It's the most wonderful time of the year!
It's time to travel and go be with loved ones to celebrate holidays that bring us together.
But this can potentially be a stressful time for those traveling because this is one of the busiest times of the year to do it. Many things can go wrong. Have no fear , I am here to give you some tips to make this as smooth as possible.
Leave for the airport early
Generally, you should be at the airport at least 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight time. But I would recommend leaving earlier than that just so that way you can be anticipated traffic. Depending on your flight time, this could mean you would have to wake up stupid early but it would be ease a lot of stress in the long run. Try to plan an extra hour for traffic depending on how far away you are from the airport.
Travel early in the day
Book your flight as early as possible to avoid crowds. I know you're probably tempted to book that noon flight so you can sleep in a bit but sleep on the plane! It will be easier on you to get through TSA, anticipate possible gate changes, etc if you have an early flight.
Check for delays before heading to the airport
You are able to sign up for alerts through your airline for delays via text or email and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has a map of delays at major airports across the United States.
Be Careful of Shuttle Services
If you decide to use a shuttle service to the airport, be weary of the policies and read reviews for who you use before booking. I had a horrible experience with Supershuttle twice. Once they left me at my airport in the middle of the night for 2 hours and I had to make them book me a cab to my destination and give me a refund. The second time they didn't have a ride available for me and only notified me about an hour before I was scheduled to leave. While I was given a refund, I still had to spend extra money on a lyft to get to the airport in time.
Make sure you have all chargers and devices charged prior to leaving
Some airlines are putting chargers at their gates so unless you arrive early, you will miss out if you're device isn't charged before hand. I would invest in a mobile charger like this one from amazon .
Most major airports have Fuelrod stations where you can pay a one time fee and get a charger. The downside is you have to pay between $1-3 each time to swap. Not to mention they don't really give you a lot of charge. Personally I feel you would be better off investing in a mobile charger online elsewhere.
Put valuables in carry ons and try to pack only one suitcase per person
It's possible for your luggage to not make it with you to your destination anytime of the year. It's happened to me once before and I've seen it happen to others about 3 times. What ended up happening is that they had to buy new outfits and everything they had in their suitcase and thus spend more money than planned. It helps to pack the essentials in your carryon, like medications and an extra outfit. Try looking at Marshalls for affordable and easily identifiable luggage. And luggage tags will be your best friend! Avoid luggage that are solid colors and get ones with patterns or specific images on them. When packing your suitcase, try to pack light. Its hard ,especially for me, because I like to have a backup for my backup. Check out these tips here on packing light. This also helps you avoid overweight bag fees.
Plan your flights carefully
Don't be afraid to shop around! Using sites like skyscanner, google flights and expedia allow you to look at which airlines have the best prices. Google Flight specifically allows you to track a flight you've chosen and can alert you if there are price changes. Pay attention to flights with layovers and plan your connections in a timely manner. Layover flights tend to be cheaper but you also don't want to be stuck in one place for 4 hours. I recommend using airfordable to help you pay for your flight in payments which will help put a little ease on your wallet. I did an article about the service! Most importantly, try to avoid flying on the peak holidays if you can.
Plan some comforts
It's probably going to be a LONG journey, especially if you have children. So plan entertainment in advance. Have neck pillows, headphones, books, alcohol (if you drink), snacks, Netflix shows downloaded and anything else will keep you occupied. Buzzfeed has a list of items that flight attendants swear by so take a look!
Don't Brag
It may be tempting to post about where you're headed for the holidays but try to refrain from doing so. It may tip off thieves that you wont be home and it'll make you an easy target to have beloved possessions stolen. If you can, try to have someone housesit or check into your home every now and again to make sure everything is square.
Double Check with TSA
Occasionally TSA updates what is and isn't allowed to travel, especially during the holidays. Make sure to check the site and make sure everything you're bringing fits the requirements. a tip I would suggest is skipping bringing toiletries if you can. If you are staying at a hotel, you can always request those or stop at a store and grab some travel ones.
Keep Moving
It's very important to try to keep your body moving around. Sitting on a plane or in one spot for too long can cause blood clots. It'll be weird but try some yoga poses at in between gates or take a walk around your terminal to keep your blood flowing. Be sure to stay hydrated as well!
Keep reservations in one place
Be smart and stay organized. Keep all receipts and reservations regarding your travel in one place and someplace easily accessible. This includes plane tickets, car rentals, pet boarding reservations, etc.
Do you have any tips for traveling during the holidays? Share in the comments and Happy Traveling!
