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Holiday Travel – Already? But it’s Still Summer!

nativeecotours.com — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:59:15 +0000

Now is the time to start thinking about making air travel arrangements for the holidays. Yes, it’s the middle of August and summer is still in full swing. However, if you know that you are planning to travel for any of the holidays between Thanksgiving and New Years, book your flights soon.

Here’s the temptation many people who are flying around the holidays may have. They take a look at the current airfares in August for their flight for Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas or New Years. They’re high. Airfares are generally higher right now than they have been in years, and airlines charge even more for the peak holiday flights. So people wait to book, hoping that the fares may come down.

However, airlines are flying fewer flights than in years past. Flights get booked up quickly. and they get overbooked. Waiting could mean paying even more for a ticket than the price was in August or it could mean not getting a flight at all.

Here are some tips on booking holiday travel now.

-Shop around for the best deals. Airfare will be pricy for holiday travels, but one airline has got to have the lowest fare. Although air travel needs to be booked soon, there is still time to shop around a bit before you book.

-If it’s possible, be flexible on your travel dates. The three or four days immediately before a holiday and after a holiday have the highest fares. If you can fly on the holiday itself or several days before or after, you are likely to get a lower fare. -Get seat assignments as soon as possible. It’s getting harder and harder to get a seat assignment when you book your travel, but it’s not impossible. If you can’t get a seat assignment immediately, find out from the airline how to go about doing so before your flight. -Some airlines allow you to check in 24 hours before a flight online, and you can get a seat assignment then. You can also get seat assignments at the self check-in kiosks many airlines have up to 24 hours before your flight. The other option is to check-in in person as early as possible before your flight and get your seat assignment then. -The longer you wait to check-in, the likelier you are to not get the seat assignment you want (aisle, window, etc.) or risk getting bumped because the flight was overbooked and you didn’t have a confirmed seat. Since holiday flights are usually overbooked this is a possibility. -If you are planning on using frequent flyer rewards for holiday travel, look into it now. Many airlines have black out dates for frequent flyer rewards around the holidays. If they don’t have black out dates they may have a very limited number of seats for rewards passengers, and those seats will get filled very quickly. They may be filled already. Realize that there is a possibility you may not be able to use your rewards for your holiday travel.

If you plan carefully now, you can be assured that your holiday air travel plans are secure. You can save your last minutes during the holidays for shopping, not worrying about getting to your destination.

The daily Travel air is a website that updates twice a week with the comprehensive and helpful travel tips and information specifically on air travel. For more, visit travel andholiday travel creative commons licensed

Packing for Holiday Travel

nativeecotours.com — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:47:58 +0000

We have all seen those people with tons of luggage arriving at the airport or traveling on the highway with their car crammed so full of items that they passengers have very little room to breath. There are ways to pack light for the holidays but to also ensure you have everything you need. This will definitely make your holiday travel plans much more enjoyable.

To help ensure you don’t forget anything important, make yourself a list of items you can’t leave behind. Keep the list handy so you can add to it as you think of something else. Make sure you check the weather forecast in the days right before you pack. This way you can be sure to have outfits and shoes that are going to work well for both the occasions and the weather. You don’t want to be stuck in the snow with nothing but high heels to wear for the evening.

Avoid packing clothing for holiday travel that can get ruined or stained if something gets spilled. You don’t want to be self conscious about the drink you spilled on it. If you are attending parties then it is very possible someone else can bump into you. Be prepared for such accidents to take place and try not to let them ruin your fun when you travel for the holidays.

If you will be staying in a hotel, chances are they will have plenty of items you need that you can eliminate from your luggage. Contact the hotel directly or check out their website to be sure. Common items found that you can leave behind include soap, shampoo, conditioner, location, a blow dryer, and an iron.

If you do have to pack liquid items, try to use trail sizes or to buy small containers to fill from larger bottles. Make sure these items are placed in a make up bag or a freezer bag. This way if they happen to leak they won’t get on your clothing.

Take a close look at the makeup and perfume you use. It is very possible that you can get by with packing only one kind of perfume and make up colors that offer you plenty of selection. This is more effective than packing your entire make up collection and then deciding what you will use once you arrive. You also want to leave expensive jewelry behind because you don’t want it to get lost or stolen. If you aren’t able to wear it when you travel then it is best not to take it at all.

