Vacation For Life: travel tips

Pet-Friendly Vacations: 10 Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie in New York City.

For some of us, our pets are like our family and we don’t like to be separated from them for too long. When we travel, the only thing that really makes us want to come home is being able to see our two tiny dogs again. So, while we don’t always travel with our pets, we are always looking for travel opportunities like weekend getaways where we can bring our dogs along. However, traveling with pets is no walk in the park. Here are our 10 tips for traveling with dogs to make your pet-friendly vacations as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

Call Ahead for the Hotel’s Full Pet Policy

Henry Glamping Buellton Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry trying out glamping in Buellton.

Sometimes hotels advertise themselves as pet-friendly, but the hotel website doesn’t always list all the terms of their pet policy and sometimes those pet-friendly hotels are anything but. One of our pet peeves (pun intended) is when “pet-friendly” hotels won’t allow pets to be left unattended in the room. We don’t like to leave them alone all day, but it’s rare that you can take your pets with you for every single activity, especially meals, like breakfast or dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Also, exorbitant pet fees like $150 per pet per day indicate to us that the hotel isn’t really interested in having our pets visit.

Charlie Glamping Buellton Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Charlie likes glamping too.

We find it best to call the hotel ahead of time and ask for the terms of their pet policy, including (1) can they be left alone in the room, (2) are they required to be contained in a crate or pen when left alone, (3) what are the pet fees, and (4) are there any dog friendly restaurants and activities nearby. Listen for other restrictions, like pets not being allowed on the furniture or not being allowed in common areas. Get the name of the person you talk to. Once we called the hotel ahead of time and were told pets were allowed to be left unattended, but when we arrived we were handed a policy saying the exact opposite. Since we had called ahead of time and I was able to give the name of the person who had told me the policy, we were allowed to leave them unattended as long as we left a phone number so we could be reached immediately if there were any complaints. We loved that when we checked out, our hotel bill had a note saying it was a pleasure to have our very well-behaved dogs visit.

Henry and Charlie Grand Canyon Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie at the Grand Canyon.

Our favorite dog-friendly hotel chain is Loews Hotels. Loews loves pets (it says so on their dog bowls) and they even have a separate room service menu for dogs, cats, and even birds. We have also had good luck with Radisson, Best Western, and Holiday Inn Express, though the pet policy varies among properties, so be sure to call about the pet policy before booking a room.

Booking.com

Bring Extra Delicious Food and Treats

Loews Loves Pets Room Service Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Loews loves pets and has a pet room service menu.

If your pet eats as soon as a bowl is put in front of him or her, feeding during a trip may not be a problem. Our dogs self-feed throughout the day when they are home, rather than having scheduled meal times, plus everything is new and distracting, so it can be difficult to get them to eat their food on demand when they have the opportunity. We bring a Tupperware of chicken we cooked at home to mix into their food in small amounts to entice them to eat when we want. Just be sure the extra treats you bring are something your pet is used to, is healthy, and isn’t too rich, as you don’t want them becoming sick.

Henry and Charlie in Portland Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie in Oregon.

Charlie has a very bad habit of sometimes howling for a few minutes when we leave. This can be disconcerting and embarrassing for us, and surely is annoying to other hotel guests if they happen to hear him. We have found that giving him a Greenie, a chewy treat that takes a few minutes for him to eat, keeps him occupied for long enough that he forgets to be upset when he’s done.

Bring the Appropriate Equipment

Henry and Charlie in Dog Pen Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie feel safe when confined to their pen.

Even if a hotel doesn’t require pets to be crated when left alone in the room, we have found that we have the best results when we confine our two small dogs in a dog pen. They get nervous when staying in a place that is unfamiliar. They are much more relaxed when we enclose them in their familiar pen with potty pads, food and water, and their favorite dog beds and toys.

Henry and Charlie in Pet Car Seat Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

A pet car seat keeps pets safe while driving.

If heading out on a road trip, we suggest using a pet car seat or pet seatbelts to keep your pet safe in the car. While our dogs would prefer to sit in our laps, this isn’t the safest place for them. We use a pet car seat that is stabilized with the seatbelt plus has leads connected to it to attach to their harnesses. For larger dogs, you can use pet seatbelts to keep them in place and safe.

Henry and Charlie Road Trip Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie keep an eye out while we take photos.

