HELPFUL HINTS - TRAVEL                                                                   BACK TO TRAVEL LOANS

Airplane   /   Auto   /   Hotel   /   Children AIRPLANE  Arrive early! Allow extra time for yourself to get through security, especially if you have children traveling with you. Be aware of the airport regulations before packing any carry-on luggage.  You should know what you can carry on and what you can’t before getting to the airport. (TSA Permitted & Prohibited Items) Find out what your airline’s maximum weight per luggage piece is, the fee for overweight luggage, and how many pieces of luggage each person is allowed to bring. If you were not given a seat assignment when you purchased your ticket, call the airline and make sure you get one in advance.  If you arrive at the ticket counter with out one you have a greater chance of getting bumped from the flight.   Check online for airport maps.  If you have a connecting flight, your transition from one plane to another will be easier when you know the layout of the airport. >> BACK TO TOP     AUTO Make sure your vehicle is in good enough shape for travel.  Have your vehicle inspected by a reliable mechanic before going on your big trip.  Check to see that your auto’s fluids are topped off, including windshield wiper fluid. Make certain that you have a spare tire, all the proper tire changing tools, and it wouldn’t hurt to bring along a small empty gas canister, just in case. Leave early enough to provide room for possible traffic situations that can slow you trip.  If you have to be somewhere by a certain time it’s better to get there early and have that breathing room than to be burdened with the frustration of being late because of a traffic accident or road construction that you were not expecting. Know your route.  Get a map that indicates highway exit numbers and rest stops. Want to save money on gas?  To help with gas mileage, check that the tires are properly inflated, that you have a clean air filter in place, and you may want to consider a tune-up.  Also, several online mapping services now provide the option to mark gas stations on the route and show the latest prices at those locations. >> BACK TO TOP     Hotel Consider a travel agent.  They can often find you a great package at a very low cost. Find out what a hotel’s cancellation policy might be.  You never know what might happen to cause you to cancel your trip.  It’s best to know before you book, because in the event you do have to cancel you will hopefully have a minimal to no out-of-pocket penalty to pay. Find out about the area the hotel is located in.  You may be closer to some of the local attractions but the location of the hotel may prove to be in a frustrating area, such as high traffic area, next to an active railway, bad part of town, etc.  Booking mistakes can occur, so have a copy of your reservation emailed to you and review it thoroughly.  Though this won’t guarantee that a mistake will not occur, it certainly decreases the chances that there might be a mistake, as well as improves your chances of having an issue resolved properly.  If it looks like you’re going to be late, call the hotel to let them know your running late and ask them to notate that in your reservation so you do not loose your room.  Also, guarantee the room with a credit card, this will also help decrease your chances of being bumped if you arrive late. It never hurts to ask about room upgrades when you get to your hotel.  Some hotels may be willing to upgrade you for just a little more than what your paying for your current room if they have vacancies in some of their larger rooms.  When you checkout, make sure you get an itemized receipt and look it over for any possible discrepancies before leaving.  If there is, it will be easier to have it resolved there than over the phone when you get home.   Make sure your receipt indicates how you paid.  Though rare, when you have secured the stay with a credit card but pay cash at check out, a hotel may unintentionally double charge you by failing to receipt the cash and charging your credit card.  >> BACK TO TOP     Traveling with Children If traveling by auto, make it comfortable by ensuring plenty of legroom and pillows, as well as stop frequently for restroom and stretch breaks.  Bring lots of healthy snacks.  Kids will want to snack and the last thing you want to deal with is a child with a stomachache or a fidgety child pumped up on sugar.  Make sure your snacks are easy to clean up, won’t melt, and won’t stink.  With kids it’s inevitable that food will find itself somewhere in the crevice of a seat or on the floor.  Bring plenty of activities that engage them and are easy to pack.  If you don’t have a portable DVD player, get one.  If you don’t want to purchase one, borrow one.  These can provide you up to two hours of peace.  Don’t forget hand wipes and tissues!  Find hotels that offer children activities.  Adjoining rooms can come in handy, too.  If traveling by airplane, allow extra time.  Remember that strollers and carriers will need to be examined, so fold them down before getting to the x-ray machine. When at the metal detector you may not pass your child to security personnel or pass a child through the metal detector to another.  The parent or guardian of a small child or infant will be required to carry the child through the metal detector. So that your child does not panic while on the flight when they experience pressure in their ears, inform your child, before flying, that they may experience some discomfort in their ears, but not to worry, explaining it is normal and will be temporary.  Be prepared with food, gum, pacifier, or a bottle to help relieve the cabin pressure on a child’s ears. >> BACK TO TOP

The above Helpful Hints are simply suggestions for travel and are not intended as professional advice.