You will be amazed at how much room is lost in a suitcase due to not taking the time to fold up items properly. You have to get creative if you want to maximize the amount of space you have. It is easy to place socks and underwear into your shoes so they won’t take up any space at all.

Take the time to fold pants and shirts neatly into the suitcase so you can fit more of them in. You don’t want to have your bags so full you have to sit on them to close them. This damages the zippers and it will result in you having to replace your luggage sooner than you should. If your luggage is chosen for inspection during your holiday travel it won’t be such a chore for the inspectors if you have taken your time to pack wisely.

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Holiday Travel With your Pets

nativeecotours.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:50:09 +0000

The holidays are a time when many people travel, and that leads to the dilemma of what to do with the family pets. Many people choose to bring them along because they don’t have anyone to care for them and they don’t want to place them in a dog kennel for the duration of their holiday trip.

Traveling with your pets for the holidays can be a pleasant experience if you are prepared for it. Otherwise it can turn into a nightmare due to the care your pets need and where you will be staying. If you are visiting family or friends of the holidays you really need to make sure they are comfortable with you bringing you pets along.

Keep in mind that most hotels won’t allow you to keep pets in your room. Make sure you look into this information before you secure the reservation. Those hotels that do offer you the right to bring your pets will you will charge you a deposit just in case your pet destroys something in the room during your stay.

Most airlines will make accommodations for your pets to travel in the plane but they have to be secured in a carrier. This can be very stressful for pets that are used to roaming around freely. They will have to fly in the cargo area of the plane unless the airline allows small cats and small dogs to be placed under your seat for the duration of the flight.

If you plan to place your pet in a carrier let them get used to it in the weeks prior to your travel plans for the holidays. This way they won’t be so overwhelmed by the concept of being in the carrier for the duration of the flight. This can be quite traumatic for your pet and you don’t want them injuring themselves during the flight.

Keep in mind that they will charge you more if your pet is aboard the plane with you instead of with the cargo. Still, this is a great way to ensure your pet is being well cared for while your travel for the holidays. If you have any connecting flights though you will definitely want to keep your pet on board with you. The risk of losing your pet this way will really put a damper on the holiday festivities.

You will not be able to take your pets along with you on the bus lines or the train due to their strict guidelines. The only exception to this rule is seeing eye dogs as not allowing them on board is a violation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result many people traveling with pets for the holidays decide to take their own vehicle.

Make sure you have plenty of food and water for them so they can stay hydrated and feeling well. If you are traveling by car you need to plan to stop often for them to exercise and use the bathroom. It is a good idea to take along their favorite toys or blankets in order to minimize their stress during travel.

Pay close attention to the weather for your holiday travel as it can be quite a change for your pet. They are likely used to their normal climate and they may have trouble coping with the extreme heat or the extreme cold.

It is very possible to travel with your pets for the holidays but it take plenty of planning. You want them to be as comfortable as possible without it affecting your ability to enjoy traveling for the holidays as well. Even though you may want to have your pets with you, carefully weigh the decision. If you determine that they travel conditions won’t be right for them then find a quality kennel for them to stay at so you can still enjoy your holiday travel.

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Preparing your Home for Holiday Travel

nativeecotours.com — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:41:46 +0000

While you are likely very excited about your upcoming plans to travel for the holidays, you need to make sure you take the time to prepare your home as well. Criminals are very aware that people travel for the holidays and they look for homes to target during that period of time. There is a much lower risk of getting caught during this time because so many people are paying attention to their own plans.

Make sure you carefully check all the doors and the windows before you leave for the holidays. They should all be securely locked to prevent someone from slipping into them undetected. If you have an alarm system you want to make sure you set it before you head out. Put fresh batteries is motion lights and outdoor video equipment that you may have installed. Don’t leave extra keys under the mat or other common locations where criminals can easily find them and walk right into your home.

You don’t want your home to appear to be empty when you travel for the holidays. If possible have a friend or neighbor stop by daily. Most criminals stake out homes so if they see different lights on or they see fresh footprints in the snow they will be less likely to target your home.

Either have someone collect your mail and newspapers daily or put them on hold until you return from your holiday travel. Not only is this a dead give away that you are out of town, it can also lead to identity theft. All it takes is for a criminal to get their hands on your bank statement or a credit card statement and they could wipe out your account and charge items that you will have against your credit card.