It is important to use the right equipment when traveling by plane with pets as well. When our friend moved cross country, she brought her cat with her on the plane. The airline’s online pet policy said to use a hard-sided crate, but when she arrived at the airport she learned it actually needed to be soft-sided so it could slide under the seat. We have used soft-sided pet carriers when we have traveled by air with our pets, as they can travel in the cabin with us. Pets that have to travel in the cargo hold need to be contained in hard-sided crates.

Charlie by the Pacific Ocean Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Sometimes Charlie's a daredevil.

It is important to keep dogs hydrated. We carry with us a water bottle and collapsible water bowl so our dogs always have access to water and a squeeze water bottle with a built-in bowl that drains back into the bottle for the car.

Henry and Charlie at Mission San Xavier del Bac.

While we have our dogs take care of business outside whenever possible, we always bring a supply of dog potty pads for the hotel room. This way, if they do decide to take care of business inside, they have a place to do so without damaging the hotel carpet.

When we bring our dogs on trips with us, we bring a bag dedicated to their supplies. We bring dog bowls for food and water, water bottle, collapsible water bowl, Ziploc bag of dog food, Ziploc bag of treats, Tupperware of cooked chicken (which we store in the hotel room refrigerator), potty pads, sweaters or jackets in case it gets cold, travel-size dog shampoo and conditioner for when they get filthy, and their favorite blankets and toys which make them feel more at home.

Walk the Perimeter

Henry and Charlie on Bridge at Arroyo Hondo Vista Point Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Fancy free on the bridge at Arroyo Hondo Vista Point.

This might seem like an odd tip for pet travel, but it really works. Have you ever noticed that your dog walks the perimeter of your yard? Dogs do this because they want to ensure that the borders of their family pack have not been breached by an intruder. This makes them feel secure and able to relax. We tested this theory with our dogs when staying at hotels. Staying at an unfamiliar hotel in a strange room can be stressful. We found this was especially the case with our Yorkie, Henry, who is an alpha dog and is very protecting of his four-member pack. When we arrive at a new hotel, we walk the dogs around the perimeter of the hotel so they can become familiar with their new temporary home. We’ll also take a walk up and down the hallway where our room is located. We have found that our dogs are calmer and get comfortable in the room quicker after we have walked the perimeter.

Build in Dog-Friendly Activities

Charlie in Sedona Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Charlie goes from white to orange in Sedona.

No pet wants to travel with their family just to be left in the hotel room alone all day. If traveling with dogs, be sure that your travel itinerary includes a number of fun dog-friendly activities so your pet feels included and can have fun traveling too. We like to take them on a walk or hike in the morning, keeping them active, so when we do leave them alone in the afternoon to visit museums or go out to eat, they are tired, ready to nap, and don’t mind that we’re leaving them alone. We also try to find dog-friendly restaurants so we can leave them alone as little as possible. It’s an added bonus when we find museums that allow dogs. Many wineries are dog-friendly, which is fun for both us and them.

Slow Down

Henry and Romeo in Kingman Arizona Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Photos mean a break from walking.

When traveling with dogs, you may need to travel at a slower pace than usual. When we travel, we like to do a lot and have full itineraries. However, this doesn’t work so well when traveling with the dogs, so we slow down, plan fewer activities, and build in fun walking time for the dogs. Also, frantic owners make frantic pets, so doing everything in a calm and collected manner helps keep your pets relaxed so they can enjoy their travels too.

Pay Attention to the Weather

Henry in Snow at Crater Lake Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry's not sure about the snow at Crater Lake.

It’s a lot harder to travel in extreme weather situations with pets. It’s important to know what the weather will be like before you go and when making the decision whether or not to bring your pet. If it’s going to be hot, it won’t be safe to leave them alone in the car. It might be hard for them to walk because the hot pavement might burn their feet. You’ll also need to make sure to carry plenty of water so your pet doesn’t get dehydrated. Extreme cold can also be stressful on dogs that aren’t used to that type of weather. You may want to bring sweaters or jackets for dogs that aren’t fans of cold weather.

Henry and Charlie at Monument Valley Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie brave the wind at Monument Valley.

Weather is also extremely important to consider when flying with pets. Airlines won’t allow pets to fly in the cargo hold if the temperature is going to be below or above certain points at any time during the day.

