a breeze and more affordable; there are often cut-rate airfare deals on Thanksgiving day. For a return flight, Friday morning isn’t bad at all, with each successive day getting a little busier, more difficult and more expensive through Sunday evening. The bottom line: If you are looking for a deal, you won’t find one on the peak travel days. Travel off-peak whenever possible.
2 - Book early. Fares will only rising as Thanksgiving approaches and the same goes for the Christmas holiday; book sooner rather than later, particularly if you require very specific travel dates or times.
3- TSA rules. Don’t forget the TSA rules about liquids and gels.You may bring liquids and gels in 3.4-ounce or smaller containers, packed within a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. If you want to bring more than the 3.4-ounce amount, you’ll have to pack the items in your checked luggage.
4 – Leave early and pack wisely. During peak travel times, much of the trouble you’ll face lies on this side of the security check-in, from traffic jams and full parking lots to absent shuttles and long lines. Try to fit everything in your carry-on without having to check any baggage.
5- Save money and avoid stress. Save money on long term parking by checking other transportation options or hiring a car service to drop and pick up at the airport. If you decide to drive yourself gas up the night before you travel; no one leaves enough time for buying gas on the way to the airport.
6 -Bring diversions. Take along work, books, magazines, an MP3 player, some healthy snacks — whatever you need to get through delays. This goes double when traveling with kids.
7- Know who to call. Make sure you have phone numbers for everything: your hotel, your car rental agency, your airline, friends at your destination.
8- Choose nonstop flight. You especially need to do this when traveling with children. The worst, most brutal delays occur in connecting airports, where you have no home, friends or family to retreat to.
9- Remember the small things. Make sure you have your identification. Charge cell phones and iPods and bring chargers along for use at your destination. Take a look at the weather forecast for your arrival airport so that you can dress appropriately. Bring extra cash to trip sky caps and for taxis that might not accept credit cards.
10- Keep kids safe. Purchase a seat for every passenger. If needed use a Harness or preferably a stroller to keep toddlers near- parents and kids are easily distracted in airports. Also respect that some people may not like kids, may not have kids, and may not want them. Basic respect for boundaries is the way to keep the peace.
We hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday season. If we can be of any help please visit us at http://www.callroadtrip.com/ or call 919-584-5894.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Holiday travel Fun Facts
- 40 percent of Americans plan to travel this holiday season
- 64 percent of them will travel to see family
- 2 percent will travel to avoid seeing family
- 88 percent will stay in the United States
- 74 percent will drive $1,800: average travel spending for family of four
Source: American Express Travel