If you are traveling during the colder part of the year for the holidays, have someone shovel your driveway and sidewalks. This definitely gives the impression that you are home or at least that someone is keeping a very close eye on your home. You also want to set your thermostat at a decent temperature while you are way. The added expense of the heating bill will be nothing compared to the damage from broken pipes that may have froze due to the drop in temperatures while you were traveling for the holidays.

Make sure a friend or a neighbor has a way to contact you in the event of an emergency involving your home while you are away for the holidays. Hopefully they won’t need to contact you but having such measures in place can be very beneficial if an issue does arise. They may be able to take care of low priority issues for you such as the sprinkler system not turning off or someone hitting your mailbox with their vehicle due to sliding on icy roads.

It can be very nice to travel for the holidays, but do all you can in order to ensure your home will be protected while you are away. You don’t want to come home and find that your home has been burglarized or later that your personal information has been compromised. Some planning before you travel for the holidays will help to ensure everything is safe and sound when you return.

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Holiday Travel Insurance – Why You Need It!

nativeecotours.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:08:58 +0000

We have all faced the question, would you like to purchase holiday travel insurance? Many of us, myself included, are thinking well why would I want to spend more money on that? I know that I am travelling on this particular date, my vacation time is booked and there is nothing that is going to stop me.

Let’s think about this…

The thing about travel is that many times, no matter how far ahead we have booked or how well planned, there are many unexpected things that can occur, some may be minor things and some may not. Maybe you’ve experienced setbacks yourself.

Have you ever considered what would happen if;

1) My travel supplier just declared bankruptcy

Considering all the new travel companies that are popping up every day, not all of them are as financially stable as we think. Having trip cancellation travel insurance and trip interruption insurance can protect you and your vacation investment.

2) I’ve become ill and I’m too sick to travel

Many tickets and vacations are non-refundable. If you or another family member suddenly becomes ill, having trip cancellation travel insurance and trip interruption insurance allows you to be fully reimbursed should such a situation occur.

3) You’ve missed your flight connection due to flight delays

There are times (don’t I know it!) that you arrive at your connecting city but your connecting flight is long gone. You may need a hotel and meals for the night, or you’ve booked a cruise but your cruise ship has left, what do you do?! Having travel delay protection will cover the costs relating to your delay.

4) My wallet or purse has just been stolen!

Here is a very real fear that most of us don’t like to think about but unfortunately, even in the best of places, theft can occur. Knowing that there are 24 hr emergency services on hand to assist with reporting lost cards and having emergency funds ready to transfer ensures that help is always just a phone call away.

5) Holiday Travel Insurance covers you where your Health Insurance may not. Medical emergencies can occur when you are visiting a foreign destination. Without travel health insurance coverage, you would be responsible for footing the bill, and chances are, it’s not going to be a small amount!

These are just some of the many reasons you may want to consider before declining that offer for holiday travel insurance. If you are booking online as many people are doing these days, take a look for an online travel insurance company that can offer you a solution. Make sure to look for travel insurance comparisons, you will be able to find cheap holiday travel insurance.

Always remember that travelling is one of the best things in the world, but as with all good things, there are always unexpected circumstances that can arise. Holiday travel insurance may be one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family. For a small fee and the right insurance travel plan products, you can be rest assured that you are completely covered to fully enjoy that vacation!

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What To Look For In A Holiday Travel Package

nativeecotours.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:37:08 +0000

Traveling during any holiday season can be hectic. Many people are heading home for the holidays, while others look to get out of town for some much needed vacation time. If this is the only time you want or are able to travel, you might find a better value by booking a holiday travel package well in advance so you can assure yourself a hotel room and best-rate airline tickets. You can book ahead on your own unstructured agenda if you prefer, but usually these times fill up so quickly, making it difficult to get a good deal. Taking a package deal instead will typically save you money over what you would’ve spent had you booked all accommodations separately.

When you do lock in a holiday package, look for one that is flexible. No two packages are identical, so if you find one you like better but the booking agent doesn’t offer something you truly want to do, consider trying to do so on your own. Also, by skipping a day or heading out earlier or later, you can arrange a better deal sometimes. Not all packages are set in stone, so ask questions or find another package that suits your needs for better enjoyment. A good travel agent will help you arrange all your specifications. So if you are booking during a holiday season, use a travel agent instead of doing it yourself.

