The Holidays are just around the corner, which means it’s time to prepare for good food, gift giving and family reunions. Most people are traveling all over the place during this time to either see distant relatives or partake in a quick holiday giveaway. Whatever the case may be, traveling during this season can be hectic and stressful if not adequately prepared. Fortunately, we’ve gathered some helpful tips to help make your journey a little easier. Check out these 5-holiday traveling survival tips!
Pick Your Time Wisely – Time plays a huge factor in determining how smoothly your travels will turn out. If you’re driving, try to avoid leaving the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This is the biggest travel day of the year and there’s a big chance you’ll get thrown off schedule. Make sure that you’re traveling early in the morning or late at night to avoid heavy traffic (not to mention the kids will be asleep too). This is also the preferred departure time for flying as well, due to the fact that most delays and cancellations occur during throughout the day.
Pack Smart – Packing light is always the smartest option when flying or driving. It saves you room on the road and it saves you money through the air. Be sure to double-check all of your baggage before leaving so that you don’t leave anything behind. If you’re flying, avoid checking bags altogether. With the extreme volume of travelers during this time, there’s a good chance that your bag could get lost or misplaced throughout this process.
Research Beforehand – A good motto to live by is “Always Expect the Unexpected,” and this could not be more appropriate when it comes to traveling. Be sure you use all of the resources available to ensure you’re choosing the best flight, driving route or method of travel. When flying, look at the airline’s restrictions before hand to see what you can and cannot bring onto the plane. This will speed up the security process and spare any headaches. If you’re driving, look to see if there are any shortcuts or pit stops you can take to help break up the ride.
Ship Your Gifts – Whether you’re flying or driving, shipping your gifts to your destination will make your life easier. It will save you room in your car, which will make for a more comfortable ride. If you’re flying, shipping gifts will also avoid any problems you may run into with TSA. More likely than not they will unwrap any gifts you may try to bring onboard.
Check Your Car – The last thing you’d want is to have your vehicle break down in the middle of nowhere on the way to your destination. To prevent this, make sure you have your car inspected by a professional so you can eliminate and fix any potential hazards. Get all of your fluids refilled and make sure your tire’s tread and air pressure are fully functional.
Before the holidays arrive, now is a great time to make sure that all of your insurance needs are up-to-date. Give us a call at 1-800-Thanks Al to have an agent make sure that your auto insurance has the right amount of coverage for your family and your needs. We can also ensure that you are getting the best rate for your policy. You might even qualify for additional discounts, especially if you have your home insurance with us.