2023 Summer Travel Tips

2023 Summer Travel Tips

There is a saying amongst planners that the average person spends more time planning a 2-week family vacation than they do planning their own retirement!  While the average person should spend more time planning their retirement, the planning time for your 2-week family vacation is justified for several reasons.

As per the NY-1 interview of Robert Sinclair Jr., Senior Manager of public affairs at AAA (Automobile Association of America) 2022 had some of the worst flight delays and cancellations in history!  The lack of travel followed by huge demand increases left airlines short-staffed and scrambling to hire and rehire personnel. 

Also, due to retirements and attrition, there is a national shortage of air traffic controllers.  “In 2022, 70% of ALL weather-related delays in the USA stemmed from New York’s 6 airports because of the connecting hub and spoke system,” said Mr. Sinclair.

Here are my updated TOP 10 Summer Travel Tips:

  1. Book Flights Early: Aire fares are up 40% from last summer and there are projections for more increases; hence, now is a good time to book flights and lock down your trip.  Also, there is a 250% increase in international bookings so try and book those now as well.  Many countries such as Japan and China have lifted Covid restrictions.
  2. Call Your Credit Card Company in Advance: Give them your full itinerary, with dates in each city.  I have had credit cards frozen after they have seen a string of out-of-town expenditures.
  3. When Packing Start from Feet to Head: This is a good thing to do in the morning getting ready for work.  I start from feet to head and pack in piles.
  4. Pack a Change of Clothes in your Carry-on Bag if Flying: Over 29 million bags are lost or delayed each year.  Be ready when and if it happens to you.
  5. Buy an Off-Color Suitcase: This decreases confusion and is more easily recognizable during ground-transportation madness with people jockeying for their luggage.
  6. Sign Up for the TSA: The TSA pre-check can make the difference between making and missing a flight.  It offers better distancing and eliminates the need to remove your shoes, belts, and/or laptops expediting the process.  TSA memberships cost only $85 and it is good for 5 years.  The renewal is discounted to $70 if done online at tsa.gov/precheck.com or $85 in person.
  7. Research AAA and Airline Vacation Packages: It is no secret that airlines and hotels have been hurt by the pandemic.  There are some sweet short-notice vacation packages available right now.  Check out AAA.com, JetBlueVacations.com, and AAvacations.com to name a few, and save big money!  If you have points with your preferred airline, start with them.
  8. Read Both Positive and Negative Hotel Reviews: Try booking.com, tripadvisor.com, and kayak.com for domestic travel.  For same-day rooms use hoteltonight.com.  It is a money-saving, excellent FREE APP to download onto your smart-phone to save big $$$.
  9. If Driving, Schedule a Tune-up, and Map Your Journey in Advance: A good way to avoid getting into a spat with a spouse or loved one, lol.  There is nothing worse than a car breaking down or getting lost on a road trip.  My preference is WAZE over Google Maps.  WAZE (owned by Google) downloads faster and has an information-sharing agreement with over 800 US cities and international countries.  Waze also warns you about upcoming speed traps, red-light cameras, and debris on the road. 
  10. Try to NOT Check Bags: Not if, when flights get changed or canceled last minute, it is much easier to adapt when you don’t have to retrieve your checked bag. 
  11. Call Alternate Phone Numbers:  If you get stuck at the airport because of a canceled or changed flight, everyone rushes to the gate or calls the general phone number.  The smart move is to buck the trend and call the airline rewards number and/or international number to change your flights.
  12. Consider Using a Professional Travel Agent:  Covid-19 has weeded out many of the weak travel agents.  There are hotels that share their room booking commissions with the travel agent, so it does not always mean more money out of your pocket.  Also, most travel agents have access to “The Apollo System” which allows them to access multiple airline sites at the same time, which makes it easier to rebook your flights and save money.

I have spoken with family friends who haven’t been away since covid-19, and some say they are a little rusty regarding travel.  Sometimes people put too much pressure on themselves to have a good time in this situation.  Planning in advance can help ensure a smoother summer vacation.  Have a fabulous trip and enjoy your summer!