July 17, 2005
# 14

THIS AND THAT ABOUT HERE AND THERE
By Scott H. Grody
FUGAZY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

The holidays are steeped in family traditions—opening presents at first light on Christmas Day, napping during the football game on Thanksgiving, lighting the menorah during Hanukkah, inching the car through a traffic jam on the interstate and standing in an airport line that just doesn’t move.

To maximize holiday happiness and minimize  aggravation  follow my hopefully  helpful tips.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas—Before the Trip Begins
Once again …Contact a travel agent well in advance of your trip to secure the lowest-priced airline seats, hotel rooms and rental cars that usually sell out quickly for holiday travel. Be aware that prices generally escalate during the holiday season, as demand is higher.

Packing light saves time and energy when it comes to filling the trunk with fragile bags packed with gifts or racing to fill the last empty space in the overhead bin. Some airlines place special restrictions during the holidays and allow only one carry-on, so less luggage is vital

One tip for packing lighter is to ship your gifts to your destination ahead of time. Allow at least two to three weeks for your package to arrive, for the holidays are hectic times for courier services like UPS and Federal Express.

Before leaving, be sure to secure your house. Lock all doors and windows, and don’t forget to set the alarm. Also, give your home that lived-in look to repel potential burglars by having a friend collect your mail, setting lights on timers and not leaving details of your trip on the answering machine.

Now Dasher, Now Dancer—Flying During the Holidays
Without a sleigh and eight reindeer, your travel plans will most likely bring you, and millions of others, to the airport. But fear not—with a few precautions and a little fore thought, your pre-flight schedule will be absent of anxiety.

First, avoid peak travel days. I can tell you, the busiest days to fly are those immediately before and after the actual holidays. Book your flights as many days as possible  before and after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's if at all possible.
If possible, have a friend drive you to the airport, or take a shuttle or public transportation. Shuttle services generally pick up guests early to ensure a timely arrival. If you drive and park at the airport lot, do not leave any valuables, such as CDs, in plain view. Also remember to put jumper cables in the trunk in case the battery dies during your trip.

Take the worry of getting to the airport completely out of the equation by staying at an airport hotel the night before an early flight. The additional sleep is well worth it. In some cases, hotels will allow guests to leave their car in the hotel lot for the duration of their trip, so make a few calls to discover which hotels offer this valuable service.
As flights are sometimes overbooked during the holidays, it’s critical to check in early. Domestic travelers should arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure, while international travelers should arrive three hours in advance. Spending an idle hour in the gift shop is much more fun than missing your flight by ten minutes.

If you do not send your gifts ahead, then do not wrap them before the flight. With safety a priority for all airlines, security personnel will need access to all items. Pack collapsible gift bags to be used as wrapping upon arrival.

Keep a positive attitude, but also be mentally ready for setbacks. Delays happen, and airlines do the best they can to keep their schedules on time. Bring water and snacks, an inflatable pillow and eye mask, a good book, your favorite CDs, a portable CD player, your laptop and a deck of cards. Boredom is the true enemy in these situations, so be prepared to conquer it!

Giving Thanks—Arriving Safely Is Thanks Enough
If Santa can travel safely year in and year out, so can you and your family. Just remember these helpful tips. With a little fore thought, everyone will be home for the holidays with warm memories to share.