It is that time of year again.
Turkey Time.
This is usually one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
However, due to the troubling economy, AAA reported last week that Thanksgiving travel is expected to drop for the first time in 6 years.
I won’t be traveling far, but for those of you who are, I have compiled a few tips for you.
1. The busiest travel days are Wednesday and Thursday. Try to leave earlier and return later, if your schedule will allow.
2. If flying, add extra time for check in. If your airline typically requires you get there 2 hours before flight time, at a minimum, double it. Get there at least 4 hours ahead.
3. If you are driving, again add extra time. The roads and traffic, will be more crowded than usual. Try to travel at odd hours or opposite the normal traffic pattern.
4. Give your car the once over. Check tire pressure, get an oil change, make sure everything is in working order. Pack an emergency kit with flashlight, flares, some non-perishable food and warm clothes, just in case you get stranded. A bag of salt and a small snow-shovel may also come in handy if the weather is calling for snow.
5. Check the weather forecast. Be prepared for the worst.
6. Have flight information and some airline phone numbers handy, in case you have to reschedule a flight due to inclement weather.
7. Bring patience and entertainment. The airports will be crowded, kids will be crying, people may be loosing their mind or you may have a two hour delay on the runway before take-off. Bring your Ipod, your laptop, a good book or some Sudoku. Just in case you have to drown out the sound or keep busy, you’ll have plenty to choose from.
8. Stay home. Stay local. Avoid the headaches at all costs. Make your family come to you. The cost of buying the food and the hassle of coming up with a creative and original table setting is totally worth it compared to the nightmare that is Traveling around the Thanksgiving Holidays!
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And as an added bonus I decided to throw in a little Top Ten action this week.
I subscribe to almost every travel site known to man. I get scads of automatic travel emails in my In box on a daily basis. Travel deals, top destinations, Best of lists- you name it, I get it!
This week I got one from Sherman’s Travel on Top 10 Thanksgiving Travel Destinations.
So, here they are:
1. Aruba
2. Brussels
3. Kauai
4. Los Cabos
5. New York
6. Phoenix & Scottsdale
7. Plymouth
8. Transatlantic Cruise
9. Vail
10. Vieques
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So, did your favorite place make the list? Where are you going? What would be on your Top Ten list?