What To Look For In A Holiday Travel Package
by nativeecotours.com on Jul.01, 2009, under Travel
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!
For practical recommendations to super travel locations such as to Costa Rica, Europe, Bahamas and many more, please visit www.travel-vacation-spots.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning vacation travel opportunities!
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!
For practical recommendations to super travel locations such as to Costa Rica, Europe, Bahamas and many more, please visit www.travel-vacation-spots.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning vacation travel opportunities!
Holiday Travelers-summer Vacation Destinations
by nativeecotours.com on Jun.19, 2009, under Art And Entertainment
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.
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.
Summer-Vacations-Central has been providing information and resources for people online who are looking for more information on Summer Vacations.
For more information on Summer Vacations: 800-863-4592 ext. 1
http://www.luxuryvacationcentral.com
How To Make Sure You Find The Best Holiday Travel Deals
by nativeecotours.com on Jun.19, 2009, under Travel
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.
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
by nativeecotours.com on Jun.17, 2009, under Travel
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.
Insurance Doctor is a leading provider of North Carolina car insurance and Virginia car insurance for drivers of all records. They can be found at: http://www.myinsurancedoctor.com .
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.
Insurance Doctor is a leading provider of North Carolina car insurance and Virginia car insurance for drivers of all records. They can be found at: http://www.myinsurancedoctor.com .
Top 10+ Tips For Holiday Travel!
by nativeecotours.com on Jun.15, 2009, under Flights
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!
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
