How to Breeze through the Freeze

Christmas is supposed to be a peaceful time of year. A time for eating, drinking and being ‘merry’ or relaxing and putting your feet up at the fire (it is called a ‘holiday’ after all). But for many of us, Christmas can be a stressful time of year, and for none more so, than those travelling during the busy festive period. Whether you are travelling ho, ho, home for the holidays or celebrating in a different country, Here are 5 top tips for travel this Yuletide season…

5 Top Tips

#1 Plan in Advance

Just like any other time you’re travelling, it is better to plan your trip in advance. With added pressures at Christmas time, such as remembering to order the turkey or trying to recall the name of that expensive perfume your partner asked for, it can be easy to forget the travel essentials. To prevent this from happening, make a list of all the things that you to need pack a few weeks before your trip (and don’t leave packing your suitcase until the night before). Check that your passport is still in date before booking travel and don’t forget to ensure you have travel insurance cover. Buy a folder to keep all of your travel documents in, such as your passport, visa, boarding pass and the name of your hotel. Alternatively, you could ‘go digital’ by storing travel documents on your phone and checking in for your flight online, saving you time at the airport; however, it is still safer to have a paper back up just in case your phone runs out of battery or decides (like most technology) not to work.

#2 Leave Early

With Christmas being the second busiest time of year for travel (after summer), it’s better to leave early, allowing extra time for any unexpected mishaps along the way. Traffic may be heavier than usual and airports busier, so be prepared to spend longer travelling than you usually do. As Christmas falls over the winter months, expect that bad weather could negatively impact your journey. Snow, ice, rain and storms can cause delays for all types of travel, so make sure to check flight and rail statuses before leaving and be prepared for cancellations (including a back-up plan). If roads are icy, make sure to drive slowly and only if necessary. You should have an emergency car kit in case of a breakdown or accident.

#3 Avoid Peak Travel Dates

If possible, avoid travel during peak dates over Christmas. For many of us, work schedules mean that we only have a short amount of time off, so think of dates when people are going to be maximising the most out of their trip home/away. For air travel, the cheapest time to fly is on Christmas Day followed by Christmas Eve. The dates just before Christmas and just after Christmas are more expensive, so if you are lucky enough to have extra time off work then considering flying earlier or later. If you are travelling by road, peak dates are the weekend before Christmas so bear this in mind when planning your trip. The earlier you book your trip, the more likely you are to get a cheaper rate, so make sure to contact us about your booking as soon as possible.

#4 Pack Wisely and Lightly

Whilst it would be ideal to have a Santa moment arriving home with all your gifts for your family and friends, remember you have to pay extra for going over the baggage limit. Pack your essentials first and then weigh your case; if you have any spare room you could purchase a few smaller gifts for your nearest and dearest. Alternatively, just order the gifts online and have them delivered to your home address. If you are going away for Christmas and you want to take a number of gifts for the kids, only take the most important and consider booking an extra suitcase. Do not wrap the presents before going to the airport as security may want to inspect your bag and then all that planning and prepping will have gone to waste. Similarly, if you are taking food or bringing it home make sure to check the regulations for both the airline and country as this could be confiscated.

#5 and lastly – ENJOY

If you are going away then bring some home with you – whether this is a mini Christmas tree, a few small gifts or even some cosy Christmas jumpers – but don’t forget to embrace experiencing Christmas in a different country by adopting local traditions or celebrating the holiday as other cultures do. If you want to make Christmas truly magical, go somewhere where the snow is or visit cities famous for its festive atmosphere, such as New York. Whether you’re travelling home or away, enjoy spending quality time with your loved ones, stress-free.

Millions of Americans plan to be like Santa and his reindeer and take to the skies in late December.

AAA predicts about 113 million Americans will travel for the 2022 year-end holidays.

Hopper, a company that monitors airfares, forecasted more than 54 million people — including close to 29 million on Christmas week alone — will travel through U.S. airports for the holiday season.

The average cost of round-trip domestic flights for Christmas travel was $339, down 15% from 2021 and 11% from 2019, according to Hopper. But the company said airfares are rising $5 to $10 per day as the holidays draw closer. Hopper expects a peak average fare of more than $400 round trip for domestic travel.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will welcome thousands of travelers during the holiday season. If you’ll be one of them, here are tips to help get you through the terminal and on your way with a minimum of fuss.

What are the best and worst days to fly around Christmas?

Generally, the days leading up to and after Christmas and New Year’s Eve tend to be the busiest, while it’s less busy to fly on the holidays themselves.

Hopper anticipates more than 3 million travelers nationwide on all but three days between Dec. 18 and Jan. 3. Its forecast showed the three lightest travel days will be Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

In 2022, the busiest days for holiday travel nationwide were Dec. 16-20, 22-23, 26-27, 29-30 and Jan. 2, according to the Transportation Security Administration. It screened at least 2 million passengers on each of those days.

How busy will airports be for the holidays?

