On the eve of Labor Day Weekend in the US, I thought it would be perfect timing to share four amazing travel tips for holiday weekend travel – whether you’re driving or flying!

On three-day weekends, more travelers than usual will hit the road (or airplane seat) to enjoy the mini vacation. I have traveled domestically and abroad on almost every holiday weekend for the past nine years, and below are my top four travel tips to have the perfect getaway!

  • Expect & Embrace The Crowded Airports and Roadways

The best way to ease the stress of getting out of town is to give yourself a little extra time than usual. There will be more families with children and other infrequent travelers at airports, rest stops, train stations, etc. Make sure to arrive early for your flight or train, and also budget extra time when driving!

To best dodge the crowds, consider flying or driving at off hours. Booking a 6am flight or hitting the road before traffic levels peak is a great way to save time. The roads and transit portals will inevitably be more crowded than on regular weekends, so beating the rush can be a smart move.

Airports will be very crowded compared to regular weekends! Especially airport restaurants!
  • Bring Sunscreen & Sunglasses Regardless Of Time Of Year

This coming weekend is Labor Day Weekend in the United States, which always marks the end of summer. Even though the temperatures may be dropping soon, and Starbucks is already selling its #PSL in full force, you’ll likely be in the sun a lot this weekend as a traveler (or even just a BBQ-goer).

But even if you’re reading this for winter holiday weekends such as Martin Luther King Day or President’s Day, you should still consider bringing the right sun protection and outdoor gear. Most vacations involve being outside more than usual, so preparing for the weather and extra sunshine is important any time of year for your health and happiness!

Definitely needed sunglasses and sunscreen at San Xavier Del Bac Mission last December!
  • Make Restaurant And Activity Reservations In Advance

Holiday weekends are the hardest time to get top restaurant reservations. Many people are in from out of town and wanting to experience the best of the destination. If your preference is to eat at 7pm on Saturday – definitely book that table in advance so you can keep to your preferred vacation schedule!

As I mention in the video, I am certainly guilty of violating this rule. When I’m in a new city I like to prioritize seeing the sites and often forget to make a reservation until the last minute, thus making me eat in the early or late shift. Do as I say and not as I do, I suppose! Haha!

Our VERY EARLY 5:45 seating at Beauty & Essex in Manhattan – the restaurant is so empty at that hour compared to later in the evening!
Somehow I always find myself eating at 9:30pm in Paris because I can never decide what restaurant I want to try until the last minute!
  • Stock Up On Everything You Might Need Before The Actual Holiday

Many stores and restaurants have limited hours or opt to be closed on federal holidays. Think through what you might need on the actual holiday day and plan to get everything in advance. In this video, I share my story of when my husband and I purchased four bottles of wine in Sonoma County during wine tastings on a Memorial Day Weekend trip, and then the FedEx and UPS stores were closed on Monday (Memorial Day) when we tried to ship them home! Eeeek! If you know of an activity or purchase you will need to do on the actual holiday, make sure the shop will be open to accommodate!

Wine tasting in Sonoma is so much fun! Here we are at Ferrari Carano!
Finally shipping our wine at the UPS store on Tuesday morning when it opened!

Hope these travel tips help you have the best long weekend away!

Happy travels, Labor Day Weekend jetsetters and road-warriors! You’ve earned it!

-Eliz

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