Posts Tagged ‘Travel Tips’

Traveling through any airport can be a daunting experience, especially with the increased security measures now in place. Here are ten simple tips that we hope will help make your journey more enjoyable:

1) Try to check the status of your flight before leaving home. This can generally be done online but you may have been provided with a freephone telephone number to call for status updates.

2) Be prepared for airport security checks. This means avoid wearing metal (in underwear, as jewelry, belt buckles etc.) Wearing metal will be detected by security scanners and you’ll be required to remove the metal items before being rescanned. Small items of jewelry (earrings, rings, necklaces) will not set off the security alarms.

3) Book as much as you can in advance. If you need to use airport parking facilities, book in advance. If you will need car hire at your destination, book in advance. And if you will need hotel accommodation either before your flight or at your destination, always book in advance. You’ll get the best prices and avoid disappointment.

4) Always arrive early. Gone are the days when you could turn up at the airport just 15 minutes before your flight. These days you need to arrive early. For domestic flights within the UK you will need to arrive at least one hour before your flight. For flights to European destinations two hours is generally enough time and for inter-continental flights you will need to arrive at least three hours before your flight. Always check the arrival requirements with your airline and don’t be late.

5) Pack sensibly. Don’t pack anything dangerous (fireworks, drugs, knives). Always refer to the detailed instructions provided by your airline regarding items that are permissible in your luggage and hand luggage.

6) Print your boarding pass in advance. Many airlines today allow you to check in and print your boarding pass in advance, online. This will potentially save considerable time at the airport so make sure you do this before leaving home.

7) Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Never wear overly tight clothing, high heels or tight-fitting shoes. You need to be comfortable on your flight and your feet are likely to swell so be sure to wear comfortable attire.

8 ) Eat before leaving home. Airport food can be expensive so save some money by eating properly before leaving home. You may also like to find out what will be served on your flight and, if necessary, bring your own snacks.

9) Remove any undeveloped film from your luggage. Make certain to remove any undeveloped film (with a speed of 800 or higher) from your baggage for hand checking. All other film and digital cameras are safe to pass through the x-ray machine.

10) Insure your gadgets. These days many of us travel with several valuable electronic gadgets. Mobile phones, laptops, PDAs and iPods are common. As well as travel insurance it is a good idea that you get yourself some gadget insurance cover for these valuable items. Its also a good idea to backup all of your valuable contact details and data before leaving home, just in case the worst should happen.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you to have a safe, successful and enjoyable trip.

The saying “better late than never” couldn’t be more true when dealing with the onset of the winter weather. This said however,  the worst of any travel troubles can be easily avoided. Here are just a few simple tips to help you on your way over the winter months…

• Check the Forecast. Simple as it sounds, if you have a long journey ahead, always keep an eye on the weather forecast. The weather forecast can give an invaluable heads up enabling you to re-calculate journey times if necessary.
• Frozen door locks. Don’t throw hot water over the door, all that will happen is that the door lock will freeze up again and you run the risk of cracking the window. A couple of possible solutions may be to gently heat your key with a match or lighter to melt the ice.  Care should be taken to not overheat the key. Alternatively, locks can be freed with an electronic heated lock key or special de-icing fluid that can be sprayed directly into the lock via a narrow tube.
• If the car starts sliding. Don’t step on the brakes, even if they’re anti-lock. Straighten your wheels then ease off the accelerator, this should help transfer the weight forward and help you to regain traction.
• If you’re stuck in snow or ice. Don’t try to accelerate your way out. An ice patch will form under the tyres making it harder to get out. Try pulling out your floor mats and shove them under your tyres. Rock the car back and forth gently to get your wheels on the mats, then gently accelerate to move off. You may have other items in the boot that you may be able to use such as a camping blanket.
• Low visibility in snow and fog. Don’t tailgate the brake lights ahead – that’s a recipe for disaster. Turn on your low beam headlamps and fog lights. Dim interior lights including dashboard instruments if you can as this will help with exterior visibility. Probably the most important thing is if you can’t see the road, pull over. If you can’t see the road ahead or the road signs it’s too dangerous, you may only need to wait for a short time before being able to resume your journey.
• Plan Ahead. If you’re due to catch a flight and the forecast is for worsening conditions, maybe book an airport hotel and leave for the airport a day early. With many airport hotels located either at or within a couple of miles of the airport, you’re much more likely to be on time to catch your flight. With many airport hotels also providing airport parking on-site with transfers to the terminal, it should be a lot less stressful than travelling up on the day.
• Get Breakdown Cover – If your car wont start or breaks down in bad weather, break down cover can be a lifesaver. Depending on the level of cover you choose, if it can’t be fixed at the roadside, many breakdown services will either take you and your car to the nearest garage, to your final destination or back home.

The Key to most winter journeys is to leave plenty of time. If you leave just 10 to 15 minutes late because of a frozen windscreen or door lock, you’re already under pressure to make up time and more likely to hurry putting yourself and others at risk. I guess chilling out this winter could be a good thing…