Make Sure Your Pet is Healthy Enough to Travel

Henry in the Car Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry's favorite part of a road trip is looking out the window . . . and the french fries.

Before traveling with your pet, make sure it is up-to-date with all its vaccinations and certifications. Your pet will be exposed to more opportunities for catching something while traveling than at home and the stress of travel may also make it more susceptible to getting sick. If your pet is already in poor health, it may not be a good candidate for travel. Senior dogs may also have a harder time traveling as a lot of walking might be hard on their joints and they may not be as active as they were in the past. Conversely, older dogs are sometimes easier to travel with because they are more relaxed and don't mind taking advantage of some in-room alone time.

Bring a List of Emergency Veterinarians

Henry and Charlie at Montezuma Castle National Monument Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie at Montezuma Castle National Monument, just before Charlie inhaled a foxtail and we had to find a vet.

On a recent road trip, one of our dogs became ill. We were up all night with him and it was an incredibly stressful situation. At 5:00 in the morning I made the decision to take him to a veterinary emergency center I had found prior to leaving for our trip. The last thing you need is the added stress of having to find someplace to take your pet when something goes wrong. Before you leave, do a little research and make a list of veterinarians in every town you will visit, preferably that are near your hotel. Be sure this list includes an emergency vet hospital that is open 24-hours a day.

Consider Leaving Your Pets at Home

Henry and Charlie Pet-Friendly Vacations Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie won't speak to us if we go without them.

We love traveling with our pets, but sometimes it is better to leave them at home. While our dogs love to be with us, traveling can be stressful for them. Staying in an unfamiliar room is stressful. Being left alone in the room or the car is stressful. Not being on their regular day-to-day schedule is stressful. As pets get older, walking long distances becomes more difficult and can be painful. Traveling with dogs can also be stressful on the humans, which can make for a less enjoyable trip. We stress that they are going to bark at an inappropriate moment. We stress that we’ll get a call from the hotel about bad behavior when leaving them alone. We stress they might have an accident. If the trip will be enjoyable for both the humans and pets, by all means, bring them along. But if traveling with dogs will be more stress than fun, leave them at home.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, it costs you nothing extra but we earn a small commission which helps us bring you more travel stories.

Travel the World: 10 tips for traveling with dogs and having successful pet-friendly vacations.

10 Tips for Jet Lag Prevention for International Travelers

Heathrow Airport Tips for Jet Lag Prevention for International Travelers

Jet lag. Jet lag is the enemy of all travelers, especially those who, like us, work full-time and only have a week or two to get the most out of their vacation. We’ve been traveling for almost 15 years together and fighting jet lag for the same amount of time. I’ve always been a little better at preventing jet lag than Romeo, mostly because he really enjoys a good nap on vacation. Over the years, we have learned the hard way how to prevent jet lag so we can hit the ground running.

Get a Good Night’s Rest before Boarding the Plane

Procrastination is not your friend if you want to prevent jet lag. This is one of the hardest things for me. No matter how much I plan to start getting ready for a trip in advance, I am invariably up until 2:00 in the morning packing the night before we leave. This is a terrible habit if you want to avoid jet lag. Don’t go into the trip already lacking sleep. Try to go to bed early or at least at a decent time the night before a trip.

Drink Lots of Water, Then Drink More Water

Stay Hydrated Tips for Jet Lag Prevention for International Travelers

Hydration is important for staving off jet lag.

Dehydration gives the feeling of a horrible hangover, which is why jet lag feels so bad. The best thing to do to prevent jet lag is to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Airlines usually don’t serve passengers nearly enough water to stay properly hydrated, so buy some bottled water or fill up a reusable water bottle at the airport before boarding the plane and accept water every time the flight attendants come by.

Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol are dehydrators plus they tamper with your sleeping patterns, so it is best to avoid caffeine and alcohol both before and during your flight.

Use Jet Lag Supplements

1Above helps prevent jet lag and keeps you hydrated.

In addition to staying hydrated, you can use supplements to help prevent jet lag. I recently started using 1Above, which contains six essential electrolytes along with B vitamins and Pycnogenol. These ingredients hydrate, increase energy, and reduce the length and severity of jet lag. 1Above comes in a concentrated liquid or as effervescent tablets that can be added to water. They also can both pass through security. I much prefer the taste (and smell) of the tablets. I have never used it, but I have also heard great things about using melatonin for jet lag prevention from fellow travelers. I avoid sleeping pills as they usually just make me feel groggy and I never seem to get the full amount of sleep needed.

