Travel advice from a mom with experience

As a mom with four decades in the travel industry, I’m sharing words of wisdom to make your family’s travel as easy as possible.

by Donnita Cagle Bassinger, CTC, MCC

Planning

Get passports or Real ID way before you plan to travel. If you fly more than once a year, consider getting TSA PreCheck. The cost is $78 for five years. For families, you can have children under 18 go through the TSA lines with a parent if you are on the same flight reservation.

Always take nonstop flights if possible. If taking connecting flights, allow at least one hour to change planes in the U.S., and two or more for international flights. Pay attention to which airline is operating the flight as there are many code-share ones, meaning one airline can sell seats on a flight operated by a different airline. If you are changing airlines, allow more time.

Most airlines allow reservations 11 months ahead of travel dates. Allegiant allows seven months in advance, and Southwest is about nine months. All pricing in travel is based on supply and demand, so whenever travel is expected to be busy, the fares will be higher. School holidays are the most popular times to travel, so prices will start high and increase as you get closer. Lowest rates are usually found in September, October, November (except Thanksgiving week) and the first two weeks of December.

International travel

Do not travel outside of the U.S. without travel insurance. Coverage for medical expenses and emergency evacuation can be invaluable.

Register with the government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This is a free service that helps citizens traveling abroad receive safety updates, travel advisories and emergency assistance. Look at the U.S. Department of State travel advisories for each country you to plan to visit. The details can be found under travel.state.gov. Note that some countries require passports to be valid for six months after your return travel date.

Take a picture of your passport photo page and the back inside page with the digital information. Send this to your traveling companions and to someone at home. If you use a taxi or ride share, take a photo of the license plate and text it to someone at home, along with a note of where you are going and what time you expect to be back. Check with your cell phone carrier to see if you have coverage in the areas you will be visiting.

Contact your credit card company to notify them of the dates you will be traveling. Make sure fraud alert notifications are sent to your phone. Keep credit cards in RFID data-blocking sleeves. Take more than one credit card, and do not rely on payment apps. Be very aware of pickpockets, and don’t keep all your money in one place on your body.

Download the free Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app. Complete the information before you fly home, and use it upon arrival into the first U.S. airport that offers an MPC line — you’ll avoid a long wait in line, which is nice when you’re travel-weary.

Packing

If you can take just a carry-on and a personal item, do it. Purchase travel sizes (3.4 oz or less) of sunscreen, bug spray and everything you need, and keep all liquids in a quart size zipper bag. Check the bag size restrictions for your airline (they vary among airlines) and measure your bags. Make sure your bags all have ID tags on them. For outside of your bags, only list your name and cell phone number. Inside the bags you can tape a business card or paper with your street address along with name and phone number. Use AirTags for all of your bags and link them to the app on your phone. This can be priceless if a bag is lost or left behind.

Bring all sizes of zipper bags and plastic bags for wet clothes and dirty shoes. Pack permanent markers, clothespins, children’s scissors, nail clippers, a small flashlight, band-aids and all medications you may need. Bring snacks for on flights (no fresh fruit). Get premade snack packs from the grocery store so you have something decent to eat. Do not count on an airline having food available (unless you are flying in first class). You can put ice in an insulated bottle and then add water after you get through security.

Bring one portable battery bank per person and your charging cords.

Before you fly

Load all airline and hotel apps you may need. Use online check-in for all flights. Bring printed copies of all confirmations: this is very important if there are any problems and when dealing with language issues.

Traveling with children

For babies, pack a zipper bag with a small package of wipes and a few diapers so you don’t need to haul a big bag into the tiny airport bathroom. Take a full-length photo of each child every morning in case you need to search for them. Write your phone number on their arm or a piece of paper in their pocket and instruct them that if they get lost to go to a “mommy with a stroller” to ask them to call you. Make everyone try on their clothes before you pack them. Take the time to get a good family photo on each trip. You won’t regret it!

As a parent you know that being prepared can help minimize hassles and make things run smoother. I hope this information will help you to be prepared and have a great vacation.

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Meet Vacation MOM

Vacation MOM is brought to you in partnership with Eugene Airport

Donnita Bassinger has been a travel agent for over four decades and is the owner of VIP Vacations. She enjoys sending families on vacations around the world. She is a mom to three and lives in Eugene, and she looks forward to making your travel dreams become a reality.

Contact Donnita at 541-913-5272 or on facebook@VacationMOM