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GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS
Let's eliminate destinations where flying is the only way that makes sense...like islands, etc.
Driving might, sometimes, take the same amount of time as it does to fly—getting to the airport, checking your bag, going through security, waiting around, boarding, flying to your destination, deplaning, getting your bag from baggage claim, and getting your rental car or waiting for a shuttle or taxi.
We find that road trips can be a great way to really see the sights and explore places you don't get to experience when you fly. You can also travel on your own time. But remember that driving can take longer, and you might really need to consider your planned activities to make sure that you're traveling at an appropriate time (such as ending your trip a little early so that you can be home to be back at work the next day). There are a lot of variables to consider. You also really need to look at the fatigue driving can have and whether it is the safest option.
Likewise, flying can be just as expensive, if not more, than driving (although, this isn't always the case). But you're paying for the convenience of the work being done for you to get you there faster (in most scenarios).
Our approach is to usually fly because we can get somewhere earlier on the arrival day and leave in the evening on the last day. We value our time on-site. We also will usually get a rental car to make the trip more convenient for getting around.
Something to consider is the idea of flying into one airport and using a one-way rental car to fly out of somewhere else, mixing and matching your trip through multiple locations.
Carrying cash is really up to the comfort level of the traveler, and, to a degree, where you are traveling.
If you are heading to a location that is less than favorable from a safety or security standpoint, we actually recommend that you limit how much cash is readily available...and split where you store it. Don't keep your entire cash pile in a single bag. Keep some in your backpack and some in your pocket.
It's an ugly truth, but remember that cash isn't worth your life. Carrying some cash in your wallet or purse may help to appease a mugger versus not having anything to offer.
We're definitely believers that tipping and local shopping should normally be done in cash. You control what happens to your money flow (and protect your credit card). We also tend to be a little more mindful of what we spend when we're using cash whereas a credit card can, sometimes, cause the spending to get a little out of control since you probably aren't monitoring your expenditures until the bill is due.
Keep in mind that if you are spending cash, your credit card points are not accumulating (if you are on a points program).
You really need to be careful with this one. The tourist areas are more likely going to be pricier than non-tourism destinations; however, they usually come with the added vetting of tour agencies and nearby hotels. That doesn't mean there isn't crime, but it's generally less prominent.
That said, going into the local community can be a rewarding experience that allows you to embrace local culture and cuisine that you might not find in the tourist-focused places on your trip. But it might come at the cost of not having scheduled bus or car services to those locations, and you may encounter more people who do not speak the same language (if traveling internationally).
Doing your research before even booking your trip is critical. Definitely see what other travelers have to offer. You might want to contact the local hotels and get their input as well.
Keep in mind that many all-inclusive resorts may have beautiful landscaping and scenery, but this may be a façade to hide what the off-property surrounding areas might look like.
In most cases, whether you stay with the tourist excursion agenda or do your own thing is going to vary based on where exactly you are traveling to and where you intend to go whilst there. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that can be applied to every destination.
Start off by calling your local bank and seeing if they can get you the local currency of your destination. They'll help you through that process. Different banks might have different timelines to make the exchange; so be sure to plan ahead by several weeks at a minimum.
Most banks will not have foreign currency on-hand. You'll need to put an order in and plan to go pick up your currency. In most cases, using the bank to trade currency will provide a dollar-for-dollar exchange at that current rate (at the time the exchange is requested) with no added fees as long as you are a regular bank customer with an account at that bank.
Avoid using an ATM in-country (at your destination). There are usually fees for international withdrawals of foreign currency in addition to the standard ATM withdrawal fee.
Be sure to also verify that your credit card is okay to make international purchases (that there aren't hidden fees for using the credit card abroad).
To each their own.
If you want to just get away and don't really care where you go, find a good deal on airfare and hotels; go for it. If the destination matters, search for deals; but be reasonable.
Make sure the deal fits your available timeframe. Avoid turning your trip into a cost-cutting experience, staying reasonable with your purchases while also making the trip a valuable event to remember. If you spend a lot of time worrying about the cost, you're not really enjoying the trip.
Generally, we suggest that you find the trip you want and book it. Waiting around for the perfect deal might mean that you wait for a deal that doesn't exist. You also risk waiting until the last minute and then fighting others for slot-remaining opportunities (i.e., the deal is limited to a certain number of purchasers, and you might not purchase in time).
We like having control over our trips—booking our flights, hotels, rentals, itinerary—at our convenience. It's more peace-of-mind for us to know what we're getting into than to wait around for options that may or may not become available.
