“Smooth Sailing” Through Holiday Travel

It’s that time of year again: the hustle and bustle leading up to the holiday season. Now, more than ever, families are separated by miles and miles. For this reason, holiday travel is becoming more and more popular. Families are buying their presents, packing their bags, and hitting the road (or the sky) to visit the loved ones that they only get to see a few times a year.

Holiday travel can be stressful and expensive, especially if you’re bringing the whole family along. Here are a few things you can do to ease some of the stress and keep your family safe this season.

If You Are Flying

1. Book your tickets, hotel room, and rental car well in advance. The closer it gets to the holidays, the higher the prices may soar, and things may sell out. When booking, remember that the fewer stops the plane takes, the less likely you are to get delayed.
2. If you have gifts to bring along, mail them two to three weeks ahead of time. This will save you on baggage fees, as most airlines only allow one carry-on.
3. Make sure that your home is secure. Check the locks on doors and windows and set the lights on timers. If you have any close family or friends in the area, ask them to take your mail in and check up on things while you are away.
4. It you are leaving on an early morning flight, stay at an airport hotel the night before. This will allow you to sleep later in the morning, it will also allow you to miss any traffic backups on the way to the airport.

If You Are Driving

1. Keep up on routine vehicle maintenance throughout the course of the year. A few days before you plan to leave for your trip, have a licensed mechanic ensure everything is in working order. Stock your vehicle with jumper cables, a spare tire, and an emergency kit. Be sure to check that your insurance policy is up to date, just in case.
2. Schedule yourself enough time for travel. Roads are busier during the holiday season, so expect traffic delays and backups. Also allow time for rest-stops and a couple of extra hours to nap, in case you become too tired to drive.
3. Don’t leave expensive valuables in the car. If you are traveling with brightly wrapped gifts, place them in the trunk where they are out of sight. A pile of wrapped packages will make you a target for thieves.
4. Take your time driving. Even if there is no snow on the ground, there is still a chance of black ice. Following the speed limits and traffic signals can help keep you and other drivers safe.

During the holidays, roads are busier, stores are busier and airports are busier. Even if we take all the precautions necessary to have a safe holiday season, accidents can happen. If you have any questions about your accident coverage contact H & K Insurance Agency. We’d be happy to help make your holidays a little less stressful.