Holiday Travel Is Bad!

[persiawirth]

Holiday travel is bad. Please save yourself time and money and just travel when it is not a holiday. A few years ago I made the rookie mistake of traveling during a holiday. This was a 4th of July weekend. Fourth of July fell on Wednesday that year. Most people were taking 3 days off. I went with my mother to see her brother in Atlanta, GA. ATL has got to be the worst airport I have ever had the misfortune of traveling through. There was a line to the gate that was at least 1/2 mile long and 10 people wide. It was total chaos. Grown men were cussing out families with small children huddled trying to stay together in the sea of anarchy. My mother is very frail. I was terrified that there would be a stampede and she would be crushed under a sea of people. It took us 2 hours to get to the gate. We missed our flight. They were litterally ending the line of people getting on and refused to let us on. We spent 4 hours trying to get on another plane.

[kirbychristian]

Usually traveling on the actual holiday (either coming or going) rather than NEAR a holiday is a good strategy. You have the benefits of 1. close to empty flights and 2. MUCH cheaper fares. I've traveled on Thanksgiving day and Christmas day for several years now...I usually save a couple hundred dollars plus the savings in stress which cannot be measured.

One caveat: if you are traveling after most of the crowds have already gotten to their destination, make sure you've reserved parking...I almost missed a flight the first Thanksgiving I flew because I left in the afternoon and all the parking was taken. Rookie mistake!

I do agree with you about Atlanta though...that airport has gotten crazy in the last few years.

[lancemaria]

Bad to hear that. But next time...

[sid07]

Its always good to take a week off as weekend or hollidays rush usually spoil the mood in good locations . I would go to a place less visited on a holiday . Anyways you have to do good planing to make things work .

[lemon]

Very sorry to hear you had terrible experience specially your mom.
But things gets such way too often. You better be sure to make sure things go fine before you travel. either you need to check out before you go.
Best of luck for next trip mate!


sAM

[beachside08]

Holidays are meant for a good long rest at home :) (well that's how it is for me :D)