TIPS FOR THE AIRPORT
Our recommendation is to get to the airport at least two hours before your flight, or three hours before an international flight.
Pay attention and do your research regarding the security screening protocols at your airport, especially for your return flight if you are not familiar with that airport (and if you are going to be returning from an international destination which may have different security protocols than what you are used to).
We cannot stress enough that—for most airlines—aircraft doors close 10 minutes prior to the flight's departure time, and they will not re-open for your late arrival! Some flights may only have a 25-minute boarding process (15 with the early door closure), and some airlines allow flights to pushback 10 minutes early to keep the rest of their day's schedule on time even if you have not boarded yet.
You should also verify what the parking conditions might be like at the airport and if there is any construction along the way. Circling the parking garage or waiting for the off-site parking shuttle is going to add to the stress.
Prior planning prevents poor performance...and poor travel experiences.
Go early. Get through security. Get some food. Relax.
One of our followers suggested having a minimum of 75 minutes between connections; and we'll agree with that one.
Really, 90 minutes is our comfort area. That's not to say we haven't had 45-minute connections. It definitely starts to get tight!
Remember to check to see what requirements you might have before boarding any international flights. Sometimes, your connection is taken care of when you board the first leg. Other times, you might need to go through Customs and Immigration after you arrive before you can board the next time.
For example: When flying from Frankfurt, Germany to Cleveland, Ohio, our first flight landed in Washington, D.C. We had to go through U.S. Customs upon deplaning at Washington-Dulles, which was about a 30-minute process; and our flight to Cleveland was on the complete opposite end of the airport (about another 30 minutes away).
Airports are busy based on when flights depart, usually about two hours before the outbound bank (the time when a lot of flights start to depart at once). This is not solely based on the ideal time for a flight to depart but also when the airline's destinations are planning to accept the inbound flight.
It's possible to walk into an airport at 6am to find that there is a 45-minute line for security. Just the same, you might be at the airport at 6pm, and the line is only 15 minutes. It really depends on the airport (and the airline).
You might want to do some web research to see what the common travel experiences are at the airport you're flying through. We also suggest talking with local hotels to see if they have any suggestions, especially since their staff are probably familiar with the road traffic conditions to and from the airport.
TIPS FOR FLYING
o where is it once you check it?
With a carry-on bag, you have to make sure it's packed appropriately and that you don't get held up at the security screening checkpoint because you left your water bottle or laptop inside. There's another headache, right? Then, you find out that it doesn't fit in the overhead bin; and you have to check it now anyway (a common issue on many flights these days as passenger loads are high and bin space fills quickly).
What's convenient with checking your bag is that you don't have to handle it in the airport, especially if you have connecting flights. You don't have to watch it constantly. You don't have to drag it around the terminal, into the bathroom...it's one less thing to carry.
We almost always check our main bags, which allows us to bring larger suitcases that fit our laundry as well as souvenirs (depending on their size and value). We also don't pay for checked bags since we travel with our United Airlines MileagePlus® credit card, which makes it even more convenient (although, not every airline has this option).
Our vote is to just check the bag if you want the convenience of it. If you want the peace-of-mind, then pack light and bring your carry-on (but anticipate that your post-trip toting of souvenirs is now limited).
Carry-on is a tough one because it can refer to a backpack or a suitcase. Is this something you want to store in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you?
Let's start off by clarifying that purses and handbags are not carry-on; they are a personal item on most airlines.
Our recommendation is to always bring a change of clothes or have the ability to add or remove layers. We usually bring a backpack for each traveler with a change of undergarments, socks, t-shirts, and gym shorts or sweatpants (depending on where we're headed). The general practice is to plan to have a lengthy delay with access to essentials if you get stuck in the airport for a while.
We usually head to the hotel right away when we get to our destination. We'll change into comfortable clothes either at the airport (after we pick up our checked baggage) or at the hotel; and we'll just leave our bags with the bell desk if we can't check in yet.
"Packing light" tends to be a very loose opinion depending on what travelers define as convenient or easy. Many travelers want to reduce the weight of their suitcase while others might be looking to fit their bag under the seat in front of them on a flight.
Our take is that you should pack what you feel like you need. But we really suggest that you consider the destination to which you are traveling. Some trips allow you to purchase additional items while you're there while others may have very restrictive shopping options.
Make sure you bring those essential items based on what your trip is trying to accomplish—such as your swim gear, fine dining attire, winter jacket, etc.
A lot of people don't plan for adding more to their carry-on after they go on their shopping sprees during their trip. Remember that most airlines permit one carry-on item and one personal item; so plan for what you intend to come home with and not just what you're heading out on your trip with.
