Thanksgiving Travel Tips: How to make the most of your Thanksgiving Travels

For many of us, especially those who live far from close family members, travel over the Thanksgiving holiday can be unavoidable. Everyone knows this is a busy time of year to travel, so how can you make the experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible?

Pick the right days

As The Travel Channel’s website writes, “The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, closely followed by the Sunday after the big day when travelers tear themselves away from the leftovers and football to make the journey home.”

Instead of the Wednesday before and the Sunday after, the Travel Channel recommends flying out Monday, Tuesday or even Thanksgiving morning and heading home on Friday or the following Monday.

If you’re visiting family or friends in a location where you’d enjoy spending a few days’ vacation, you can make the most of your holiday time by adding a few days onto the beginning or end of your Thanksgiving trip, while avoiding tough crowds at the same time.

Plan for the worst

With winter coming right at the tail end of Thanksgiving, weather can sometimes be an issue for Thanksgiving travels. Make sure to keep an eye on the weather starting a few days out from your trip, and remember even bad weather in a city between you and your destination can mean a delayed flight.

Use convenient, low-cost parking

If you’re flying during the Thanksgiving holiday, you may find that storing your vehicle could be expensive and a hassle. A long-term parking garage near the airport could save you a good deal of extra cash for other travel expenses (or Black Friday shopping!).

Some parking lots, like this long-term parking near Oakland Airport, offer online parking spot reservations, online coupons, real-time flight status screens on-site, free and fast shuttle service, a full-service car wash and even coffee, newspapers and muffins.

Don’t forget your chargers

“A whopping 92% of respondents in our survey said they bring their mobile phone on trips, and 48% said they bring a tablet,” wrote Mashable in a 2014 article, and that number has surely only increased.

In addition to remembering your regular charger, consider other options like external batteries, charging phone cases and car chargers. A device can be a lifesaver during long trips!

Be positive

Traveling can be stressful, but remember to be polite and respectful to those you encounter on your travels, both your fellow travelers and the employees of various establishments. This will make for a more pleasant travel experience for you and those around you.

As USA Today’s Ben Mutzabaugh wrote last Thanksgiving, “Above all, always try to show workers the same respect you’d want.”