Have you ever dreamed of taking an unconventional approach to the holiday season? While many may leave town for Christmas time in pursuit of enjoying the holiday elsewhere, the autumn holiday of Thanksgiving historically centers around one’s home, full of time spent with friends and family. That experience can be rich, full of traditions and memories you hold dear. But it can be hectic and stressful too, so some decide to take their family (or solo) time elsewhere. Or maybe you are headed out of town to visit friends or family at their home. Either way, there are a few things to remember before you catch that plane or hit the road.
Book It All Early
The first key to travel — no matter the time of year or the occasion — is early booking. And this does not only mean booking your plane ticket or hotel ahead of time. This also includes all the things that will fill you and your loved ones’ itineraries. Kimberly Young, owner of luxury travel agency bookitbox TRAVEL, said that in addition to reserving flights and hotels far in advance, scheduling all the activities in advance for you and the family is also critical. She added that attractions at Thanksgiving, albeit not as deep into vacation season as Christmas, will undoubtedly fill up very quickly.
Keep Your Options Open
For those free activity opportunities you and the family have been eyeing: create a backup list of excursions and places to see so you have multiple ideas in case you are greeted by a long line or an overly crowded area. You can always revisit places that may have been crowded before; after all, free fun is free fun.
If you have some flexibility in your travel plans, consider opting for that one-or-two-stop itinerary instead of going direct. Often, these trips can save you a little cash that can be used for an extra activity or meal with the family while on your stay.
Fly Through Airport Security
When it comes time to board the plane, there are definitely some hacks to getting everyone on the plane as efficiently as possible. Enrolling in TSA PreCheck or CLEAR can shave off significant wait times, especially when traveling with the kids. Both of these programs allow you to surpass security lines and complete this portion of the airport experience in record time.
PreCheck and CLEAR require advance enrollment and a fee per traveler, so give yourself plenty of time to complete the approval process before you need to leave town.
Get to Know Your Destination
Even when you are traveling nearby, take some time to research the culture and history of your destination. You will arm yourself with indispensable knowledge for the best experience, and also create an excellent education opportunity for the entire family. “If you research the culture before, you enjoy the experience more,” added Young. Visiting a part of the world together that you have never experienced creates a mutual learning opportunity for everyone on the trip. After all, education only helps in leaving a place better than you found it — and you are guaranteed to have fun along the way.
Although a more unexpected vacation season, redefining the Thanksgiving landscape can go the distance in deepening the meaning of spending time together — whether it’s in your living room or across the country or on the other side of the world. Why not celebrate gratitude while exploring all the world has to offer together?
Take the Stress Out of Thanksgiving Travel
Book Everything Early
Not just flights and hotels, but plan activities ahead of time too.
Have a Backup Plan
Excursions and points of interest can fill up, so keep other ideas in mind.
Fly Through Security
Enroll in a trusted traveler program to shorten your time in line.
Be a Travel Student
Learn about your destination to make your trip enriching and fun.
Helpful Links
bookitbox TRAVEL | bookitboxtravel.com
TSA PreCheck | tsa.gov/precheck
CLEAR | clearme.com
San Antonio Airport | flysanantonio.com
Austin Airport | austintexas.gov/airport