Over the past year my daughter and I encountered natural and man-made disasters which altered our travel plans and which also made the uneventful trips that much more pleasant. Cora insists that the upside to all the travel problems made her a better traveler, and I agree. Since the holidays are upon us and many of you might decide to run away from home and work over the next several weeks, we decided to share some travel ideas that might save you a little time, money, and sanity.

First and most importantly, allow plenty of time for travel. Mistakes and bad humors happen most often when folks are stressed and hurried. Cora and I discovered that even when we thought we had more time than we needed, something or someone came out of left field to try to throw us a loop. Delays and last-minute cancellations were more digestible when we had time to re-think our travel strategies.

Second, double your travel budget for emergencies. If you plan to budget $75 for gas to drive to Aunt Mary's house, allow another $75 for emergencies such as a flat tire. Since some of you know that a flat tire replacement might cost more than $75, then you know why I believe in one good reason for a credit card. On that note, before you head overseas with that credit card, call the credit card company to let them know when and where you plan to use their card during the holidays. Otherwise, you might be in for a surprise when your card is declined (dependent upon the credit card company's policies on possible stolen cards, etc.). Other pointers:

1. Most major airports host a sidewalk check-in where you can check your bags and receive your boarding pass. Some airports, like Chicago's O'Hare, now charge $2 for the sidewalk check-in (doesn't include tip), and you must be at the airport at least two hours before your flight departs. Better yet, try to travel as light as possible if your trip is short. The advantages to this strategy mean that your luggage is never lost and you never have to stand in long ticket lines.
   
   
2. You can now check in for flights and secure your boarding pass online for many U.S. airline carriers. If you plan to limit your luggage, then you can go directly through security. However, remember that you no longer have a place to stash that nose-hair trimmer and those tweezers, as checked baggage is the only place to carry those items. Just remember that short trips don't warrant those items anyway, unless you suffer undocumented hair-growth problems.
   
   
3. Trust me on this one: don't burn any bridges when you travel. I was nasty to an airline employee once, and that incident returned to sting me when I encountered her again on another flight over six months later.
   
   
4. When you allow extra time for travel, you might encounter an option to skip an overbooked flight. You might receive free airline travel, extra tickets, and a night in a great hotel with a free meal pass if you allow for that option, dependent upon the airline carrier's policies.
   
   
5. If your hotel offers vouchers for a free breakfast buffet, this is the time to chow down even if you never eat breakfast. Fill up in the morning, and take advantage of restaurants that offer lower prices at lunch for the same meals that they offer at dinner. Cora and I discovered that when we eat early, we're rarely hungry at night. This plan has saved us a good bit of cash, but you might find a fortune with this option if you travel with a large family.
   
   
6. If you travel by train over state lines within the U.S., be aware that you may be shuttled to a bus instead. While this switch isn't a desirable option for me, you may feel ok about that travel alternative. On the other hand, if you plan to travel to a large city in the U.S. or Great Britain, take advantage of some super public transportation opportunities. First, this alternative is safer than driving in large cities; second, the driver can sit back, relax, and drink in the views.
   
   
7. Even when Cora and I carry plenty to read on our trips, we gravitate to airport bookstores. Some stores now offer a "read and return" plan that's brilliant. You pay full price for the book, read it during the trip, and turn it back in for a refund (never full price, however) when you return home.
   
   
8. If you plan to drive long distance, think about a car rental rather than family car abuse. Car rentals may offer better insurance plans, and if you're involved in an accident you could receive an immediate replacement. Plus, if you do have a flat tire, the only problem you face is a dent in your time, rather than in your budget.
   
   
9. Cora and I have learned to check the weather at our destination as well as at home before we travel. We discovered that many travel employees will bend over backwards to help us change our plans before a storm strikes rather than afterwards, when information and help desks are swamped with angry demands from other travelers.

Cora and I have one last word of advice: don't expect refunds, free hotels, or help with alternative travel when terrorism thwarts your plans. All we can tell you from our experiences this past year is that if you purchased travel tickets and a problem arises that is beyond anyone's control, those tickets usually will be honored at some point in time. While we didn't discover how to save time, money, or sanity during a terrorist attack, we did learn that gratitude - rather than anger over uncontrollable circumstances - is a great gift to give at any time of year, not just during the holidays.

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin