Tips for the Snowy Road Traveled this Winter Season

With the holidays upon us and the winter blues prompting people to begin dreaming about vacations in warmer climates, it is important to take a moment to prepare for the unique travel that is winter travel.

Be on Alert of Weather and Be Proactive BEFORE it Happens.

The last thing one wants to see on the 7 day weather forecast are snowflakes on the day of anticipated travel. By staying alert, you will be able to anticipate how you can prepare before the storm hits when everyone is then scrambling to change plans at the same time.

If traveling by air, ask if your airline waives fees for flight changes due to weather.

Did you know there are no federal regulations regarding policies for the dreaded weather-related delay or cancelation? So if you’re going on a domestic flight, be sure to:

• Know the fine print policy the airline company has. Depending on the airline, they may waive the change ticket fee usually anywhere from $50-$200 and any price differences between the tickets.  If your airport is listed as one that will be affected by bad weather within the next 24-48 hours and you opt to leave just before the bad weather hits, you may be able to avoid those fees. This method saves both you, the customer, and also the airline employees the headache of having to reschedule your travel along with the hundreds and thousands of other folks stranded once a storm hits.
• Stay abreast of the weather not only in your departing and arriving city, but also any connecting cities you may have.

If traveling by car, pack a winter car kit.

It’s always wise to have a car kit with the basics like jumper cables, a flashlight, bungee cords and a first aid kit. For winter specific driving, be sure to add in:

• Sand or cat litter you can sprinkle underneath the tires if you ever get stuck. (With the added bonus that it adds weight to the trunk for better control when driving on snowy roads.)
• A physical map in case you need to reroute your trip due to poor road conditions. Relying only on the electronic GPS instead of looking at the full visual of the area that a physical map gives may cause you to miss alternative route options.  Additionally, GPS signals may not be reliable in bad weather.
• A tow rope.
• An ice scraper.
• Blankets and granola bars and hand warmers, for the worst case scenario of finding yourself stuck for a long period of time.
• A car charger, or a portable power pack to be able to recharge your electronics without the use of the car’s battery.

In both scenarios, pack light and sensibly.

It’s always a good idea to pack light – but especially for travel that can potentially be delayed. Having a carry-on sized bag not only makes retrieving personal items far simpler, but should the unfortunate event happen that you need to unexpectedly switch flights or routes at a connecting airport, you will have your bag right with you to easily do that.

Don’t pass up a little preparation. It can go a long way in preventing excessively stressful journeys to warmer or homier places this winter season.