In a forecast issued Dec. 12, American Airlines announced it has 91,715 scheduled flights worldwide Dec. 16 through Jan. 2 to meet the holiday travel demand. It expects Dec. 16 and Dec. 22 will be its busiest travel days with more than 5,500 departures each.

American, which accounts for about 40% of Sky Harbor’s flights, has 7,395 flights scheduled to and from Phoenix during the holiday travel period, airline spokesman Derek Walls told The Arizona Republic.

Be sure to leave early enough before your flight’s scheduled departure to give yourself enough time. Arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.

How much does it cost to park at the Phoenix airport?

Here’s what you’ll pay to park at Sky Harbor Airport:

• Garages at the terminals cost $30 per day.
• Three economy garages, one on the airport’s west side and two on the east side, charge $16 per day.
• An economy surface lot on the east side costs $14 per day and you can ride the free PHX Sky Train to your terminal.
• An economy “park and walk” lot that offers no transportation to the terminals is $9 per day.

Off-site parking is available through companies like PreFlight Airport Parking and the Parking Spot. They offer covered and uncovered parking plus shuttle service to and from the terminals.

PreFlight’s rates start at $12.99 per day for an uncovered spot. The Parking Spot’s rates vary based on demand, starting at $19.50 per day for uncovered self-parking.

How to drop off or pick up passengers

Sky Harbor strongly urges people to avoid congestion along roadways and terminal curbs during peak travel times by picking up and dropping off passengers at the PHX Sky Train Station at 44th and Washington streets in Phoenix. The traveler can ride the free Sky Train to the terminals.

If you’re picking someone up, wait in one of the free cellphone lots at Sky Harbor instead of driving laps around the terminals.

What if my Christmas flight is canceled?

Download your airline’s app before you travel and enable notifications so you’ll get real-time updates of your flight status.

If your flight is canceled, you can use the app to quickly search for flight options and rebook yourself. It beats hustling to an airline customer service desk and waiting in a long line with your fellow passengers or calling your airline’s 800 number and waiting endlessly to get a customer service representative on the line.

If a cancellation requires an overnight stay and it isn’t weather-related, the airline may also provide reasonable hotel and meal accommodations.

What can you take through security?

Anything considered a liquid or gel can fly in checked luggage. Quantities greater than 3 ounces can’t fly in carry-on bags. These include jams and jellies, oils and vinegars, hummus, ice cream, sauces and dressings, bottled water and alcoholic beverages.

Some items like cakes, pies and solid cheeses can fly in carry-on bags, but ultimately, it’s up to the TSA screener if an item can pass. So, when in doubt, pack an item in your checked luggage. For a full list of foods and drinks and whether you can travel with them, visit https://www.tsa.gov.

TSA strongly advises travelers not to bring wrapped gifts in their carry-on or checked luggage. While wrapped Christmas presents are not prohibited, anything that raises a red flag with a screener can be opened for further inspection.

Don’t forget to go through your empty bags before you pack them and remove any prohibited items. The TSA’s What Can I Bring page has a full list of what can and can’t be packed.

Pay attention to your diet + exercise

Of course, you had a 7-hour layover at JFK and mindlessly ate too much to avoid roaming around the terminal. You (thankfully!) slept over much of the Atlantic. But then you had to run to your gate at Heathrow to make your final connection.

When you’re traveling, it’s no wonder you can wind up with digestive system problems like constipation or diarrhea, says colorectal surgeon Sarah Vogler, MD.

“There are a lot of habits related to comfortable bowel movements,” Dr. Vogler says. “Just a change in what you eat or drink can affect your digestive system. Even switching the bathroom that you use ― to one that isn’t your own ― can cause anxiety for some people because it takes them out of their regular routine.

The best way to maintain regularity and avoid or treat constipation and diarrhea while traveling? It’s sticking to your regular eating and drinking habits as much as possible, Dr. Vogler says.

A few key tips to help you stay regular

1. Drink plenty of water and clear fluids. This may not completely relieve constipation if you have it, but it can at least soften stools so they are easier to pass.

One of the causes of constipation is dehydration, Dr. Vogler says, so drinking water, fruit juice or clear liquids will keep you hydrated. Avoid drinking a lot of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Both also dehydrate you. Push yourself to drink even more water than you normally do because traveling alone can increase dehydration.

2. Avoid extra fiber. High-fiber foods in combination with dehydration can actually cause an increase in abdominal bloating and constipation. It’s important to maintain a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables. But eating more fiber than usual is not recommended. For regularity’s sake, Dr. Vogler typically recommends getting one to two servings of vegetables and one to two servings of fruit every day.

And since it’s not always easy to find healthy snacks on the go, plan ahead.

3. Avoid foods that are high in fat. Vacations are meant to be fun. But if you can, avoid excessive amounts of unhealthy snack foods and desserts like candy, cheese, pizza, processed foods, chips and ice cream. They can make your constipation worse.

“Granted, it’s sometimes hard to maintain your dietary routine on vacation,” Dr. Vogler says. “You may not eat the healthiest foods, and you may eat on the run a lot more when you’re traveling. But realize that can also cause constipation.”

