For many of us, the holiday season means travel. While visiting with remote friends and family can be wonderful and fulfilling, the act of getting from here to there can often be a nightmare of stress and expense. So here ar some ideas to help your make your travels (whether by air or by car) be both cheaper and easier. Some of these tips I've taken from previous diaries, so don't be surprised if you experience deja vu when reading parts of this.
Before we get to the good stuff, I have an administrative note: I recently revamped the mailing list for announcing these diaries. If you want to get an email announcement each week when a new diary is posted, send me email: frugalfridays (at) gmail.com and I'll add you to the list. If you didn't get an email this week, you are not on the current list.
Air Travel Tips
Traveling by plane can be a confusing struggle of "hurry up and wait". Here are some tips to help ease your trip.
- Give yourself time: Airports can be congested this time of year and security lines can be long. Be sure to arrive at the airport with plenty of time. In the worst case, and everything goes smoothly and you sail through security in no time at all, you'll just have some extra time at the gate to catch up on your reading.
- Pack entertainment: Even under the best of circumstances you are going to have a lot of waiting around time: in lines, at the gate, on the tarmac, in flight, .... Make sure to bring something to keep yourself and your travel companions occupied and entertained. Keep in mind that there are going to be some stretches of time when electronic gear cannot be used, so make sure that some of your entertainment sources are battery free.
- Keep hydrated: One good way to counteract the stress of air travel is to keep drinking plenty of water, which will help counteract some of the physical discomforts of being on a plane. Rather than buying expensive bottled water in the airport, you can just bring an empty water bottle and fill it from the drinking fountains once you have passed through the security checkpoint. If you run out of water on board, to not drink the water from the airline lavatory or from the serving cart. The bacteria level in the on-board holding tanks can be scarily high. If you must drink water from an on-board source, at least ask for tea. Boiling the water may kill at least some of the creepy crawlies.
- Pack lunch: The food in airports is overpriced and of mediocre quality and what's available on board is usually worse. Bring a sandwich and fruit from home (leave the soup, you won't get through security with any liquids), or even stop off at the corner deli on your way to the airport. , You will save quite a bit and be happier with your food selection. Even if you are only going on a short flight, at least throw a power bar in your carry-on bag. You never know when you will be faced with a delay either in the airport or on the tarmac.
- Bring a credit card: If you do find yourself desperate and needing to buy food on-board, be aware that many airlines now only take credit cards for on-board food and beverage purchases. So bring both cash and a credit card to make sure you won't be denied.
- Prepare for delays: It seems like almost every year I hear some horror story about a planeload of people who are trapped in a plane on the tarmac for hours with no food water and diminished lavatory service. Just in case you might possibly be stuck in such a situation this year, Flyers Rights has a helpful list of phone numbers you should carry with you at all times. Making a fuss to the right people while you are trapped on board may just get you released. In addition, bring the airline customer service numbers. These can also come in handy if you need to immediately reschedule some or all of your itinerary due to a flight delay or cancellation.
- Use technology: If you have a smart phone, or if you are traveling with a laptop, you should know that Google is offering free wireless access in many airports through the holiday season. If your flight is delayed or canceled, you may be able to get a jump on the rebooking rush by using the internet rather than phoning customer service or waiting in line.
Car Travel Tips
Whether you are driving your own car or a rental car, here are some tips to help you save money on the road.
- Check your tires: Before you head out, check to make sure your tires are not excessively worn and that they are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can cause a noticeable decrease in your gas mileage, while over-inflated ones can significantly reduce your road handling ability.
- Check road conditions: Before you head out, check your local traffic and weather and plan your route to avoid obstructions. While you are on the road, you can get updates on your smart phone.
- Pack an emergency kit: This is particularly important if you are planning on driving through any snowy regions, but everyone should carry an emergency kit when going on car trips.
Basic car emergency kit:
- charger for cell phone
- Maps: local, and regional
- battery or crank operated flashlight and radio
- swiss army knife, leatherman, or camping multi-tool
- power bars or candy bars
- water
- Cash: bills for emergency expenses and coins (for payphones)
- First aid kit including pain relievers and cold medicine
- packaged sanitary wipes
- tissues
- sturdy shoes & socks (in case you need to change a tire or hike out)
- work gloves
- illuminated safety vest
- signal flares
- box of matches
- mylar blankets
- rain ponchos
- sanitary pads and/or tampons
- deck of cards (for those hours sitting around waiting for rescue
Cold weather car kit:
- candles or sterno cans
- coffee can or other metal container (to melt snow for water)
- tea bags (to mask the yechy taste of snow melt water)
- a few days supply of survival food
- warm gloves
- snow boots and warm socks
- a collapsible shovel
- traction mats or old pieces of carpet
- Gas up before you get on the road: Gas stations located right next to freeway on-ramps can be much more expensive than gas stations in other business districts. Gas up near your home and you may save quite a bit on that first tank of gas. This is also something to keep in mind when you are returning your rental car. Gas stations near rental car outlets are usually more expensive than stations even a short distance away.
- Stock up on food: Rather than stopping on the road for food or drinks, stock up at your local grocery store before you take off. You'll save both money and time. If you do stop at a fast food place for a meal, stick to the dollar menu items and don't buy their drinks. The markup on sodas at such places is astronomical.
- Stop and get a motel room: At first glance, this seems to be an anti-frugal suggestion, one that costs money rather than saves it, but if you are getting very tired on the road, it is far better to pull over and get some rest than to run the risk of getting in some sort of accident. A $75 motel room is going to be way cheaper than the most innocuous of car accidents.