Traveling in the off-season is a popular tip to avoid crowds and expensive prices. It’s also a good tip for most of the time. The “Shoulder Season,” the period before and after prime time, is a good way to save.
Traveling in the off-season is not always feasible.
- You love to ski? Snow is essential for skiing.
- Children in school? Schools discourage students from missing school to travel.
- Do you love the beach? The beach is better in the summer!
You get the picture!
These tips will help you if your travels are during peak season.
Travel Tips During Peak Season
Air Travel
- Booking flights, DOUBLE the time between flights (or even more), especially if you are traveling to a place where weather delays can be common. There are few options for rebooking if a flight is delayed due to the high volume of air traffic at peak times. Plan a buffer time to reduce your risk of missing a connecting flight. Winter is a time when delays can be common due to weather.
- Check-in for flights up to 24 hours in advance. Checking in online saves you time at the airport.
- Print boarding passes. Many airlines offer “e tickets” for smartphones, but the demand for wifi/cell services at busy airports may make it difficult to get a good signal. It’s also easier to rebook a flight when you have your printed ticket in hand.
- Arrive early at the airport. TSA lines are longer when there are more people and luggage. Give yourself more time to get through the crowds at the airport. Arrive early to reduce stress.
ROAD TRIP
- Give yourself extra time to reach your destination. The interstate system was designed to handle a certain amount of traffic. The roads can’t handle the extra traffic during holidays. It gets worse with bad weather. Allow extra time to reach your destination to avoid being late.
- Consider alternate routes. Consider taking state routes that run parallel to major interstates if you want to avoid the traffic on the highways.
- Traffic apps can help you avoid congestion. WAZE, and other traffic apps, were created to help commuters avoid rush hour traffic. But they also help you navigate around highway congestion. You can familiarize yourself with the apps prior to travel, and ask a passenger to do the navigation. Don’t drive distracted.
- Take breaks. Take breaks. Roadside Attractions Take a break from your work. Driving fatigue is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol and can cause more harm than 100,000 accidents Each year, approximately 40,000 people suffer from driving fatigue. Driving fatigue can be identified by:
- yawning,
- Sore or heavy eyelids
- Slower reaction times
- The “Wow!” effect is caused by daydreaming while driving. How did we arrive here?
- Driving speed becomes inconsistent
- impatience,
- Driving performance is impaired when you make poor gear changes or forget to use turn signals.
- Stiffness and cramps
- Be alert in touristy places. In touristy areas, such as theme parks, beach resorts, and mountain resort areas, distracted driving can be a problem. In unfamiliar areas, vacationers may make sudden turns or stops — sometimes without signaling. Even drivers can be distracted by the first sight of Mickey Mouse, or the port for a cruise ship. Risks are also increased by distracted pedestrians. Be alert!
RESERVATIONS FOR HOTELS
- Book your hotel early. As supply decreases, prices increase.
- When you book your hotel, make sure to specify any special requests (high-floor, poolside, etc.) The closer your travel date gets, the fewer choices you will have. In some resorts, any changes you make to your request for a room will be handled on a “first come first served” basis. You may be pushed to the end of the list if you change your request.
- When using discount websites, such as priceline.com and hotels.com, be sure to check the return and exchange policy. Discounters may save you a few bucks, but it is much more difficult to cancel or change a reservation.
- Hotels.com states that they do not charge cancellation fees, but the hotel that you book with may. All cancellations must be done online.
- Priceline.com has a more complex cancellation and modification policy.
- All reservation confirmations should be printed. A paper confirmation is hard to dispute! You can use the printed confirmation to resolve any problems that may arise at the hotel. There’s also the problem of WiFi overload!
OTHER PEAK TRAVEL INSIGHTS
- Purchase attraction tickets early (ski lifts and snow tubing, live theatre, ice-skating, etc.). Tickets for these experiences are limited, so buy them early to avoid being sold out.
- Budget for extra dining (at least 25%). There are less discounts and deals available when demand is high.
- You should always read the fine print of any restaurant gift certificates or Living Social and Groupon specials. Some restrict use during peak times, like Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
- Plan buffer time. The vacation will be slower if you have to deal with heavy crowds. In peak season, theme parks and major cities (especially New York City, San Francisco, Dallas and Chicago) are crowded, making it difficult to move around. Expect it. Build in buffer time.