4. Exercise and stay physically active. To keep your digestive system moving, you need to keep your body moving. Schedule stretching breaks, especially if you’re in a car, plane, bus or train for long periods. Hike, bike or swim when you can.

5. Get plenty of rest. Sometimes people don’t sleep as much on vacation, and that can throw off your system.

6. Don’t ignore your body’s signals. If your body is telling you to go to the bathroom, don’t put it off because you’re only near a public restroom or don’t want to interrupt your sightseeing. If you ignore the urge, Dr. Vogler says, it can lead to or worsen your constipation.

7. Plan for bathroom breaks that match your routine. Try to maintain your schedule, if you always use the bathroom at a certain time of day.

If you’re concerned about using public bathrooms, try to give yourself time to relax and make yourself as comfortable as possible. Read a newspaper or magazine to relax or listen to music from your phone or other device with ear buds. “But if you don’t have a bowel movement within 10 minutes, move on,” Dr. Vogler says. “Try again when you feel the urge.”

8. Use laxatives wisely. If diet and exercise don’t help your constipation on the trip, don’t be afraid to take a laxative. Just use them wisely and only for a short time, Dr. Vogler says. Starting with a gentle stool softener (such as MiraLAX® or Colace®) is safe and easy.

If you commonly experience constipation while traveling, then it’s safe to start taking a stool softener prior to your departure and continue this daily during your trip. It isn’t recommended to start taking an additional fiber supplement while traveling.

Diarrhea can also be a problem

Eating something that has bacteria in it or drinking contaminated water can give you diarrhea when you travel. But it’s not only Montezuma’s revenge that’s to blame!

Sometimes, changes in your regular diet, exercise and bathroom routines (the same things that can cause constipation) are enough to bring on loose stools, Dr. Vogler says.

Being prepared is always a wise option. Be sure to pack an over-the-counter or prescription anti-diarrheal medicine to help you treat it. A daily probiotic can also help to regulate the bacteria in your colon.

But the best advice? Eat and exercise like you always do. “Traveling is a time to watch your diet and other routines more, not less,” Dr. Vogler says.

Whether you’re going on a road trip or a cruise, admiring fall foliage is a great way to spend your autumn vacation.

As the first autumn leaves begin to yellow, you start dreaming of hot apple cider and pumpkin lattes enjoyed on a crisp afternoon.

If you’ve decided to stop dreaming and go admire nature’s changes first hand, here are some autumn vacation tips to help you enjoy your trip:

1. Get ready for sweater weather!

While autumn days can still be sunny, its evenings are getting chilly. So before you leave on your autumn vacation, pack a comfortable sweater. Make sure that you can wear it both outdoors, under a rain jacket, and indoors when you’re warming by the fire. The rain jacket can also be a waterproof windbreaker, which is lighter to pack.

To keep your feet warm, pack a few pairs of colorful socks. Add an extra woolen one to wear indoors and avoid the terrible feeling of cold floors on even colder days.

2. Pack a small folding umbrella

Even though you’ll be wearing a raincoat, it’s good to also have a small folding umbrella in your bag. Unless you’re also wearing waterproof pants, you’ll get your legs and shoes wet faster without using an umbrella. There’s nothing worse than spending the whole day with damp clothes and shoes, trembling as the evening temperatures start to bite.

3. Bring a hat, a scarf, and a pair of gloves

I hope you know that you’re not really losing most of your body heat if your head remains uncovered. However, wearing a warm hat, a soft scarf, and a pair of gloves can increase comfort, especially on wet days and chilly evenings. So bring them along and you’ll be able to stay longer outside.

4. Prepare your camera gear

No matter the season, it’s always good to check your camera gear before you leave on holiday. On a trip where you’re going specifically to admire the fall foliage and capture it in photos, it’s paramount to check that your camera is working properly. If you have a new camera, test it in a park at home before taking it on an autumn vacation. Get used to it in advance to take the best photos when you’re on your autumn vacation.

Cold weather can affect the life of your rechargeable batteries, so bring some extra ones. Depending on how many photos you usually take, maybe add a couple of extra memory cards, too. Pack everything in a moisture-proof camera bag.

5. Remember to pack light

You’ll probably want to see a lot of places during your autumn vacation. This means that you will be spending many hours outdoors to see the fall foliage. So remember to pack light in order to have more freedom and flexibility. Put everything in one bag, which you can easily carry.

For day hikes in nature, use a comfortable backpack, and don’t forget to take a bottle of water with you. Make sure you bring along an extra layer of clothes that you think you’ll need. You’ll feel warm as long as you keep moving, but you’ll get cold pretty fast when you stop.

You could also bring your binoculars to watch migrating birds and wildlife from a distance. However, to avoid carrying two items instead of one, you could use your camera’s zoom instead.

It’s good to keep in mind that it’s never too cold as long as we are wearing adequate clothes for the season. I hope the travel tips above will help you feel warm enough to enjoy your coming autumn vacation.