Whether you are travelling during Christmas holidays or going to spend an entire week of Thanksgiving with your grandmother, travelling during holidays is much more difficult than other working days. The difficulty arises because many people all around the world travel simultaneously. In these cases passengers find themselves caught up in many situations from ticket reservation to the security of their luggage. Traveling during holidays can also be stressful and costly making you panic in many situations and the overall situation all the worse. For these cases, here is a list of ten important survival tips which can save you from expected troubles:
- Avoiding Peak Travel Days
Even if you are traveling for a particular occasion – Christmas or Thanksgiving – the choice of the day in which you depart is crucial. If you are traveling for Thanksgiving on Wednesday – a day before Thanksgiving – you are more likely to get a lot of trouble. On the other hand, if you travel exactly on the Thanksgiving Day you will not only get discounts but you will experience a relatively comfortable journey. In the same way, holidays during Christmas and New Year fall differently each year; all you have to do is keep in mind two things – pick up those days for travelling which will not minimize your vacation, on the other hand, consider prices of tickets which may vary with the choice of days.
- Buying Travel Insurances
Particularly during winter days there is the probability that from 5 to 10 % flights will get cancelled because of weather conditions. In these cases, the main problem is not the cancellation of flights but the difficulty of booking tickets in the subsequent flights and the anxiety and stress caused by so much wait. There is this solution which does not only secure you from worrying about reservations but also saves you from lots of anxiety because you feel certain, and that is travel insurance. Travel insurance provides you with maximum benefits like cancellation coverage and good trip delay. Many companies provide variety of travel options and discounts; you can explore all this on Groupon.
- Knowing the Airports
Knowing the airports of your destination is always advised but during holidays you should also know alternate airports where the flight can possibly land. These gambits will prove themselves lot more helpful than you initially think. It so happens most of the time that due to overcrowding and weather conditions most flights take alternate lands and the stay can be as long as three days depending on the situation. In this case, if you don’t know the alternate airport and its vicinity – that is to say, where can you find moderate accommodation and car rental and whether there are any traffic problems – you are likely to pay much more in these situations.
- Maintain Connections
For security and other reasons, you should always maintain connections either with your friends or your family members, anything can happen at any time. For instance, if you lose your credit card and you don’t have any money either then the best option is to contact any of your friends or family members for assistance. If nobody is aware of your trip and everybody is busy in his activities then you aren’t going to get a response from any of those and it will cause you a lot of trouble.
- Pack Wisely
Packing wisely can also save you from a lot of trouble. If you have multiple bags and everything is packed in those bags – especially liquids like gel, and the security check procedure of these liquids is changed nowadays according to TSA rules – you will regret it. At many airports, you are allowed to purchase liquids like a bottle of water or coffee after your luggage is checked and when you have underwent security examination. It also depends on the quantity of the liquid materials; if it is less than 3.4 ounce you should pack it in a different bag – with top zip made of plastic. If the quantity is more than 3.4 ounce it should be packed with the checked luggage. There are also different domestic travel companies which charge you for checking your luggage; in these situations more the luggage, the more you will be charged. Therefore, keeping in mind all these things it is advised to pack your things wisely.
- Leaving Early
Since we are considering holidays it is worth mentioning that everyone remains in a hurry during holidays whether going on a domestic land drive or going to an airport on a cab. In these cases, you can get stuck up in a traffic jam and still traffic jam is the least of your worries because in holidays you need to consider other things like long lines at the airport, long security check-ups, and the crowd. In these situations, if you wish to reach the airport early, you should leave for the airport early. Anticipating all the above-mentioned problems leaving early means leaving an hour or two early rather than fifteen or twenty minutes.
- Traveling Early or Late in the Day
If you want to save yourself from all the crowds and long lines, travel at times in which most people are sleeping or are least likely to travel – very early in the morning or late in the day. Most of the flights are least congested during these times, and one other benefit is that these flights are never delayed except in rear cases. If you have selected to travel at these times do not misunderstand that you don’t need to head up early because there will be no crowd. Although most flights, at these times, remain ready to leave on time, it still takes some time to check-in and all the same – whether day, night or afternoon – leaving home early is the best option.
- Being Calm and Relaxed
It happens with many persons that they feel panicked or uncomfortable during check-ins at airports and the attitude of flight attendants makes the conditions worse. First of all, if you are prepared well – that is to say, if you have packed selectively and wisely and you have in your mind all the plan of your journey and you are prepared for something unusual – then there is no need to worry and feel frustrated or anxious.
- Getting a Better Seat
Everything else done – packing and planning etc. – if you want to enjoy the journey, get a better seat in the airplane. If you are stuck up in the middle rows and everyone you find beside you is chattering then your journey towards your desired place is going to be a journey towards hell. This situation will make you tired of the journey and once you will land you wouldn’t feel as happier as if you were comfortable on the plane. The key to getting a better seat is booking early and exploring different travel companies online.
Other Tips
- Make sure your vehicle is gassed up the night before travel because leaving for the airport and buying gas on the way is going to cost a lot of time.
- Make sure that you have phone numbers for everything – hotel, car rental agency and the friends you are visiting.
- Try your best to choose those flights which are non-stop.