Sleep on the Plane

Eye Mask and Neck Pillow Tips for Jet Lag Prevention for International Travelers

I love my memory foam neck pillow!

This has always been one of the downfalls to Romeo’s jet lag prevention. Now that planes have personal in-flight entertainment options, he is always worried that there’s some great movie he’s going to miss, so he ends up watching movies for the entire flight rather than getting any sleep he possibly can. Especially if you are arriving at your destination early in the day, try to get as much sleep as possible and turn off the entertainment. An eye mask and ear plugs can help block out sound and light during the flight and a good memory foam neck pillow will ward off a neck cramp.

Arrive In the Late Afternoon or Evening

Arrival time isn’t always a factor you can control, but when you can, opt for arriving later in the day so you don’t have to stay awake for too long before it is bedtime. No matter how much sleep you’re able to get on the plane, it’s never really enough to feel completely refreshed and rejuvenated for an entire day.

Stay Awake Until Bedtime

If you do have to arrive early in the day, don’t fall asleep! The exception to this rule is if you arrive at the ungodly hour of 4:00 in the morning, as we did when we traveled to Georgia (the country). Then you can get a few hours of sleep before you start your day, but start your day you must. At any other time of arrival, avoid the nap and get out there and start your vacation. It will feel brutal, but doing so is sure to cut your jet lag time down from multiple days to just one or two.

Adjust to Your New Time Zone as Quickly as Possible

Adjust Watch Time Tips for Jet Lag Prevention for International Travelers

Adjust your watch to your destination's local time. (Jord Swiss Luxury Wood Watch Frankie)

Sometimes jet lag prevention is about mind over matter. As soon as you get on the plane, adjust your watch to the local time of your destination. Once you’ve arrived, don’t think about what time it is back home, as that will make you feel exhausted immediately. If your spouse starts telling you what time it is back home because he just can’t help himself, give him a dirty look.

Drink in the Sunlight

Being in the sunlight is one of the best things to help your body adjust to your new time zone. On your first couple days, try to spend as much time walking around outside as possible so the natural light will reset your body’s time clock. Plus walking around a new city is a great way to gain your bearings and get acquainted with your destination.

Eat Breakfast While Traveling

We don’t usually eat breakfast at home, especially during the workweek. However, we have found that eating breakfast while traveling does us wonders. For one thing, it gives us something we do every day for a little bit of schedule and structure. It also provides us with lots of energy for the day, which is especially useful when fighting the effects of jet lag.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, it costs you nothing extra and we earn a small commission which goes towards bringing you more travel stories. Thank you to 1Above for providing us with samples of their jet lag prevention product so we could test it out ourselves. Also thank you to Jord for providing us with one of their unique wood watches. As always, all opinions are our own.

Travel the World: 10 tips for jet lag prevention when traveling internationally.

Unique Watches

Packing Tips and Travel Style: PACK Gear

There are lots of different travel packing styles. Some travelers roll their clothes. Some use packing cubes. Some fold their clothes in an intricate overlapping fashion which could rival origami. Some just throw everything into a suitcase and sit on it until it zips shut. We recently tried out a new style of organized packing with PACK Gear to see what kind of difference it could make in our travel packing style.

We can’t tell you one style is right and one style is wrong. We all have to do what is best for ourselves. For instance, I’ve used packing cubes for years and I swear by them. Yet, while we can’t tell you a packing style is right or wrong, I can tell you that Romeo’s packing style is way wrong!!! Mostly because it involves his clothing exploding out of his suitcase to cover the bed, the chair, the desk, and any other previously empty surface. I like our hotel room to be neat and tidy and relaxing, so his exploding suitcase results in my exploding head.

Save 15% off your PACK Gear by using the discount code Travel15!

When PACK Gear approached us to test and review their packing product, I turned them down at first. It looked like a great product, but the website said it was for backpackers, which we are not. When they explained they weren’t only marketing their product to backpackers and that PACK Gear is very popular with flight attendants, I said we were happy to try it out. I already had plans for PACK Gear.

