The holiday season is approaching and holiday travel planning is well underway. Whether your destination this season is a short drive away or across multiple flights, the journey requires a lot of preparation.
To help you feel less stressed, we’ve compiled five travel tips from our 1987 masterclass to help you avoid holiday travel. airplanes, trains, cars. And to update these lessons for today’s aviation, rail and road challenges, we spoke to former engineers. LA Times travel editor Kathryn Hamm;
For holiday travel, please arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours in advance
“I’ll never make it in time for 6 o’clock.”
The film begins with Neil Page, played by Steve Martin, sitting in a business meeting in New York City, nervously staring at the clock as his flight to Chicago leaves in 75 minutes. Neil’s co-worker warns him that he will never be able to catch a 6pm flight due to rush hour traffic.
Neil leaves the meeting, but his taxi is stolen by his unexpected vacation partner Del Griffiths, played by John Candy.
The lesson here is that even if you are somewhat familiar with your route and traffic patterns, be prepared as if it doesn’t matter.
Ham added that the classic advice of arriving 90 minutes early for domestic flights and two hours early for international flights no longer applies.
“My home airport, Los Angeles International Airport, is always a treasure trove of surprises,” says Hamm. “Arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and at least four hours early for international flights. Add 30 minutes to that during holidays.”
Of course, there are also useful travel features like TSA PreCheck. But Ham warns that this shouldn’t invalidate your plans to arrive early.
“I recommend getting TSA PreCheck or Global Entry with PreCheck,” Hamm says. “The downside, of course, is that smaller airports may not have pre-checks, and you suddenly have to abide by the usual rules of taking your laptop out and taking off your shoes. If you’re not sure if your airport has pre-checks, , please pack your carry-on baggage as if it will no longer be available.”
Related: What is skip plugging and should you risk it?
Please call the hotel on the day of reservation to secure your room
“Who told you to book a room? I did it–out of the goodness of my stupid old heart.”
If you’re traveling with the intention of checking into a property for the holidays, Hamm says you shouldn’t assume your reservation will go through without a hitch.
“Even if you book a room, you won’t always get one, especially in crowded places (Las Vegas comes to mind) during holidays and other busy times,” she points out.
When their flight to Chicago is canceled due to bad weather, Neil and Del check into a motel in Wichita, Kansas, hoping to get separate rooms. Of course not. Two strangers must share the last available room containing a single bed. Frustration boils over, leading to this classic scene.
The online booking process often seems very simple, but you can rest assured knowing your confirmation email will arrive in your inbox instantly. However, depending on where you stay, the standard of hospitality may vary.
“Laws regarding innkeepers vary from state to state, so it’s a good idea to take a look at the laws in the state you’re traveling to,” says Hamm. “However, in most cases, if you arrive at a hotel and there is no room available, the hotel will be asked to ‘direct’ you to another location. And if there is a significant delay in arriving at the hotel, no problem. You call them and say, “My plane is delayed, so please don’t give me your room.”
Rental services like Airbnb may be designed to prevent problems like this, but they’re also full of horror stories. Bottom line: Book your hotel at the same time you book your trip, call ahead on the day of your reservation to confirm room availability, and have backup hotel options in case your initial reservation falls through. Masu.
Related: Best Micro Hotels Around the World
Keep valuables nearby
“We were robbed!”
“If you check in your luggage, bring what you need for your overnight stay as a carry-on. Never pack valuables in your luggage,” says Hamm.
Neil and Del carry their luggage with them when they travel, but they weren’t as careful with their valuables. Overnight I realized my cash had been stolen.
As Hamm attests, you can’t predict what will happen to your checked baggage. “When I came home to L.A. for Christmas one year, I stupidly packed a pair of diamond earrings, a college graduation gift from my parents, in my luggage. I got hit by a forklift. I finally got it back 3 days later, even though I was afraid to say it. [my] My parents thought what a stupid thing I had done.
“Imagine my relief when I found the earrings still tucked in the suitcase pocket. My mother helped me unpack, but she didn’t know about the earrings. I didn’t know. Instead, I was shocked to find men’s underwear and two college textbooks in my bag. “I never took them with me. And an assortment of socks. I didn’t have one either. When the bag exploded, I think the airport staff just scooped it up and put it in a nearby bag.”
If you don’t want to be overly generous this holiday season, keep your valuables on you. For added security, invest in a reliable tracker. Such options include the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2, Tile Pro, or Apple AirTag.
“Now, like many people, I travel with an AirTag in my luggage,” says Hamm. ”[I] I haven’t needed it so far, but it’s nice to know it’s there. ”
Related: 10 Tips to Prevent Lost Baggage
Don’t rent a car at the airport
“May I see the rental contract?”
When you finally arrive at your destination city after a long vacation flight, you need to rent a car. Your problem: You decide to rent a car at the airport. If you choose this option, you may incur so-called “premium location” fees. This is an additional fee charged by rental companies to cover airport operating costs. And airport inventory is likely to be low during the holidays.
“It’s not a good idea to show up and rent a car,” Hamm asserts. “Walk-up rates are usually much more expensive and the availability of cars may be limited. Also, be prepared to get a car you didn’t want in the first place, especially if you’re on vacation or any other time.”
In another iconic scene from the film, Neil finds his frustration when the rental process goes awry feels apocalyptic.
We recommend taking a shuttle or Uber to a nearby rental car location. Please be sure to check inventory and reserve online before visiting. The worst-case scenario is that you don’t get the car you want or need, and instead get one that doesn’t suit your trip or your person.
“One trip I ended up in a huge SUV. [the only rental vehicle] “I’m short and the SUV was huge, so I had to use the steering wheel to get into the cab myself,” Hamm says. From the driver’s seat, getting out looked like jumping off a skyscraper. ”
Related: Best rental cars for trips to mountains, coasts, and cities
Book your trip 3 weeks before your vacation and avoid taking the last flight
“I’m a little late…but I’m also a little wiser.”
One misconception travel experts warn about is the idea that waiting until the day of your holiday to book tickets or booking the last flight or train of the day will free up a lane.
“Don’t take the last flight of the day,” Hamm emphasizes. “Nothing good comes from that.”
what intention There is a high chance that your flight or train will be delayed or canceled while you are waiting at the station for your ride. Needless to say, there are additional fees for booking travel during the holidays.
The most recommended time to book your trip is three weeks before your vacation, around the end of October. Or, if you’re only traveling during Christmas, Thanksgiving should be your deadline for booking.
Neil and Del nearly collided (and ended up blowing up) by the end of their trip home, but they also had a lot of trouble figuring out what would and wouldn’t work during the trip. I learned that. And of course, they learned to see each other in a new light.
Remember that traveling during the holidays can be stressful and a hassle, but the most important thing is to keep in mind the reason behind it – to foster valuable connections. Please don’t.
Hamm remembers the years he spent traveling to visit loved ones and is grateful for the lessons that shaped his personal decisions. ”[I moved] She admits that going to California, where most of her family was, was the main reason for her fewer vacation trips.[Doing so] When it was time to return to the place we had pretended to call home, we ended a tearful goodbye. ”