Travel Leaders Offers Insiders Tips on Holiday Travel

Minneapolis, MN (Vocus) November 19, 2009

With the Thanksgiving holiday weekend kicking off one of the year&39;s busiest travel periods, Travel Leaders experts throughout the United States are offering the latest in their series of "Insider&39;s Tips" designed to improve the overall travel experience. Travel Leaders&39; latest tips focus on strategies for making holiday travel as merry as possible.

"This holiday season, Travel Leaders&39; number one goal is for our clients to remain calm and bright, not only during their travels, but also as they prepare for them," explained Roger E. Block, President of Travel Leaders Franchise Group. "When we asked our Travel Leaders experts for their best &39;insider&39;s tips,&39; we received so many strategies on everything from booking travel to what travelers might consider shipping in advance, that we&39;ve posted much of their pre-trip advice directly on our Travel Leaders Facebook page. We also are pleased to share the best of their excellent recommendations on everything else here today."

Before Leaving Home
The watch words from Travel Leaders experts are simple: "Be Prepared."

Protecting the Home Front - Deepak Patel (Travel Leaders, Western Springs, IL) concurs: "Worried about what happens after your leave home Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to collect your mail and look in on things at your home while you&39;re away. Provide them with your out-of-town contact information just in case." Keep Copies of Important Items - "Bring along copies of all your travel confirmations," urges Sondra Wilson (Travel Leaders, Richland, WA).

"Know important phone numbers for assistance, including your travel agent, airline, hotel and car rental companies," suggests Janowski.

"Keep a list of your credit cards with you on your trip, but separate from your wallet," advises Mike Weingart (Travel Leaders, Houston, TX). "This way you will have the account numbers and phone numbers for the credit card company should your wallet or purse become lost of stolen."

Confirm Departures - "You should call ahead to confirm your flight is on time," recommends Patel. "You can also find out about traffic delays, parking changes and estimated wait times for security checks."

Checking-In Online - "To avoid getting bumped off overbooked flights, we suggest checking-in for your flight online within 24 hours of departure, and print out your boarding pass," urges Kim Fischer (Travel Leaders, Minneapolis, MN). "If you can get an advance seat assignment, say at time of ticketing, you are more likely to be safe from getting bumped. Your travel agent can help you secure a seat assignment in advance."

However, since airline seat assignments can change, Kim Gray (Travel Leaders, North Olmsted, OH) recommends, "Be flexible as flights are full and some families may not get to sit together on planes. Many aircraft equipment changes occur during the holidays so pre-assigned seat assignments may be changed or even canceled."

Vicky Voll (Travel Leaders, Glendale, CA) concurs, adding, "Some airlines even offer a discount for paying the fee online. Next day, look for the line that indicates &39;Bag Drop&39; to complete your check-in process."

Travel Fully Charged - In the event that your travel plans are disrupted, "Make sure your cell phone is fully charged," advises Joe Janowski (Travel Leaders, Liverpool, New York), who also recommends, "Know your connecting airport layouts to make your flight connections less stressful in the event of delays or tight connections." Dress Comfortably - "Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and footwear," urges Patel. "If delays extend your trip, you&39;ll be happy you are comfortable while waiting. Layer your clothing to easily adjust for cooler or warmer temperatures. Remember, slip-on shoes cut down on time when going through security check-points."

Below is an outline of the additional advice Travel Leader experts across the country shared in the full news release. The complete news release can be accessed by clicking here.

Airport Arrival
While Travel Leaders experts agree on many of the strategies outlined, one piece of advice was voiced more than any other: "Get to the airport early."

Increase Minimum Advance Time

Parking

Airport Check-In

Airport Security
Over the past year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented its new Secure Flight Rule, which theoretically should not impact the airport security screening process. However, Travel Leaders experts have practical advice for further speeding up the process.

Know TSA&39;s Rules Before You Go

Match Your ID with Reservation

Know Your Carry-On Restrictions

Minimize Security Procedures

Beyond Security

Remain Alert

Food

Staying Healthy

Keeping Kids Happy

Boarding Your Flight

Once On Board

Patience Is a Virtue
"One of the first things I advise my clients to do when travelling during the holiday season is to remember the reason that they are running this &39;Gauntlet of Holiday Travel&39; - to spend time with family and friends to create new memories," reminds Lederle.

"Be flexible and be prepared," advises Elaine C. Goad, CTC, ACC (Travel Leaders, Tyler, TX).
"Flights can be full and people can be cranky. Just don&39;t join in the cranky crowd - it is the holidays. Be happy!"

"Keep your sense of humor and when all else fails, remember to give thanks for even having the opportunity to travel and visit family and friends," offers Lederle. "There are many who are not as fortunate."

For more of Travel Leaders experts&39; "Insider&39;s Tips" for holiday travel, please visit us on Facebook by clicking here. When your holiday journey includes us, you travel better. To find the Travel Leaders location nearest you, go to http://www.travelleaders.com or call 1.888.206.TRIP (8747).