Despite looking forward to travel, actually travelling is not my favourite thing to do. I find it tiring, stressful and crowded. International flights are among the worst because delays or unforeseen complications have tremendous impact on the rest of your vacation time, especially of you are trying to make connections, such as to other flights or cruise ports.
One seasoned traveller told me they always leave a day earlier, which is a great piece of advice I will take her up on – when I retire. Until then, and in order to enjoy as much time at my end destination as I can I have to cut the travel days to a minimum. So I wanted to share some of the tips and tricks we have learned to make those anxiety inducing travel days a little more enjoyable.
Pre-Travel
- Always be sure to check-in with your airline 24 hours in advance. It lets them know you will be there and confirms the time of boarding and take off. Failure to do so may mean that if you are late getting to the airport your seat will may be given away.
- Arrive at the airport earlier rather than later (see above). Right now the protocol of check in, including required security and covid checks, means that you need plenty of time.
- If you are driving a distance to get to the airport be sure to check Google Maps for driving directions. Unlike your GPS, this excellent resource will let you know if there are road closures or construction, traffic backups or accidents along your route. You can plan an alternate route or allow extra time based on this information.
- Trying leaving early enough to enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant before you head to the airport. Especially if you have a long or overnight flight a good meal is fulfilling and relaxing and allows you to avoid the airplane fare if need be.
- If you do not have someone to drive you, pre-arrange long term parking at a park and fly instead of the airport. It is much cheaper, they will transport you directly to you gate and bring you back to your car upon your return. We love Skypark near Pearson Airport (https://www.skypark.ca/). They offer reduced rates the longer you stay and coupons to loyal customers. One time my husband left his passport in the car and one of their employees made a special trip back to airport to bring it to us. That type of customer service is especially appreciated in an otherwise very stressful day.
- Lastly bring something to occupy your time at the airport and on the flight. If you are like me and cannot sleep on a plane, no matter how much I want to, a good book or a game of cards is a welcome way to pass the time.
Post Travel
- Have a hearty breakfast either on the ship or in your hotel before you leave that morning. Healthy food options are not always available on the road.
- Book your flight home late enough in the day to allow for cruise disembarkation and travel time to the airport, or to ensure you have a safe and accessible way from your hotel to the airport. Shuttles, buses, taxis and ride services may not be available in the middle of the night if you have an early flight and still need to be at the airport two hours early.
- Pre-arrange that transportation to the airport in advance, whether your use the cruise line bus, book a taxi or another transportation service. It can be daunting trying to find something at the last minute. Many cities have train or subway services that run from the centre of town or the cruise port to the airport, and you can purchase tickets online before you even leave home.
- Another option is to book an excursion from your ship that will eventually end up at the airport. We have also used this option to get to our hotel in the city when we planned to stay for a few more days. I would recommend International Friends if you are in the United Kingdom. It is a great way to get from the further ports of Southampton and Dover into Heathrow. Check out their varied options at https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html. Sometimes your cruise line will offer the same idea either to the ship or back to the airport under your shore excursion options. I especially like this when I want to see the city from which we embark.
These are just a few ideas that we found have served us well on travel days. I’m still going to be anxious until we arrive at our final destination, but at least I can start by enjoying our travels the minute we lock the front door.
If you have a travel day tip to share please leave it in the comments below.