Just days away from our vacation (a return visit to Bangkok and Khao Lak, Thailand, and a quick stopover in Beijing, China), and we can’t wait. Since we will be out experiencing the world and eating delicious Asian food, we won’t be posting for a few weeks. In the meantime feel free to follow Fab Everyday on Facebook for some vintage popular post highlights. If you follow @fabeveryday on Instagram, and me @fabeveryday on Twitter, you can see some real-time posts from the trip as well.
Today’s Travel Tuesday post is a set of tips compiled to help you get through your summer travel. Bon voyage!
Avoiding Stress
- Book your ticket ASAP. If you must book last minute, remember, you have options. The key to securing the best deal is flexibility in travel dates–ask your ASTA travel agent to check into special fares or consider flying into an alternate airport and renting a car. If your vacation includes international travel, make sure you have a valid passport. Your travel agent can advise you on the new rules and how to apply.
- Arrive early. Difficult airport parking, long lines at security checkpoints and the possibility of the airline overselling the flight and bumping passengers, should all be considered when deciding what time to arrive at the airport. Give yourself plenty of extra time. Need some incentive? Keep in mind that those who arrive earliest for an overbooked flight stand the greatest chance of staying onboard.
- Avoid getting bumped. 1) Get an advance seat assignment. Passengers with seat assignments are typically only bumped if they arrive late and their seat assignment is released. 2) Check-in online…
Read more of these tips for Stress-Free Summer Travel at TravelSense.
Traveling with the Family
- Pack One Change of Clothes in Carry On: Pack one extra change of clothes for each person in their carry-on bag. Twenty-nine million pieces of luggage are lost or delayed/misplaced every year. If your bag is one of them, having a set of clothes to change into while you are waiting for your luggage to be found is a lifesaver. (Remember, if you luggage does get lost and you have a Travel Guard plan, call for 24/7 assistance in finding your luggage).
- Pack Old Underthings? Packing light might be one way to bring home extra souvenirs, but so is packing your oldest undergarments. As you and your family wear old undergarments throughout the trip, throw them out the next day. This lightens your suitcase and/or makes room for cool souvenirs along the way.
- How to Keep Kids Occupied: If your destination is hours away, pre-make binders for each child that include a coloring book, blank paper, crossword puzzles and activity sheets. Also include a zipper bag of crayons and writing utensils. Free printable coloring pages, stories and activities can be found…
Read more Family Summer Travel Tips at Travel Guard.
Saving Money
- Save on: Lodgings. How: Look beyond hotels: Especially if your family or entourage is too big for a hotel room, you can find better rates by renting a house, condominium, or apartment, or by exploring home swapping. For vacation rentals, visit vrbo.com, homeaway.com, and villasintl.com. For home swaps, check out homeexchange.com, homelink.org, and intervac.com.
- Save on: Airfare and hotels. How: Research package deals: Psst: Airlines and hotels are willing to offer incredibly low prices to fill their rooms and seats. But because they’re reluctant to publicize these low rates, they sell some rooms and seats to companies that put them together as package deals. Before you purchase a package, deal, take a look at the hotel’s website and rates and research what the airfare and hotel would cost if you booked them separately — that way you’ll know you’re getting a good deal.
- Save on: Rental cars. How: Get a free upgrade: Book the cheapest rental car you can live with and arrive early in the day, before most customers have returned their cars. Result? The agency may not have any cheap cars to give you, and they are obligated to give you a bigger model at no extra charge. If they try to sell you an upgrade, say no. If it turns out they haven’t run out of cheap cars, politely ask for a free upgrade…
Read more of these 8 Ways to Save Big on Summer Travel at Huffington Post.
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