Posts Tagged ‘vacation’

Cash-strapped for your vacation? Try travel loans
If you don’t have enough money to spend on your vacation you can always go for travel loans. But you must also watch out for pitfalls.

Traveling during the holiday season is always stressful regardless of whether you are traveling with friends or with family.  To ease out the stress, it is always best to plan well.  Below are some holiday travel tips to help keep your vacation as stress-free as possible:

1.  Avoid Peak Dates

Before choosing a date for your trip, always research when the peak travel dates are and try to avoid these dates as much as possible because:

• • plane tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and more tend to be more expensive
  • everyone else will be traveling on those dates

To avoid the rush of travelers, plan your vacation time a few days before or after the peak period as much as possible.  This will almost always guarantee reductions in prices, holiday traffic and headaches.

2. Shop Around for the Best Deal

Always try to find the best deals.  Look for special discounts, package deals, flight discounts as well as hotel room and transportation specials.

Do a search on Google and look for websites that promote holiday travel discounts.  Some good sites are: Expedia, Travelocity and Cheaptickets.com among others.  Many airlines also offer great deals on their websites if you purchase directly from them.  You can also use SideStep.com if you want to use a side-by-side comparison of every flight special, sorted by price.

Many sites also promote vacation packages from three to five nights which includes meals and activities.  Some will even allow you to package in the use of a car if you need one.  Ultimately, the more specific you are when planning and the earlier you book, the better your results will be.

3.  Give Ample Time in Between Flights

It is always best to choose connecting flights that allow for at least an hour and a half of layover time.  While most people would choose a connecting flight that leaves as close as possible to the arrival of their first flight, doing so will cause you undue stress in the event that your first flight is delayed even by just a few minutes.

It is best to remember that one and a half to two hours isn’t that long when you consider the time that it takes to exit the plane, find the connecting flight’s departing gate and get settled before it is time to board the second plane.  Allowing yourself the extra time will also lessen the risk of you missing your next flight.

4.  Plan Your Packing In Accordance with Current Airport Security Measures

While some of the airport security measures seem to be unfair, always remember that it is something that you cannot change.  It is best to accept these measures and pack your belongings accordingly to avoid the hassle.

Pack all the liquids and gels that are larger than 3 ml in your checked in luggage.  This includes lotion, toothpaste, baby oil, aerosols (hairspray), perfume bottles, bottled water, etc.  If you choose to carry them through the checkpoint, be warned that they will find it and take it away from you. If you want to bring these liquids and gels with you on the plane, keep them below 3ml or smaller in a zip-top, clear bag.

By sticking to the rules, you and everyone in line behind you will be much happier.