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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Buy an Off-Color Suitcase: This decreases confusion and is more easily recognizable during ground-transportation madness with people jockeying for their luggage.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 $$$.
- 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!