It's time to travel and go be with loved ones to celebrate holidays that bring us together.
But this can potentially be a stressful time for those traveling because this is one of the busiest times of the year to do it. Many things can go wrong. Have no fear , I am here to give you some tips to make this as smooth as possible.
Leave for the airport early
Generally, you should be at the airport at least 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight time. But I would recommend leaving earlier than that just so that way you can be anticipated traffic. Depending on your flight time, this could mean you would have to wake up stupid early but it would be ease a lot of stress in the long run. Try to plan an extra hour for traffic depending on how far away you are from the airport.
Travel early in the day
Book your flight as early as possible to avoid crowds. I know you're probably tempted to book that noon flight so you can sleep in a bit but sleep on the plane! It will be easier on you to get through TSA, anticipate possible gate changes, etc if you have an early flight.
Check for delays before heading to the airport
You are able to sign up for alerts through your airline for delays via text or email and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has a map of delays at major airports across the United States.
Be Careful of Shuttle Services
If you decide to use a shuttle service to the airport, be weary of the policies and read reviews for who you use before booking. I had a horrible experience with Supershuttle twice. Once they left me at my airport in the middle of the night for 2 hours and I had to make them book me a cab to my destination and give me a refund. The second time they didn't have a ride available for me and only notified me about an hour before I was scheduled to leave. While I was given a refund, I still had to spend extra money on a lyft to get to the airport in time.
Make sure you have all chargers and devices charged prior to leaving
Some airlines are putting chargers at their gates so unless you arrive early, you will miss out if you're device isn't charged before hand. I would invest in a mobile charger like this one from amazon .
Most major airports have Fuelrod stations where you can pay a one time fee and get a charger. The downside is you have to pay between $1-3 each time to swap. Not to mention they don't really give you a lot of charge. Personally I feel you would be better off investing in a mobile charger online elsewhere.
Put valuables in carry ons and try to pack only one suitcase per person
It's possible for your luggage to not make it with you to your destination anytime of the year. It's happened to me once before and I've seen it happen to others about 3 times. What ended up happening is that they had to buy new outfits and everything they had in their suitcase and thus spend more money than planned. It helps to pack the essentials in your carryon, like medications and an extra outfit. Try looking at Marshalls for affordable and easily identifiable luggage. And luggage tags will be your best friend! Avoid luggage that are solid colors and get ones with patterns or specific images on them. When packing your suitcase, try to pack light. Its hard ,especially for me, because I like to have a backup for my backup. Check out these tips here on packing light. This also helps you avoid overweight bag fees.
 |
| Good Luggage to have |
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| too plain |
Plan your flights carefully
Don't be afraid to shop around! Using sites like skyscanner, google flights and expedia allow you to look at which airlines have the best prices. Google Flight specifically allows you to track a flight you've chosen and can alert you if there are price changes. Pay attention to flights with layovers and plan your connections in a timely manner. Layover flights tend to be cheaper but you also don't want to be stuck in one place for 4 hours. I recommend using airfordable to help you pay for your flight in payments which will help put a little ease on your wallet. I did an article about the service! Most importantly, try to avoid flying on the peak holidays if you can.
Plan some comforts
It's probably going to be a LONG journey, especially if you have children. So plan entertainment in advance. Have neck pillows, headphones, books, alcohol (if you drink), snacks, Netflix shows downloaded and anything else will keep you occupied. Buzzfeed has a list of items that flight attendants swear by so take a look!
Don't Brag
It may be tempting to post about where you're headed for the holidays but try to refrain from doing so. It may tip off thieves that you wont be home and it'll make you an easy target to have beloved possessions stolen. If you can, try to have someone housesit or check into your home every now and again to make sure everything is square.
Double Check with TSA
Occasionally TSA updates what is and isn't allowed to travel, especially during the holidays. Make sure to check the site and make sure everything you're bringing fits the requirements. a tip I would suggest is skipping bringing toiletries if you can. If you are staying at a hotel, you can always request those or stop at a store and grab some travel ones.
Keep Moving
It's very important to try to keep your body moving around. Sitting on a plane or in one spot for too long can cause blood clots. It'll be weird but try some yoga poses at in between gates or take a walk around your terminal to keep your blood flowing. Be sure to stay hydrated as well!
Keep reservations in one place
Be smart and stay organized. Keep all receipts and reservations regarding your travel in one place and someplace easily accessible. This includes plane tickets, car rentals, pet boarding reservations, etc.
Do you have any tips for traveling during the holidays? Share in the comments and Happy Traveling!
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