Amazing Travel Tips to Avoid Holiday Crowds

A traveler’s mantra: expect the best of times, prepare for the worst of times. During this holiday season, travel can become complicated between large crowds, long lines and fidgety kids. Whether you plan on taking to the skies or hitting the road this winter, here are a few tips to make your journey easier.

Travel at Non-Peak Times

The worst travel days during the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Years are Wednesdays and Sundays. Avoid these extra busy days—and traveling on the weekend, in general—to avoid the largest crowds. If your schedule allows, fly or drive on the actual holiday. Flights are more affordable, and terminals and roads are less crowded.

Download Travel Apps

Before heading out, frequent flyers should download FlightStats. This must-have app provides real-time updates on flight departures, delays and more to make navigating the airport easier. If you’re opting for a road trip instead, download Waze on your smart device.

Send Gifts Ahead of Time

Instead of packing everyone’s present, order gifts online and have them delivered to your destination. Shipping items elsewhere saves you money, lightens your load, makes packing easier, and for flyers, allows you to breeze past the large crowds huddled around baggage claim. Maneuver through the airport or pack your car quickly without the extra baggage.

Leave Early

For drivers, avoiding peak travel time offers a cushion of time for potential delays and reroutes. Flyers and train passengers should pick the earliest departure offered. Oftentimes they’re less busy and if the flight or train is delayed, you’ll be the first one out.

Sign up for TSA Pre-Check

Flyers can save hours of time in security lines by signing up for TSA Pre-Check. While this process requires some extra paperwork and paying an extra fee, it saves precious time by allowing you to walk through security with your shoes on and laptop in your bag.

Take the stress out of traveling by following these easy tips! After you’ve arrived at your destination, check in to your Best Western Hotels & Resorts room for a quick nap that will leave you refreshed. With more than 4,200 locations worldwide, wherever your holiday travel takes you, Best Western is there.