Do you have any plans to travel this summer season? Niagara Gazette
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Consumer Reports: Tips to save money on flights ahead of busy travel season – KOMO News
Viking celebrates start of inaugural season in North America – Breaking Travel News
Viking celebrates start of inaugural season in North America Breaking Travel News
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As summer travel season arrives, ODOT offers some tips, reminders, advice before hitting the road
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Summer travel season is coming fast, and as you make your plans, there are a few things to know before you drive, ride, walk or roll along state highways, the Oregon Department of Transportation said Thursday.
Here’s their list:
Check your route on TripCheck.com. We’ve added more cameras showing road conditions, more real travel times, look for cones on our construction projects, and striped lines to see local partners road and construction information.
Plan ahead. Major events like the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in Eugene, July 15-24, may cause delays on Interstate 5. Watch for message signs warning of congestion. Slow down, and be aware of fellow travelers who may not be familiar with our state highways.
Plan a car-free trip. Consider taking the POINT bus or Amtrak to the games in Eugene, and walking or biking around town. Or avoid the crowds and plan a walking or biking tour. Look for resources under “Plan your Trip.”
Driving electric? Look forward to upgraded EV charging stations along major roads like I-5, I-84, and U.S. 101. Some chargers on these roads are part of the West Coast Electric Highway network and now have upgraded plug types that can connect to more EV models. You can spot the new chargers by their orange-colored stickers.
Oregon has about 2,100 public EV charging stations throughout the state. We’re about to get a lot more along major roads and in Oregon’s communities over the next few years, courtesy of ODOT’s pledge of $100 million for EV charging infrastructure.
Construction is everywhere. Road and bridge construction occur year around in Oregon, but paving needs good weather and so large projects happens in the summer. Check out our Project Tracker and see what is planned. Check TripCheck for any delays from projects underway. Watch for orange, slow down around work zones and help everyone get home safely.
Take extra caution around chip seals. This lower cost paving method extends the life of the road, but slow down as there can be loose rock around that may fly and break windows or chip paint.
To make travel easier for Oregonians and the thousands of visitors expected for the World Athletic Championships, some construction and maintenance projects will be on hold for three weeks in July.
Rules of the Road. Know what to expect on Oregon roads. The Move Over Law says you must move to another lane if an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road with emergency lights flashing. If you can’t change lanes, slow down. ODOT Incident Responders are on the road to respond to incidents with other first responder partners. Have you been driving awhile? Brush up on the rules in 2022-2023 Oregon Driver Manual.
Waterfall Corridor improved access. The much-loved Waterfall Corridor of the Historic Columbia River Highway can be visited by bike, bus, or tour. If you drive in your personal vehicle, you’ll need a timed use permit from May 24 until Sept. 5 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Permits are available online for a $2 transaction fee. A limited number of same-day permits (with no fee) are available in person at several area locations. More information on transportation options and permits.
Wildfires. Debris cleanup from 2020’s devastating wildfires is done, but some of road repairs continue this summer. Expect delays on OR 224, OR 22, OR 126, and OR 138 as crews continue to remove rocks and debris over the highway, fix fire-damaged roads, remove hazardous trees and re-seed with native plants, and repave. OR 224 is open but most recreation areas remain closed and there are multiple work zones.
Last year in Oregon, cars were the number one source of wildfires during the summer. Do your part to prevent them. If you have to pull off the road, stay on hardened surfaces and avoid dry grass. Never, ever toss a lit cigarette or any burning materials from you vehicle.
If you end up in a smoky area, turn on your headlights so others can see you.
Be Prepared. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order before you head out. Check your coolant, hoses, and your tires. Have emergency supplies in your vehicle. Food, water, extra medications, a first aid kit, a paper road map, phone charger, jumper cables, a safety vest and a flashlight all may come in handy as you travel.
Know before you go and have a safe trip wherever you go and however you choose to get there.
“There’s no shortcut to packing smart” TSA gives travel tips ahead of Summer travel season
RAPID CITY, S.D. — The summer travel season is approaching.
While Your summer travel plans may be taking off, but members of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) say you’ve got things to plan for before you’re in the air.
According to TSA, it takes around five minutes to get through one of their checkpoints, but they say that time can increase dramatically if even one person doesn’t do the necessary research as to what you can bring.
So what can you bring?
Liquids or items like toothpaste in your carry-on bags must be below three point four ounces, but larger containers are allowed in checked bags.
Items deemed medical necessary liquids like saline solution, breast milk and even baby food are allowed on carry-ons.
“You just needed to tell the agent when you’re going through the line that you have something that is bigger than that, because it will be screened separately and differently,” said Jessica Mayle, the TSA Regional Spokesperson.
TSA recommends starting with a empty bag and going from there with the main reason being that you might have forgotten to take something out from a previous trip.
While displaying a table full of items, Mayle gave a visual representation of what TSA has been seeing just in the Rapid City Regional Airport.
“These have all been collected at the checkpoint over the last few months, so not a very long period. This kind of gives you an idea of how many of these types of prohibited items we are seeing at the checkpoint.” Mayle said.
One final message from TSA is to give yourself ample time for everything that comes with your travel.
“Don’t just think about going through TSA, but (also) parking your car, checking your bags, you know the whole every step, you know, it’s two minutes here, eight minutes here. It kind of adds up, so give yourself plenty of time,” Mayle said.
For a more complete list of what you can bring, click here. By clicking the link, you can search anything you’re looking to bring to see if its allowed.
AUS asks passengers to arrive early as busy travel season begins
The airport said an estimated 22 million passengers will fly out of AUS this year, making 2022 a record-breaking year. The increase in passengers comes after significant growth and investment in Austin by the airlines.
AUSTIN, Texas – Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is asking passengers to plan ahead for the record-breaking summer.
AUS expects to have the busiest Memorial Day travel time in the airport’s history. Memorial Day Weekend traditionally signals the start of summer travel, but AUS daily passenger numbers have already been climbing.
The airport said an estimated 22 million passengers will fly out of AUS this year, making 2022 a record-breaking year. The increase in passengers comes after significant growth and investment in Austin by the airlines.
Last summer, peak travel days at AUS were Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays, mainly before 8 a.m. But heading into summer 2022, passengers can expect every day of the week to be busy.
“Our COVID-19 recovery has been stronger than we ever could have imagined, which is why AUS is the strongest-recovering and fastest-growing airport in the U.S. based on seat capacity increases,” said Jacqueline Yaft, AUS Chief Executive Officer. “With unprecedented growth comes unprecedented challenges. We continue to work with our airlines, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and concession partners to address staffing shortages that lead to lines and delays. AUS is also committed to delivering an improved passenger experience through our Airport Expansion and Development Program (AEDP). This summer, we will break ground on the first series of construction projects.”
Those near-term AEDP projects will accommodate future passenger demand and include a new outbound baggage handling system and Gate 13 renovation to maximize capacity for flights.
As well, the Department of Aviation, along with airport business partners such as concession operators, airlines, the TSA, and more, are hiring for full and part-time positions. For airport employment opportunities, visit AustinTexas.gov/AUSJobs.
AUS has offered some tips for passengers heading into a busy travel season:
When to arrive at AUS
To help manage summer travel through AUS, passengers using general security should arrive at least two and a half hours before boarding domestic flights and three hours before boarding international flights, regardless of the day of week or time of day their flight is scheduled.
Travelers should budget extra time if they need to check luggage, return a rental car, or complete other activities before joining the security screening lines. First-time flyers, travelers who have not flown in years, large groups, and those traveling with small children should also give themselves extra time.
Preparing for TSA screening and packing properly
Security screening checkpoints open at 3 a.m. TSA PreCheck and Clear screening are available at Checkpoints 1 and 2 West. All four checkpoints lead to all gates and airlines in the Barbara Jordan Terminal.
TSA security delays can occur when passengers accidentally pack prohibited items in their carry-on luggage. To help avoid delays, passengers should review what they can and can’t bring with them through security at TSA.gov.
Parking and or dropping off passengers
An increase in travelers means more vehicles at AUS. Drivers dropping off passengers can use either the upper level for departures or the lower level for arrivals to ease congestion. Passengers dropped off at the lower level can quickly get upstairs to ticketing and security using escalators and elevators. If the lower level is congested, arriving passengers can use escalators and elevators to be picked up on the upper level.
Travelers looking to park onsite can visit ABIAParking.com to reserve a parking space and check for real-time parking availability before arriving at the airport.
Uber, Lyft, Wingz, or other rideshares use a tram service available on the first floor of the Red garage to take passengers to the rideshare pick-up area located on the ground floor underneath the rental car facility.
Checking into your flight
Travelers without checked luggage can bypass the ticket counters and head immediately to TSA screening checkpoints using these time-saving flight check-in options:
- Use the lower curbside and upper curbside for drop-off — from the lower level, passengers can quickly get upstairs to ticketing and security via escalators and elevators.
- Self-service flight check-in kiosks that allow travelers to print their boarding passes and bag tags are available inside the terminal, across from the airline ticket counters.
- In addition to traditional check-in procedures, some airlines offer outside curbside check-in on the upper level.
- Travelers can also save time by checking in for their flight using their airlines’ mobile app and a mobile boarding pass.
Getting the most out of AUS
Once inside the terminal, travelers can explore new art installations, concession offerings, live music stages, and more using step-by-step directions on the AUS digital wayfinding map at AirportMaps.AustinTexas.gov.
While airport restaurant hours may vary pending concession company staffing levels, AUS has invested in new self-service kiosks that are available 24/7 for passengers to purchase snacks, beverages, and travel necessities, including made-and-delivered-daily Sprinkles Cupcakes.
Information for Allegiant and Frontier travelers
Travelers flying with Allegiant and Frontier will depart from The South Terminal. All other airlines operate out of the main Barbara Jordan Terminal. The two terminals are not connected and must be accessed separately. The South Terminal is located near US 183 and Burleson Road, at 10000 Logistics Lane, Austin. Travelers can use the shuttle bus, which picks up from the departure level of the curbside, to travel from the Barbara Jordan Terminal to The South Terminal.
Here’s What To Expect From The 2022 Summer Travel Season
What awaits travelers this summer? The road ahead is fraught with peril, experts say.
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High prices. Bad service. Frequent delays. Another COVID outbreak. Anything could happen when you travel this summer.
At least that’s what travel pros are saying about the 2022 summer travel season. I interviewed more than 200 travel experts to get their predictions for the next three months. It brought into clear focus a troubling image of a hyper-busy travel season fraught with high fares and substandard service. Remedies are few and far between.
It’s going to be busy. The U.S. Travel Association expects Americans to spend $95 billion on travel, down only 5% from 2019. About 6 in 10 Americans are taking at least one summer trip. Of those planning vacations, despite higher gas prices, 35% expect to travel more this summer than last.
So what should you expect this summer travel season?
- The travel world has changed during the pandemic. It’s less predictable, and service levels will be lower. Plus, Covid is still here, and cases are rising in some cities.
- You’ll pay more and you’ll get less, experts say.
- Travel pros say you have to guard against scams and depleted or nonexistent inventory problems this summer.
There are a few ways to protect yourself from what is to come. I’ll get to those in a moment.
How has travel changed? And what does it mean for this summer?
Experts say the world of travel is turned upside down.
Yes, it’s going to be bad. “Lower your expectations,” says Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert who runs The Protocol School of Texas. “We know what is coming, and we know what to expect.” That’s right: record-high prices, record low service levels. You’ve been warned.
Covid is still here. That’s obvious, but travelers don’t realize how here it really is. As of now, you still have to get tested to return to the U.S. by air. In a recent survey conducted by Seven Corners, only 13% of those planning to travel internationally said their biggest concern is getting stuck in another country if they test positive for Covid. “Masking may still be required or become mandatory if the destination or cruise ship experiences an uptick or outbreak of Covid-19,” warns Danielle Peterson, a travel advisor with Cruise Planners.
You’re traveling in a different world — and not in a good way. The pandemic changed everything. Add economic uncertainty and a few wars to the equation, and you have to rethink your travel. “Given the volatility in the world right now, travelers need to be prepared to leave wherever they are quickly,” says Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, a travel risk management service provider. Where are the hotspots? This summer, he’s worried about Eastern Europe, South America and North Africa. But that could change at a moment’s notice.
What will the travel experience be like in the summer of 2022?
On this point, experts are unanimous. You’ll pay more and you’ll get less. But how much less?
It’s a sold-out summer. And that makes planning more important than ever, says Julie Ann Hargett, owner of H. Luxury Travel. “Planning ahead is key to optimizing your budget,” she says. “Pre-covid this was never really an issue. Sure, you may have paid a little more, but nothing like the sold-out situations we are hearing now. I have suppliers who are not even taking requests until September, that is how backed up they are. Do not expect a last-minute deal; they do not exist right now.”
Expect delays. That’s Bill Miller’s take on the summer of 2022. “Be prepared for a disruption,” says Miller, the chief sales and marketing officer for medical transport and travel security program Medjet. “My family and I have taken quite a few flights over the last month, and there have been mild to severe levels of disruption. We’ve all seen consistent delays on almost all airlines.”
Staffing shortages could affect your vacation. Many travel companies eliminated staff during the pandemic. They may not have rehired enough employees to meet demand. “I hope that the airlines have planned for this,” says Laura Einsetler, a commercial airline pilot. “But I am honestly concerned about it being a mess this summer travel season.”
The supply chain disruption will ding more than your travel. The worldwide supply chain challenges will translate into higher prices and decreased selection. “This includes everything from sunscreen to the cost of food,” says Narendra Khatri, principal at Insubuy, a travel insurance company. “Add an extra buffer to your travel budget to account for increased costs on meals, souvenirs, phone charging cables, and all the things people tend to forget to pack when they leave for a trip. And don’t expect the same variety and prices as when you traveled pre-pandemic.”
What kind of strategies should you use to improve the summer travel experience?
Travel pros say you have to be on your guard against higher prices, depleted inventory and scams — now more than ever.
It’ll cost more than you think. Experts say your 2022 summer vacation could cost between 25% and 50% more than last summer’s vacation. “At the end of planning your trip, ensure that you have enough travel money left over per day to be flexible and enjoy a more stress-free experience,” Carol Mueller, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s vice president for strategic marketing and engagement.
You can’t start too early. You know the advice about getting to the airport two hours early for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight? Experts say you’ll want to start even earlier this summer. “If you live close to the airport, consider checking your bag the night before you fly,” says Daniel Green, chief technology officer at travel insurance startup Faye. “Some airports are allowing this. Look into this so you have one less thing to worry about the day of travel.”
There are more scams and swindles out there. Robert Siciliano, a security expert with ProtectNowLLC.com, has seen more types of swindles and increased violence against travelers. But the worst is the ATM skimming device. “Skimmer scammers affix a facade over the card slot on an ATM or on a point-of-sale at checkout,” he says. “Pay attention to your statements and set up push notifications via text and email.”
Be prepared for anything. “Travelers should continue to pack their patience, be flexible and prepared for anything this summer,” says Jessica O’Riley, a spokeswoman for Travel Iowa. “While travelers seem to be ready and raring to go, many hospitality locations may still be understaffed or closed.” Pro tip: Consider building a couple of days before and after your trip to account for delays.
By the way, it’s not too late to get travel insurance. “Even if you paid for a trip weeks or months ago, you still have an opportunity to protect the nonrefundable portions of the trip and secure medical expense coverage with a travel insurance plan,” says Stan Sandberg, the co-founder of travel insurance site TravelInsurance.com. “As long as you haven’t already left on your trip or experienced an event that otherwise would cause you to cancel, cancellation coverage would still be available to purchase.”
I’ll have more solutions for the crazy summer of 2022 in the second part of my series on summer travel.
Until then, be careful out there.
White River Forest travel season will begin May 21
The summer motorized and mountain bike travel season begins Saturday, May 21, in most areas on the White River National Forest.
Some roads and trails are not scheduled to open until later in May or June because of conditions at higher elevations or to reduce disturbance to wildlife including calving elk.
Some roads and trails opening Saturday may still be muddy or snowy in places and susceptible to damage if people drive or ride them.
“We have a wide range of elevations with varying conditions. Some open gates may lead to roads that are wet and muddy,” White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams said. “Travel in muddy conditions creates deep ruts that can significantly damage roads and trails. Please be patient and give muddy areas time to dry out and harden so they can be enjoyed all summer long.”
High winds this spring have blown down a higher than usual number of trees across the forest’s roads and trails, and it may take more time for roads and trails to be cleared than in past years.
E-bikes are considered motor vehicles by the Forest Service and may only be ridden on roads and trails designated open to motorized use. Traditional (non-electric) bicycles are allowed on designated trails and roads where mechanized use is permitted.
Off-road and off-trail travel is prohibited for all motorized and mechanized vehicles on the White River National Forest.
Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are all considered motorized vehicles by the Forest Service, and can be ridden on the hundreds of miles of White River National Forest roads open to motorized use during the summer travel season, as well as the limited number of trails open to motorized and e-bike use.
Summer motorized vehicle use maps are available at local ranger district offices and online at fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.
It’s your responsibility to know the rules and regulations regarding e-bikes and motorized travel.
E-bikes may be permitted on trails owned by county governments or local municipalities; however, e-bikes are not allowed on the Glenwood Canyon recreation path or the west side of the Vail Pass recreation path.
All forest visitors are responsible for knowing when and where they can drive or ride. District offices have the latest site-specific information. Summer motor vehicle use maps and mountain bike maps are available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.
Vermont prepares for upcoming travel season
The summer travel season starts next weekend and while some may think higher gas prices, airfare, and hotel rates may have some thinking twice, that’s not necessarily the case. Instead, the director of Burlington International Airport expects turnout to be high.
One of the main reasons is people are saying they want to get out of their homes.
Sylvia Daubenspeck, a recently retired Vermont resident says his son lives in California and only comes to visit once every three years. “He did this summer only because he wanted to visit relatives that are there and getting kind of old but it was expensive.”
Daubenspeck is also worried about inflation. “The high gas prices definitely impacts whether my kids come around to see me and to travel across country.”
The high prices have some asking themselves difficult questions.
[Libby Connors, Vermont Resident]
Libby Connors, a Vermont resident explained her thought process. “Can I start spending an excessive amount of money just to get to a vacation or do I need to start thinking about at home staycation wise?”
For David Williams, there wasn’t much of a choice as his daughter graduates from UVM this weekend. He made the trip from New Orleans and he’s seen the prices go up steadily. “I would say 30, 40% in the past two years,” said Williams. He says the pandemic postponed family vacations.
“We usually take a family vacation at least one or two a year and we haven’t done it in years.”
With many people making up for lost time, the staff at Burlington International is ready for a busy summer.
“There is a large number of leisure travelers that are traveling, and the business base is coming back,” said Shelby Loggia, Director of Ground Transportation at BTV Airport.
Vermont hotels are also gearing up to welcome tourists back for the warm weather, especially for those from the Canadian border.
[Anderson James, PR and Marketing Manager, Lodge at Spruce Peak]
“That was a big market we missed for a few years there,” said Anderson James, PR and Marketing Manager at the Lodge at Spruce Peak. “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Montreal and everyone from Quebec and Ontario.”
[Betsy Bishop, Vermont Chamber of Commerce]
“Vermont is a day’s drive from 80 million people,” said Betsy Bishop of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. “When you think about Montreal, New York City, Boston and surrounding areas, those are the people who visit us the most.”
All those tourists could mean big business. A week from today marks what typically is the start of the summer travel season and AAA predicts nearly 40 million people will travel for Memorial Day weekend, which would put it back up to levels not seen since the start of the pandemic.
