To be on the safe side when #traveling, photocopy, scan or take a cell phone picture of any important documents you don’t want to lose such as a #passport, credit cards and driver’s license, says BestLife. Email the pictures to yourself so that if any of them so go missing on your trip, they’ll be easier to replace. Another hack? To ensure that checked luggage deplanes almost as quickly as you do, tag it “fragile.” Airlines usually put fragile bags on the top of the heap in the cargo hold, so they’re “the first to be unloaded. You’ll be hailing a cab while your fellow passengers are still looking for luggage carts.” #SummerTravel
Tag: travel
Look for Summer Flights Sooner Than Later
With prices going up and most people eager to get out of town after two years of delays and lockdowns, the sooner you plan a trip, the better. But even procrastinators can find good deals if they keep their plans flexible. To find #cheap flights, for example, use a site such as Kayak or Google Flights to find the best options by using “+/– 3 days” or grid option when searching. Once you find a flight you want, double-check the airline’s site to see if you can’t save a few more bucks. And if you’re ultraflexible about your destination, many sites offer a map that shows current airfares to cities worldwide. #SummerTravel
Start Planning Your Summer Travel Now
With spring in the air and #COVID at least temporarily on the retreat, many people are looking forward to a #summer vacation. Most haven’t traveled as far as often over the last two years, and the urge to get away is widespread.
In fact, summer 2022 is predicted to be “the busiest summer travel season ever,” Expedia CEO Peter Kern recently told Fortune magazine. And while prices are likely to go up, “I think people are willing to pay whatever the hell it takes to get away,” he says.
But there will still be ways to keep costs down whether you’re jetting off to far-flung, exotic locale or visiting family and friends in familiar location. And with everyone eager for a change of scenery, the first strategy is to start planning now if you haven’t already.
“In terms of summer travel, it’s essential to book now as the demand for travel is high and availability is tightening,” travel consultant Jill Fischbarg told Fodor’s last week.
To economize on airfares, visit sites like Google Flights or Kayak to find out where and when you might be able to go without spending a lot. Or maybe you have a stockpile of frequent-flyer miles that you’ve been hoarding for the last 24 months.
Two years in, rental cars are still scarce, and gasoline prices are going up fast due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. If you want to keep things cheap, pick a destination where walking, biking or public transit will be your main conveyance — a big city, for example, or an all-inclusive resort.
As for lodging, book now to get the best variety of options. Inexpensive hotel rooms and vacation rentals are already getting scarce in many popular locations; target off-peak and midweek nights to save money — or find an excuse to visit those friends with the beach house and boat.
The good news? Most providers relaxed or eliminated their change and cancellation fees during the pandemic, so if you do book now, the odds are excellent that you can get your money back if something disrupts your summer plans.
With a little forethought, the odds are even better that you’ll finally be able to take that trip you’ve been putting off since 2020. Keep your passport and proof of vaccination at the ready, and bon voyage!
Super Bowl Ad Touts Experiences Over Stuff
Super Bowl advertising celebrates #consumerism, or at least the urge to watch the big game over a buffet of chips and guacamole. But Expedia went for a higher concept with its high-ticket “Stuff” ad this year, parodying classic Super Bowl spots of the past while urging people to spend their hard-earned money on travel #experiences instead of material goods. “I doubt that any of us will look back at our lives and think ‘I wish I’d gotten a slightly sportier SUV, or an even thinner TV. Or found a lighter light beer or had an even smarter smartphone,’” narrator Ewan McGregor says.
Great Places to See the Fall Foliage
Anywhere there are deciduous trees is a good location to see the fall colors. But every region has leafy spots that are particularly good for fall touring. In the Northeast, Travel & Leisure suggests Bar Harbor, Maine, the Catskills, and Stowe, Vt. In the Midwest, there’s the Wisconsin Dells, and the South has the Ozark National Forest. And in the West, Aspen, Colo., and the Columbia River Gorge are top options. Many of the country’s Scenic Byways are great for seeing the fall colors, too — so schedule a drive or a hike for an afternoon or weekend soon.