Tips for hassle-free holiday travel

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All any traveler wants for Christmas is a hassle-free trip with no delays, lost luggage or other bad karma that can mar a journey, especially at this frenzied time of year.

Here’s a few holiday travel tips from travel Web sites and personal experience.

Choose dates wisely: The days before or after the holidays are the most expensive. Travelers can save money and are more likely to leave on time by flying on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. Among the best deal dates to fly are Nov. 22, 27, and 28; Dec. 25 and 29; and Jan. 1.

Use curb service: Even though it may cost you $2 extra per bag (plus tip), take advantage of curbside check-in, where offered, to avoid schlepping bulging suitcases through crowded airports. At Phoenix Sky Harbor this month, a Northwest attendant not only shepherded our bags into the airport but changed us to better seats and otherwise got us efficiently pre-boarded so we could bypass the lines and head straight to the gate when we were ready. Dumping our luggage with him also let us return our rental car to its offsite location without lugging the heavy bags on and off the airport shuttle bus.

Plan for hidden costs: When drawing up your travel budget — and no matter how smart you shop in advance for rates — project about 20 percent more than your quoted totals for flights, hotels and car rentals. You’ll need at least that much to cover taxes, fees and tips. Like the ingredients in a Dagwood sandwich, they pile up, one on top of another, and may leave you with an empty wallet by trip’s end.

source:Susan R. Pollack / The Detroit News

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