Believe it or not, the holiday season really creeps up. If you haven’t finalized your travel plans, now is the time to do so.
If you’re visiting for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve or any other holiday, you probably have a few things on your to-do list, such as booking your flights (if you haven’t already) and updating your itinerary. passport (if set to expire soon). This is not the only information you should stay informed about.
Here are four tasks you should take care of before the holidays.
Book your flights
If you haven’t bought your holiday flights yet, you should.
In general, according to the booking app Hopper, September and October are the best months to buy a vacation flight. From here on, prices will start to rise gradually, so you really don’t want to leave too long if you don’t want to spend a ridiculous amount of money on airfare.
The advice is in line with a timeline from Google Flights’ booking trends report, which notes that Christmas flight prices were at their lowest 71 days before departure.
It’s not too late, but we wouldn’t wait that long if we were you.
If you can be more flexible, we’ve spotted some of the cheapest Thanksgiving week deals right now for both the Sunday before Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving itself.
Check your passport
If you’re planning to go abroad for the holidays, you should check your passport’s expiry date now if you haven’t already, as you’ll be cutting it off for renewal as it nears its expiry date.
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Passport processing times are currently estimated to take between six and eight weeks, while expedited service can take at least two to three weeks. Act quickly if you need renewal.
The processing times have been the same since last December, and the U.S. State Department would not comment on whether those figures would remain the same through 2024.
In general, the State Department advises travelers to renew their passports at least six months before they plan to travel. Remember that many countries also require tourist passports to be valid for six months at the time of their trip. Be sure to check the requirements of each country you will be visiting as some prefer that your passport be valid for six months from your date of entry while others prefer that it be valid for six months from the date of intended travel.
For urgent international travel, you can request in-person processing appointments under two conditions (these are limited):
- Life or death emergencies: You can request an appointment if a close family member has died, is dying or is facing a life-threatening illness or injury. You will need to provide emergency documentation.
- Other emergency travel situations: If you have to go abroad in the next 14 days or you need a foreign visa within 28 calendar days, you can request an appointment in person to speed up the process. However, it is better (and less stressful) to simply renew your passport before it expires.
Check the State Department website, which is updated regularly for the latest passport processing times for travelers.
Related: Cheap and Hassle Free: How to Get an Expedited Passport with ItsEasy.com Rush Service
Sign up for the accelerated security plan
Whether or not you’re planning to fly during the holidays, programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear can provide travelers with an immediate sense of security all year long.
TSA PreCheck allows users to go through a separate, dedicated security line. Unlike passengers in the regular Transportation Security Administration line, those in the TSA PreCheck line do not have to remove their shoes, laptop, liquids, belt or light jacket.
Clear users also initiate a security process in the clear lane only, where users are biometrically identified with fingerprints or iris scans, often preventing them from showing their ID during security checks. However, all travelers, including express users, are always subject to random TSA-administered ID checks.
Users are then taken to the front of the line of security screening machines – either to the front of the TSA PreCheck screening line for those with Clear and TSA PreCheck or to the front of the regular TSA screening line.
The third program to consider is Global Entry, which is especially helpful for international visitors. Allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the US from abroad. Global Entry users can enter the country through automated kiosks at more than 50 airports.
Enrollment in the three programs costs money: Clear users must pay $199 a year, while TSA PreCheck and Global Entry cost $78 to $85 (depending on the enrollment plan) for a five-year membership and $100 for a five-year membership, respectively. Note that if you are approved for Global Entry, it comes with TSA PreCheck.
While these programs may be worth their retail price tags to users, some credit cards, airline and hotel tiers and frequent flyer memberships offer them for free or at a reduced price.
Send your gifts in advance
While technically you can carry wrapped gifts safely through airports, it can be dangerous depending on whether the TSA agent inspecting your packages allows them to pass without further inspection.
Instead, consider sending your gifts and other large items to your relatives’ homes or wherever you will be staying. Do your best before you go in case of postal delays.
Bottom line
Traveling during the holidays can be stressful due to family dynamics and larger than usual airport crowds, but you can take steps to make it a little more bearable.
A few things you can do to reduce stress include enrolling in expedited security programs, submitting your passport for renewal at least six months before travel, booking your flights in advance and sending your gifts to help make holiday travel easier.
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