Travel Tips

Holiday Travel Tips & Trends

Image Credit: Stephanie Ervin

Locations in this article:  Denver, CO Fort Lauderdale, FL Los Angeles, CA Miami, FL Orlando, FL Salt Lake City, UT
Image Credit: Stephanie Ervin

Image Credit: Stephanie Ervin

The holiday season is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and this year will be no different. Here are some holiday travel tips you can use this year.

According to AAA, 98.6 million Americans will be traveling this holiday season, which is up four percent from last year. Reportedly, the volume of Americans traveling 50 miles or more is greater than any other year on record (since AAA began recording in 2001). About 72 percent of travelers plan to travel for Christmas, while 42 percent will be en route elsewhere for New Year’s Eve. Roughly four percent will be traveling for Hanukkah.

What is the preferred mode of transportation? As usual, most Americans will be driving. According to AAA, 91 percent will be taking a road trip this holiday season, up 4.2 percent from last year, while 5.7 million passengers will be flying. Gas prices might have something to do with this—they are 69 cents lower than last year, the lowest prices since 2009. This drop in gas prices has increased American spending by 3.5 percent.

Airfare

As far as airfare goes, we have some good news. Fares have dropped by seven percent. AAA believes this is due to slashed fares from low cost carriers. Although, as we’ve stressed before, travelers should be careful about these low fares, as ancillary fees may raise the overall price in the long run.

While airfares are down, hotel rates and rental car rates are on the rise. Hotel nightly rates have gone up by four to five percent, depending on the quality of the hotel. Car rental rates are up by four percent.

Destinations

So, where are travelers headed? American Express released two different lists, one for Christmas and one for New Year’s Eve.

For Christmas, travelers aim for mostly sunny destinations: Fort Lauderdale, Kahului, and Los Angeles top the list. The top 10 list includes five destinations in Florida, and only two in cold weather destinations—New York and Denver.

For New Year’s, travelers will still be looking to avoid the cold. Fort Lauderdale tops this list, with Orlando and Kahului coming in second and third respectively. Also making the cut are Salt Lake City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Denver.

While many people may be headed to warmer pastures, weather ensures that departure is never a guarantee.

Driving Tips

If you’re planning on driving, AARP recommends the following:

Don’t just make sure your vehicle is up-to-date on service. Take the time to properly prepare your trip to account for dimly lit conditions and alternative routes in case of bad weather. While 80 percent of drivers make sure their car is up to par, only 26 percent take the necessary precautions when planning the journey itself. Also, while older drivers may be very careful about making sure their vehicles will sustain a long journey, younger drivers tend to value this component less. Make sure your kids examine their vehicles before hitting the road.

Don’t skip the first aid kit or emergency gear. About 85 percent of drivers may believe that having a first aid kit is crucial, but only 60 percent of drivers report having one. The same goes for flares and warning reflectors: 72 percent of drivers claim to own these items, but only 37 percent actually do.

AAA recommends, above all, not driving while impaired. An alcohol-impaired travel death occurs every 45 minutes. They report that one in eight casual drinkers admits that he or she has driven when close to or above the legal limit.

Flying Tips

If you’re flying, there isn’t much you can do to personally to ensure you will get to your destination on time other than arriving to the airport early (we recommend arriving two hours prior to departure, even for domestic flights). CSA Travel Protection has a few tips that might help save your mood despite travel mishaps:

Don’t expect smooth sailing. This is the one way to ensure your mood will be destroyed. Instead, prepare for Murphy’s Law: What can go wrong…will (especially when it comes to traveling).

Since you can’t control the outcome, control your comfort in the meantime. Bring items that might make you feel more cozy in the case of a delay, like a blanket or a pillow.

The same goes for entertainment. Make sure you have something—anything—to keep you occupied. Bring a few DVDs if you’re toting your laptop, or download several movies, books, or apps onto your tablet. Don’t leave yourself in the lurch by being ill-prepared for boredom.

Treat yourself. Nothing cures travel frustration like a sweet snack (except maybe sleep, but we all know that sleep in a busy airport is basically a fantasy). Try to make the waiting period as enjoyable as you can.

Do some extra research, particularly in regard to the TSA. The last thing you want is to make your way to the airport just in time and then have TSA confiscate one of your presents because it defies security rules. Carve out just five minutes of your day to make sure you won’t be stopped.

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By Brittany Malooly for PeterGreenberg.com