Our Gift to You - Holiday Traveling Tips

As some of the busiest travel days of the year roll past, we here at IgoUgo want to wish everyone good luck on their voyages, no matter what the mode of transportation. You’re sure to be seeing lots of different tips and tricks to get you through any bumps in the road, but we’re going to offer you some of our own:

Air Travel
The airport bar is your friend: Even if you don’t drink alcohol, you’re bound to make pals here, and there’s a sense of camaraderie that comes with sitting out a delay with a bartender and a crew of people just waiting to tell their travel horror stories. Who knows, you might even find someone who will share a cab with you on the way home.

Bring snacks: When delays hit smaller airports, the shops and restaurants roll up the carpeting at 8pm no matter what--even if your pilots are still nowhere to be found. Provisions are essential. Food that comes in bar form is usually best, here, be it energy, granola or chocolate.

Car Travel
Go slow: You will get a ticket this time of year, when police are already out in force to check for drunk drivers. And especially if there’s inclement weather, it’s not worth the risk.

Bring snacks, part II: Did you see how those people got stuck on the New York State Thruway for 24 hours earlier this month? And how Western Europe is crippled by eight inches of snow? Make sure you have provisions lest your trip turn into some modern day Donner Party situation.

Train and Bus Travel
The trick that never works: Coughing when people walk past the open seat next to you has a near 100 percent failure rate. The buses and trains are full as full can be and everyone has a cold these days anyway. Get your things in order early and you’ll end up with someone who might even be pleasant to sit next to.

Watch the commuters: Watching the board for your train track is for amateurs. Instead keep an eye on the classic commuters (think modern day Don Drapers) who know the train travel ropes, like seeing where the incoming Acela arrives, not where the same train is departing, which often posts to the board later.

And with that, we wish you Happy Holiday Traveling and good luck!

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• holidays
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