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iStock/jacoblund (NEW YORK) — Just as hope rose that this year’s holiday season would inch back to pre-pandemic normalcy, the omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 entered the picture , raising questions for many people. Cases of the omicron variant have been confirmed in more than …
President Biden’s new testing requirements for international travelers, which went into effect just today and were implemented in response to the increased public health threat posed by the Omicron variant, come at a rather inconvenient time for travelers. With the end-of-year holidays just a few …
Travel and the holiday season typically go hand in hand. That changed in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic greatly reduced year-end travel.
With travel restrictions now lifted due to the successful rollout of various COVID-19 vaccines, year-end holiday travel will likely increase significantly in 2021. According to figures from AAA, year-end holiday air travel declined by roughly 60{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} in 2020 compared to a year earlier, while year-end holiday automobile travel dipped by nearly 25{e9f0aada585b9d73d0d08d3c277fd760092386ec23cac37d50f4b8cd792b062a} between 2019 and 2020. That means a lot of travelers can benefit from a refresher course on holiday travel in advance of what promises to be an especially popular year to head home for the holidays.
A refresher course in holiday travel can help travelers in advance of what figures to be a very busy time of year to travel in 2021.
After a turbulent year, the Mineta San Jose International Airport is seeing a promising uptick in passengers traveling for the holidays. Approximately 300,000 passengers passed through the airport from Nov. 19 through Nov. 28. Daily traffic data is not yet available, but airport officials say …
PENNSYLVANIA — To travel, or not to travel – that’s the question most New Jerseyans are asking themselves this Holiday season. A few weeks ago, Pennsylvania residents were ready to put the pandemic in the rear-view mirror. But the post-Thanksgiving surge coupled with the new …
After a 2020 holiday season in which the pandemic forced the postponement or cancellation of festivities, families are planning to get together once again in 2021. Many people will head home for the holidays this year, and the vast majority will take to the highway to do so.
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics says the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years holiday periods are among the busiest for long-distance travel. The highways will be busy with motorists criss-crossing the country to visit loved ones. Holiday travel may require covering a long distance in a limited amount of time. Finding ways to be efficient in regard to time management can reduce stress and improve safety.
If you can safely manage it, you may experience considerably less traffic in the evening hours than during other times of day. In addition, if kids are in tow, they may sleep much of the way, helping to reduce the number of times they ask, ‘Are we there yet?’ Share driving responsibilities with another person so that each driver can take a break to prevent drowsy driving.
Get a vehicle maintenance check
No one wants to get stranded on the side of the road with a car filled with gifts and treats. It’s well worth the investment to have a mechanic give a vehicle a checkup prior to leaving. Get an oil change even if it’s a little early to do so. Look at tire tread wear and ensure that you have the right tires for the road conditions where you’ll be headed.
People often rely on mobile phone or dashboard GPS systems to get where they need to go. However, it helps to have a general idea of the route so that if service drops out you can still find your way. Scout out rest stops or acceptable restaurants online prior to leaving so you have a plan for making stops in safe areas.
While presents may be taking up valuable real estate, pack a cooler with snacks and beverages to help reduce how many times you need to get off the highway. Also, games or other forms of entertainment can keep children occupied on long trips.
Slow down in inclement weather
The holiday meal can be reheated if you’re late, so don’t feel compelled to speed or drive erratically when the weather is stormy. It’s not worth the risk of getting into an accident that can cause serious injuries. Travelers United, a nonprofit organization that represents all travelers, also warns that quick storms that pop up after a long dry spell can immediately make road surfaces extremely slippery. Use caution.
Planning and preparation are essential to getting home safely this holiday season.