Additionally, avoid holiday vacation packages that sound too good to be true. Traveling during a holiday season means that it will almost inevitably be more expensive. If there is a fabulous deal that you are able to secure, make sure you do your research, because many times scams fool you into believing you are taking one package and then switching it at the last minute for a worse hotel, no car rental, or a different airline. Get your vacation package deal in writing so you have proof of what you were told in case you need to request your money back at a later date.

On that same note, it is vital you obtain a printout of your itinerary several weeks, or even months, in advance so you know exactly what airline and route you are taking, as well as where you are staying. That way you can provide to other key people (e.g. extended family members, neighbors) your travel information and plan side trips according to where you will be at certain dates and times.

Any package you purchase will have some flexibility concerning how much “free” time you are able to enjoy. You don’t always need to stay with the group, so find out what those non-group opportunities are and how much alone time you will have with each. If you decide to venture out on your own, you’d certainly want to be sure you can do so without the pressure of the group’s consideration.

Finally, before booking any holiday package, do a sufficient amount of research on the company you are booking through so you can verify they are reputable. You don’t want to end up stuck in another country if something goes wrong!

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Holiday Travelers-summer Vacation Destinations

nativeecotours.com — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:15:39 +0000

When you think of holiday travel, what comes to your mind first? When thinking of holiday travel, many individuals automatically think of traveling to visit with family and friends for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. While these may be the most well-known holidays, they are not the only ones. In the summer months, many individuals and families make the decision to vacation on or around Labor Day or the Forth of July.

If you are interested in vacationing on or around Labor Day weekend or the Forth of July weekend, there are a number of important factors that you should first consider. Perhaps, the most important factor is number of other travelers on the road. As previously mentioned, a large number of individuals and families make the decision to travel on a summer holiday weekend. If you are interested in vacationing at a popular destination, you may want to take this into consideration.

In most of the world, summer is associated with sun, sand, and beaches. The majority of families that travel on Labor Day weekend or the Forth of July weekend are heading to the beach. There are a number of popular beaches that can be found in the United States and Europe. Popular beaches in the United States include Daytona Beach, Virginia Beach, and South Beach. St. Tropez, Cannes, Costa Smeralda, and Marbella are popular summer beach destinations in Europe.

When selecting a summer holiday vacation destination, it is important to keep what you need and want out of your vacation in mind. If you are looking for a romantic, but private getaway, you may want to avoid the above mentioned beaches. If large crowds and a lack of privacy will not have a negative impact on your vacation then you select just about any destination in the world.

Beaches can easily be considered the most popular summer vacation destinations, but they are not your only options when vacationing during a summer holiday. To many, Labor Day and the Forth of July mean outdoor barbeques and picnics. For this reason, public campgrounds and parks are popular summer vacation destinations. If you are interested in camping outdoors, grilling, and participating in outdoor activities, camping may be a great vacation for you and your family.

Outdoor camping is enjoyed by many. Its allure is privacy. Most campgrounds are founded in largely landscaped areas. Trees and large bushes often create private retreats. In addition to being found in wooded areas, public campgrounds can also be found along secluded beaches and in the mountains. State or national parks, which allow camping, and public campgrounds are often filled with a number of facilities. These facilities often include onsite laundromats, general stores, and game rooms.

Outdoor camping is most often perceived as sleeping outdoors in a tent. Tents are often the most used piece of camping equipment, but RVs are gaining popularity. If you do not own an RV, you can easily rent one from a number of locations. There are many individuals and families who enjoy taking a road trip throughout the United States or Europe.

Beaches and campgrounds are popular vacation destinations for summer holiday travelers. However, it is important to note that you should not limit yourself to the vacationing at the beach or camping. Additional fun-filled activities may include visiting a museum, zoo, or amusement park. When it comes to summer holiday travel, just about anything is possible.

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How To Make Sure You Find The Best Holiday Travel Deals

nativeecotours.com — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:03:08 +0000

In today’s world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed.

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about the best holiday travel deals. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

The internet gives us access to just about anything we can imagine. This includes finding flights, trains, buses, hotel rooms, and rental cars that we can use to travel for the holidays. While most of these entities are more expensive when you travel over the holidays due the demand, you can still find some good deals if you take the time to look.

You will generally find that you can save the most money on holiday travel if you purchase a complete package deal. This is less expensive than buying each piece that you need individually. It also provides you with only one confirmation number that you need to keep track of instead of several different ones.

There are literally hundreds of sites online where you can look for holiday travel deals. You can search by your destination in a search engine or choose the various sites you have heard about. It is a good idea to keep a list of the sites you visit and the prices you are coming across. This way you can compare the prices and easily remember where you want to go back to.

Most of the time fares will be cheaper online than by contacting the place directly because it saves their business time of having to set up the travel arrangements for you. Make sure you carefully read all of the information though because some travel deals have hidden costs that you don’t want to be liable for. You also need to check into the cancellation policies and about rescheduling your trip.

Some online travel deals don’t offer any refunds at all so if a family member dies or you have an unexpected illness you won’t be able to get your money back. Even if you show up late for your flight because you got caught up at security they won’t honor your purchase. This can be extremely risky because there are too many variables that can affect holiday travel.

Make sure you also pay close attention to the amount of time that you will be in the process of getting to your destination. You may find a killer price but it isn’t going to be worth it if you have several connecting flights and layovers along the way. Look for direct methods to get to your destination whenever it is possible. There are simply too many delays during holiday travel to ensure you can get to those connections on time.

Many of the sites you visit online will allow you to sign up for special offers and promotions. You should take advantage of these offers so that you don’t have to continually return to their site to check for changes in prices. Some of them even allow you to enter a price so that you can be notified if the price of the trip you want drops to that price. For those that can only afford holiday travel if it fits a specific budget, this is a valuable feature.

During your search online for holiday travel, be flexible with your dates. You will be able to save hundreds of dollars just by being willing to leave a day earlier or leaving in the evening instead of the afternoon. Those that want a specific travel arrangement will find this ties them into more expensive offers. Even if you travel a day earlier and have to pay for a hotel room that extra night you could save hundreds of dollars.

It does take some initial planning of where you want to travel and how you are going to get there in order to find the best travel deals. Investing a few hours of your time in getting the best price though is well worth the savings you will get from it. Millions of people travel each year over the holidays but some of them pay more for the same trip because they didn’t look for holiday travel deals online.

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

For more of the best holiday travel deals, visit daily air travel tips.

Tips To Survive The Holiday Travel Season

nativeecotours.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:47:46 +0000

The holiday season is nearly upon us, and with more and more people gearing up this year to travel during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, the thought of doing so yourself can be a daunting prospect. Fortunately, if you can keep a few things in mind, the upcoming holiday travel season doesn’t have to be quite as overwhelming as in years past.

Directions Are Everything

Sure, there are all the stereotypes about men not wanting to ask for directions, and the validity of those stereotypes is for another time. That being said, getting quality directions that you can trust and that you know will get you there is paramount to making your trip as smooth as possible. Calling your destination, be that a brother, grandmother, uncle, or hotel, for directions is a good first step. Not only will they more than likely know the best way to get you there, but they will also probably know go detours in the event of traffic, accidents, or construction.

In the event that your destination doesn’t have good directions for you, there are seemingly endless websites online that will give you turn by turn directions, distances, times, and even maps. Take those with a grain of salt as they may not be completely up to date due to construction changes to traffic patterns, addition or subtraction of exits, or the addition or removal of traffic signs saying which roads you’re allowed to travel on.

Games, Movies, Books, and Snacks

The kids don’t like the 13 hour drive any more than you do, but at least you get to drive. Video games, card games, personal video players, even books (if motion sickness isn’t an issue) are a great way to help make the drive pass for kids. Many of your local electronics stores sell VHS and DVD players that have small monitors already attached for a very reasonable price and allow you to avoid having an entire home entertainment center installed into your car just for road trips.

Make Sure Your Car is Working Fine

Checking your tires for air pressure and tread and checking the oil and coolant in your engine is an easy way to make sure that you’re not one of those families on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Every year families find themselves on the side of the road with flat tires from worn tread or bad air pressure or with engines billowing smoke from something that would have cost next to nothing to have checked and fixed ahead of time. Spending a little bit of time and effort up front can save you spending a lot of time and money later.

