Holiday Travel Tips, Driving, Flying for the Holidays

Angie's List Tips > November 2008 > Holiday travel tips

Most Popular Tips

Bamboo flooring is just one green flooring choice
6 home repairs you can't afford to put off
How to break up with your hairstylist
When to keep a sick child home
How to buy green flooring

Local Tips and Advice

Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Washington D.C.

Local consumer ratings in more cities

Post archive

November 2009(4)
May 2009(3)
April 2009(7)
March 2009(4)
February 2009(9)
January 2009(13)
December 2008(15)
November 2008(20)
October 2008(8)
September 2008(7)
August 2008(11)
July 2008(20)
June 2008(11)
May 2008(7)
April 2008(3)
March 2008(11)
February 2008(12)
January 2008(6)
November 2007(2)
October 2007(0)
September 2007(2)
August 2007(3)
July 2007(4)
June 2007(1)
May 2007(0)
March 2007(1)

RSS

Recent Podcasts

No data found

Holiday travel tips

Posted: 11/24/2009 8:28:39 AM | 0 comments

Digg

Bookmark

Thanksgiving for many American families means the annual pilgrimage to a relative’s home. According to a recent nationwide survey of Angie’s List members, one-third of respondents say they plan to travel this Thanksgiving. But airfares are at an all-time high and the price of gas is unstable, leaving consumers to search for ways to cut their travel expenses.

If you’re driving this year:

Have your car serviced: Before you head out to grandma’s house, make sure your car is ready for the trip. A clean engine, properly inflated tires and adherence to the speed limit will help reduce your car’s fuel consumption, saving you money at the gas pump. See Winter Car Care Tips
Avoid running on empty: Your fuel pump can pick up sediment from gasoline when it’s low, reducing your efficiency and possibly leading to further problems, so keep plenty of gas in your tank.
Wash it up: A car wash does more than just clean your car. Regular washing, especially the underbody in cold-weather areas, makes an enormous difference in a car’s longevity. Brake fluid and fuel lines run along a car’s underbody, which is subjected to a lot of dirt, water and salt – all of which lead straight to rust.
Avoid the holiday rush: Consider driving to your Thanksgiving destination during non-peak hours. Stop and go traffic during the holiday rush reduces mileage efficiency and wastes fuel.
Be prepared: Keep an emergency kit, blankets and snacks in the trunk, as well as a spare battery or charger for your cell phone, in case you’re stalled in bad weather. It could save you a hotel bill you hadn’t budgeted for. See Safe Driving Tips for Winter

If you’re flying this year:

Be willing shift travel dates: Seating space on flights is tight this year. You might have better luck finding a seat and saving during peak holiday periods if you’re willing to start your trip a day or two before the rush, and stay a bit longer.
Check alternative airports: For example, if you plan to visit San Francisco, you might save by flying into San Jose or Oakland.
Consider connecting flights: Although non-stop is less stressful and reduces chances of being bumped or losing luggage, it can cost hundreds more than taking a one-stop flight.
Pack light: Nearly all airlines now charge a fee to check a bag. Packing lighter and smarter will help minimize those luggage fees. Plan ahead and ship your holiday gifts this year so you don’t have to pack them.
Plan ahead: It also costs more now for snacks. Those $2 candy bars and $6 snack boxes can really add up. Bring your own. Also, program your airline’s number into your cell phone to rebook quickly if you need to, and sign up for alerts from the airlines so you know what gate your plane is leaving from, when that gate changes, when the time changes, etc.
Bundle and save: Think about packaging your airline tickets with reservations for a hotel and/or rental car.
Hire help: Enlist the help of a travel agent, who might be able to find special deals to which you otherwise wouldn’t have access. If something goes wrong, you have someone there to help you straighten things out. The general rule is that the more complicated or expensive the itinerary, the better it is to book through an agent.