"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit)
11/26/2013 at 12:33 • Filed to: AOTD, Holiday Travel
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"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit)
11/26/2013 at 12:33 • Filed to: AOTD, Holiday Travel | 0
| 0 |
Traveling during the holidays sucks. Jalopnik gives you ten tips on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Here's eight more (including overseas travel tips!)
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Above image credit Daily Telegraph
8.) Plan in advance
Can't avoid holiday travel period? Must be at Grandma's for Thanksgiving, exactly on Thanksgiving? Plan, plan, plan . Traveling in today's world, especially air travel, leaves many of the processes out of your hands - why not take advantage of it? By planning ahead you can make the process as automatic (and stress-free) as possible. Book reservations months in advance. Have a plan of action on how to transport food and other items. Map out how to pack those bags, even.
7.) Don't ask what you can do for your hotel, ask what your hotel can do for you
Did you know most two star hotels and above offer free toiletries to guests? By making an itinerary of hotel stops, you can call ahead and find out what hotels can give to you that you can leave out of your suitcase.
And by no means is this a creepy reference to the anniversary of JFK's assassination. Nope. Not at all.
6.) Make all luggage screening-friendly
Nothing sucks more during holiday travel than having to deal with these guys. Make it suck less: keep everything in your pockets to a bare minimum so you can quickly whip it out and back at the screening lines (or a trick commonly touted in local news media outlets, place them in Ziplock baggies). And of course, research what's allowable on-person, on carry-ons and on any other luggage - you'd be literally throwing it away (well, the TSA agent will do that for you) if you don't leave it at home.
5.) Don't forget the same on the reverse
Did you know, like, there's a whole show on Travel Channel about how Australia's airport customs agents are kind of, like, dicks and idiot passengers get harassed and their stuff confiscated all the time? Yeah, learn from their example. In addition to doing the above when you come back, be mindful of what you picked up while on vacay. Don't waste your money on stuff (souvenir knives and food items for example) only to see TSA agents throw it away when you come back.
4.) When in doubt, ship it
Mail valued souvenirs back to yourself. Just remember that air mail has its own set of rules too, so follow through and follow proper packing and declaration procedures.
3.) Don't cheap out on your rental car
I shouldn't have to tell you Jalops this, but I need to round out a full list somehow. The rental car should match the entourage. Yes, you may even have to consider renting a *gasp* crossover if your party's big enough.
2.) Make sure hosts (and guests) are clear on responsibilities
Everyone should have a clear understanding of what to do well in advance. No last-minute arguments over family-based overnight accommodations, who's car to take, who should've brought the figgy pudding, etc.
And yes, that movie actually did happen.
1.) Don't forget to breathe, and accept when things are out of control
This is the Holidays. Everyone is going to travel. Just weather through it as best you can.