Check Your Insurance

While you certainly don’t want anything bad to happen, in the event that something bad does happen, it helps to have your insurance information with you. Pretty much any state you’re travelling through will require you to have some sort of car insurance, even if it’s just cheap car insurance. Making sure that you have your insurance information, whether it’s North Carolina car insurance, Virginia car insurance, or another state, is a good way to make sure that if the worst happens, you know what you’re covered against.

Before you set out you should also check to see what your insurance covers in the way of towing, roadside assistance, and rentals in the event something does happen to your car and you need help or another way to continue your vacation. Getting stuck at Grandma’s house because your insurance doesn’t cover a rental and your car exploded is no way to spend the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.

Be Prepared

This is the holiday driving season, when the seeming entirety of the United States driving population will converge on the roads at the same time. Plan ahead to give yourself plenty of time, factoring in stops for food, gas, and just to stretch your legs. Leave early and expect to get to your destination early. Remember that for every great driver out there that will let you merge in front of them there’s somebody that will cut you off and cause an accident if you’re not paying attention. Stay on your toes, relax, and enjoy your vacation this holiday season.

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Top 10+ Tips For Holiday Travel!

nativeecotours.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:26:28 +0000

The holidays are here and so is the stress. There is nothing like the stress of booking tickets and traveling during the holidays. Added to that stress is airport security.

I am a former airport screener and I have made it my personal mission to help passengers get through airport security fast, safe and easy.

Here are my top ten valuable airport security tips to help you travel through airport security this holiday season. Be sure to tell me your horror stories or comments on traveling through airport security during the holidays.

1. Book your tickets as far in advanced as possible. This will lower the chance of you being chosen for secondary screening, since last minute bookings seem to increase your chances.

2. Pack light. Nothing delays the security lines more than when the x-ray operator has to ask for a rerun on a passenger’s bag because they cannot determine if the contents contain a prohibited item or not. Remember that liquid medications, breast milk and baby formula are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule for liquids, gels and creams. Pack your exempt items separate from your regular 3-1-1 carry-on items and declare them to the screener at the divesting table at x-ray.

3. Know what items are permitted and prohibited in your carry-on and checked baggage. Download the Ultimate Packing List on my contact page. 40 million prohibited items have been confiscated to date, including explosives, guns, knives and weapons. Do not be only of those passengers who delay the line by bringing a prohibited item to security checkpoint.

4. Use online check-in. The airlines will allow you to check-in no more than 24 hours in advance. This is a BIG stress reducer. If you can print out your boarding pass from home, this alone tells you that you are not scheduled for secondary screening.

5. Use curb-side check-in. The porters have to pay for their carts in some cases, so give them a little and save BIG TIME. I saved 2 to 3 hours of waiting in line when I tipped a porter $20 to check me in curb-side in Orlando.

6. Keep your cool! TSA could charge you up to $5,000 for interfering with the screening process for unruly behavior or threatening comments. This means NO joking around. Do not say any of these words: terrorist, bomb, IED, IID, George Bush and Osama bin Laden.

7. Dress for airport security. No body piercings, no thick bracelets or jewelry. No baggy pants and avoid wearing skirts or dresses. You will increase your chances of secondary screening if your clothing can easily conceal a weapon. Wear slip-on shoes! This alone will save you time.

8. Place your personal bedroom toys in checked baggage. You could shutdown an airport by mistake if they are carried in your carry-on luggage. They have similar components as an IED.

9. Arrive at least 2 hours early for domestic and 3 hours for international flights. You don’t know if the person in front of you will do something stupid and delay the line. Power outages, weapon scares, bomb threats are just a few reasons airports will shutdown for hours.

10. Normally you can get cheaper ticket prices on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. During the holidays, avoid traveling that holiday week if possible. Fly early than 10am and later than 3pm if possible. That is peak travel time for security lines.

Tell me your horror stories of going through airport security screening during the holidays.

Happy and Safe Travels!

Natalia Ippolito, a former airport screener and author of: I MIGHT AS WELL BE NAKED: How to Survive Airport Screening With Your Clothes On.

Receive her FREE Tip of The Week, Sample Chapter Ultimate Packing List or Unknown Violations and Fines Report at http://www.airportbook.com