8 Summer Travel Planning Tips

8 Summer Travel Planning Tips

Having touched foot on 6 of the 7 continents, I have learned a lot over the years.  Many families have held off on their summer travel due to the pandemic, and rightly so, as rules have been changing.  I just returned from 2 weeks in Northern California.  Travel has undergone significant changes over the past year.  Some of my tips include:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Pack a Change of Clothes in your Carry-on Bag if Flying: Over29 million bags are lost or delayed each year.  Be ready when and if it happens to you.
4. Buy an Off-Color Suitcase: This decreases confusion and is more easily recognizable during ground-transportation madness with people jockeying for their luggage.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 $$$.
8. 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.  WAZE has saved me many times over the years, and it also works overseas.  We used it during our father-Son trip to in London in the summer of 2019 for the 2-game Yankees vs. Red Sox series.

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!