WHAT NOT TO DO THIS SUMMER
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about deprived. uStayit: AmericansThat’s home. accordingNo are two vacation-to ways the latest Vacation Allianz ConfidenceTravel InsuranceIndex, which million found Americansthat more haven’t than taken 170 a vacation in the past 12 months. Although it’s down slightly from the previous year, it’s still ridiculously low for the civilized world. So this summer, do not stay home. Get out of town and take a road trip or fly somewhere. The therapeutic benefits of a vacation are well established, and there are options for any budget.
uPlay it safe. Sure, terrorism fears are making Americans jittery. But even if you forget international trips, 48% of Americans have been to only 10 or fewer states in their lifetime. An estimated 25 million Americans have never seen the ocean. Both of those numbers are courtesy of a new Motel 6 survey. Don’t be boring this summer. Plan a trip outside your home state — or better yet, apply for a passport and cross a national border. You might try by planning a trip to Hawaii, Florida or California, which rank as the top three states Americans aspire to visit. uTravel the same way. Most of you, fellow summer travelers, will drive to your vacation. Last year, for example, 84% of travelers — more than 36 million people — motored to their destinations on the Fourth of July. Only 3.3 million Americans flew. I’m not suggesting you fly anywhere on a holiday weekend (that’s madness!), but rethinking old behaviors has its rewards.
Henrik Kjellberg, the president of Hotwire.com, a site that specializes in last-minute deals, says he now skips the cab when he lands at an airport. “Most airports now allow Uber and Lyft pickups, and these cars tend to be newer and much better airconditioned than yellow cabs,” he says. uWait until the last
minute. For years, travelers have been rewarded by waiting until the last minute (sorry, Henrik). But since special experiences are consistently ranked as one of 2017’s top travel trends, you don’t want to take any chances this summer. If you need to make a reservation for that Yosemite National Park campsite or the White House tour, think about that right now.
“Plan ahead,” says Dylan Gallagher, owner of the San Francisco tour operator Orange Sky Adventures. “Way ahead. The longer you wait, the poorer your summer travel will be.” uDo everything. As Americans try to squeeze more experiences into less vacation time, remember to avoid a vacation of excess, says George Meyers, coowner of Cook in Tuscany, a culinary tour operator. Like the Italian cuisine he dishes out on his trips, travel is best served in moderation. Take a minimal amount of luggage, he says. Spend time researching your destination. “Don’t try to do it all,” he adds. uBe ignorant of the rules. Last, but definitely not least, know the rules before you take off. Study up on your airline’s contract of carriage, the legal agreement between you and the airlines, so that you know what you should expect if you’re bumped from a flight or an airline loses your bags. Better yet, says Richie Copelovitch of iFLY Luggage, don’t lose your luggage in the first place. Tag your luggage and know what to do when it goes missing. “Be proactive,” he says. “That baggage claim tag they give you with your boarding pass? Keep it. It’s usually not needed, but when it is, you’ll want it handy.”
I can’t predict if all your travel experiences this summer will be memorable. But you don’t have to travel like everyone else and endure long lines and bad service. THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD DO THIS SUMMER uApply for a trusted trav
eler program. Global Entry allows you to cut the line at customs at U.S. airports and land borders when you arrive. It also includes TSA PreCheck, the Transportation Security Administration’s trusted-traveler program. A five-year Global Entry membership costs $100 and requires online pre-enrollment and an in-person visit to an enrollment center for an interview where you’ll have to verify your ID and be fingerprinted.
If you travel more than once a year, it’s worth it. uFind a good travel agent. I’ve said this before but it merits repeating: A good travel agent won’t just save you a world of trouble but also find a deal. Look for brands you trust like American Express, Travel Leaders and Virtuoso. Also, check out the American Society of Travel Agents’ consumer-facing site for a referral: travelsense.org. uConsider travel insurance. Travel insurance covers accidents, trip cancellation, lost luggage and medical expenses while you’re traveling. The biggest names are Allianz Travel Insurance, CSA Travel Protection and Travel Guard.