This is really a gamble that we don't usually recommend.
While, sometimes, good deals may exist close to travel dates—and this approach is often used by people seeking a last-minute getaway—it's not a guarantee that the prices will actually be lower, especially for high-demand destinations where travelers are willing to pay top dollar for their ticket.
The preferred approach is to figure out when you want to travel and just book your flight. It's very probably that the aircraft will start to fill up, and seating options will only become less desirable. As the plane fills, the ticket prices will climb.
Just get it out of the way early on.
Whichever flight you take depends on what your itinerary is.
If we can, we try to take the first flight in the morning on the outbound part of our trip so that we can spend the remainder of our day enjoying our destination. We also try to take the latest flight out on our last day of our trip so that we can continue to enjoy our destination for as long as possible (we'll just tough it out the next day if we're running short on sleep).
If you're taking time off of work, why spend it flying when you can get there and enjoy that vacation day that you're using up?
In many cases, connecting flights are actually more expensive than non-stop flights because they require more resources by the airlines and the airports—fuel, aircraft, crew salaries, maintenance, etc.
Then why are connecting flights an option? The simple reason is that airlines don't always fly nonstop to a certain location. Many airlines like to use the hub-and-spoke concept when it comes to route planning, meaning that they operate most flights from a specific hub city with regional destinations linked from that central hub. To connect to destinations outside of the region, you might need to connect between hubs.
For example: You live in Bangor, Maine and want to get to Austin, Texas. You might need to fly from Bangor to Newark, New Jersey, and then connect to Houston, Texas to get to Austin.
These routes generally cost way more and take a lot longer than a non-stop flight.
Why do some booking options include both non-stop and connections? Some of is is, honestly, due to a computer algorithm for the airline's web booking system. It's not manually programmed to show you flight options; it's web coding. But airlines also know that travelers are seeking the greatest amount of convenience. For some travelers, being on a single flight for long hours might not be the most suitable option, especially those with medical concerns or traveling with young children. Those breaks in the trip might be necessary. The departure time for the non-stop flight might also not align with your itinerary; so maybe that connecting flight is more appropriate for your trip.
AIRLINE MILEAGE POINTS PROGRAMS
Our answer is yes.
It used to be that airline credit cards were very limited in helping you to rack up points for that individual airline and nothing else. Today, you can earn points for purchases made outside of the airline (hotels, food, gasoline, etc.) which can offer different perks to boost your airline mileage points. These points are often now redeemable for more than just airline tickets and may be able to be reapplied to future hotel purchases or rental cars.
Most airlines now offer various levels of credit card packages. Some might include several club passes each year while others might include unlimited club access (yes, your payments may be higher). You really want to look at how often you travel in comparison to what the perks are against the costs of being a card holder.
At TrekHare, we actually have two credit card programs that we regularly use:
One perk about having airline club access that many people don't consider is that you can usually access club lounges before as well as after your flight. We regularly stop into the club after arriving at our final destination to grab a snack and use the restrooms. It's a convenient stop that really doesn't have any added cost and saves on needing to purchase airport-priced food or waiting until you get to your hotel.
A bonus with our United Airlines card is that we can also access codeshare lounges at airports that don't have a United Club.
Oh, and don't cash in those airline miles for anything other than personal travel, especially if you get reimbursed for work travel! Save those miles for your vacation (or a rainy day, if they don't expire)!
You definitely want to enroll in mileage programs!
Mileage programs are a fantastic way to accumulate points for traveling with that airline that you can re-apply later for future flight benefits (i.e., cashing in those miles for no-cost or low-cost flights). At most airlines, there is absolutely no cost to enroll in their mileage perks program, even if you don't have an airline credit card.
Keep in mind that cashing in miles does not necessarily include sales or service taxes, so you'll probably still have some cost to contribute to.
Depending on how regularly you travel, you might not accumulate a lot of miles; so putting those perks to use might take a while. Still, if the program is free, it can't hurt to enroll. Where you really rack up the points is if you do have an airline credit card. This usually allows you to earn miles for each dollar you spend, and some credit card programs might double or quadruple your earned miles per dollar amount.
You do want to pay attention to those miles expiring. As with some hotel points programs, some mileage programs may have a "use by" timeframe. See if your preferred airline requires you to use your miles or else forfeit them by year's end or on a 1-year anniversary date after being earned. If that's the case, maybe consider switching to another preferred airline.
We really recommend that you only redeem those miles for flights. Stay away from redeeming for merchandise that you won't use.
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