These holiday travel tips are about planning for the best -- best experiences, best trips, best alternatives if you run into issues. It's about being smart and traveling well -- work out all the kinks in advance, keep a cool head, and you'll set yourself up for smooth-sailing.
1. Plan in Advance
Spaces fill up quickly for holiday departures, especially on the most coveted travel dates -- which is exactly why I am reminding people to start planning in July and not October. Air travel expenses begin to skyrocket for the holidays in October. Booking early improves your chances of finding reasonable prices as well as desirable departure and arrival times. Here is a handful Adventure Life's Holiday Departures to get you started.
2. Travel Insurance - a good idea Travel insurance can safeguard you from delayed or canceled flights, weather disruptions, lost luggage, medical emergencies, last minute cancellations and more. Disagreeable weather is typically at its best during the holidays (after all, that's one of the reasons we all choose this time of year to escape), which increases the chances flight interruptions. Along these line -- if possible, try and arrange any connecting flights in a warm-weather city like Dallas or Atlanta where planes are least likely to be "snowed-in." Remember to keep all your receipts for filing claims upon return.
3. Pack Light & Smart
Less is more. Packing lists are a helpful guides and will usually include (or exclude -- I guess I don't need three pairs of shorts for four days after all) items that never crossed your mind. A few helpful items to bring: flashlight, earplugs, sunscreen, disposable wipes, zip-lock baggies of various size. Also, make sure your carry-on has your essentials, such as any medications or eye-wear. If your checked luggage goes missing, it can take additional time to show-up during the holiday season. Make sure your carry-on fits airline regulations, or it will have to be checked. And if you decide to bring a gift, don't wrap it, as security will more than likely unwrap, even if it is in your checked bag.
4. The Art of Traveling with Children
Everyone has their own tricks for entertaining kids during long travel days, but during your holiday, try an approach that invites children to immerse win the local culture and countries. Give you child a disposable camera. Older children might enjoy keeping a journal. When it comes to mealtime, encourage kids to try something new on the menu. This is an adventure trip -- let them play the role of world explorer! Make sure you have all the appropriate documentation for traveling aboard with children, such as documented vaccinations, passports -- and if another legal guardian for your child is staying in the US, you should obtain a notarized letter from him/her granting permission for you to leave the country with the child. The other guardian may have this notarized with their signature at a local bank before mailing it to you. Bring this with you on your trip.
More advice on family adventure travel.
5. Photocopy Important Documents
Passport, tickets, credit cards, drug prescriptions and other critical documents should be photocopied, and the copies carried in a separate location from the originals. Have all emergency and important contact numbers (your tour operator's 24-hour contact number, hotel, family, airline, and your credit card company's number in case it is lost or stolen) readily available. And while you're at it, double check the expiration date on your passport. It should be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date.
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.