PACK Gear is a one piece packing solution. When it comes out of the package, it is small and as light as a t-shirt. But when you open it up, you find that it can hold as much, or even more, than six medium packing cubes. It is designed to fit into a 30L backpack, which means it also fits well in a carry-on size bag or fills part of a larger suitcase.

The point of PACK Gear is that you can pack your clothes in PACK Gear’s compartments, put it in your suitcase (or backpack) and then unpack in seconds by either putting the whole thing in a drawer or hanging it up in the closet using the built-in hooks.

I wasn’t ready to give up my packing cubes, but I was hoping PACK Gear would be the perfect solution to the exploding suitcase situation. All of my hopes were pinned on the ease of filling one single item. My previous attempts of offering packing cubes to Romeo hadn’t worked out for me.

Rome first tested out his new PACK Gear for a weekend trip to Bishop, California. He actually forgot about the PACK Gear and had already packed his suitcase before I reminded him. He pulled out his clothes, rolled them, and stuffed them into the PACK Gear. It was filled within a minute. It hurt a little as I watched boxers go next to sweaters that went next to socks that were next to t-shirts, but I tried not to let the disorganization bother me. After all, it wasn’t my suitcase. It was actually good that he had forgotten, because after he filled the PACK Gear and put it in his suitcase, he had an area of empty space that hadn’t been there before, enough room for his dopp kit which wouldn’t have fit previously.

The miracle of PACK Gear continued when we got to the hotel. The drawers in the room were far too shallow to hold the PACK Gear. They were too shallow for my packing cubes as well. It was just as well because Romeo was quite content to pull the PACK Gear out of his suitcase and hang it from the rod in the closet, above his suitcase which he left open on the luggage rack.

During the trip, Romeo pulled out what he needed from the PACK Gear. Sometimes items would be returned into it, other times they would wind up thrown in his suitcase. The good news is his items were contained to a much smaller area thanks to PACK Gear, and I was able to have clutter free surfaces. When it was time to pack to go home, repacking was as quick and painless as packing.

We were pretty amazed by how much the PACK Gear holds. If you’re a traveling couple, then perhaps you’ve noticed how much more room men’s clothes take than women’s clothes, so it was pretty astonishing to see how much Romeo was able to fit into the packing organizer.

We’ve decided PACK Gear is a great packing organizer both for the organized traveler and for the person who simply wants to protect their wife’s sanity. It takes up minimal room when not in use, it fits A LOT of stuff, and whether you are hyper-organized or not so much, it keeps everything in one place with very easy access.

Thank you to PACK Gear for providing their packing organizer for our test and review and making this post possible. As always, all opinions are our own.

Don't forget, you can save 15% off your PACK Gear by using the discount code Travel15!

Winter Travel Packing List: What to Pack for Outdoor Activities

Jukkasjärvi Church Winter Travel Packing List

The thing about travel is it’s constantly taking you out of your comfort zone. Which is awesome. But it also means that sometimes you have no idea how to best prepare for a situation. For us, that moment came when we were preparing for our trip to Swedish Lapland. We live in San Diego, home of some of the most beautiful and temperate weather in the United States. What did we know about winter travel to the Arctic Circle? Not much. We were not only planning travel to freezing temperatures, but we were also planning to spend much of our time outside enjoying winter outdoor activities. What to wear? It was important to get it right so we weren’t miserable. We put together a winter travel packing list that served us well for enjoying our winter outdoor activities.

Icelandic Horseback Riding Winter Travel Packing List

The year before we went to Sweden, we took our first winter trip to Madison, Wisconsin. Because of that trip, we had a little bit of knowledge about packing for winter travel, so some of our winter travel packing list was the same. But traveling above the Arctic Circle to experience Swedish Lapland’s winter outdoor activities is a little more extreme.

The key to packing for winter travel is to pack lots of layers and as little cotton as possible. Layers are important because they provide insulation and ventilation and allow you to quickly adjust to changes in temperature and activity level by adding or removing layers. Avoiding cotton is important because cotton retains moisture and will create a chilling effect.

Reindeer Sledding Winter Travel Packing List

The first layer is the base layer, which goes against your skin. The base layer manages moisture by moving perspiration away from your body to the outdoor layers, allowing it to evaporate. Do not use cotton thermals for your base layer. Your base layer should be made out of wool or synthetic fabrics like polyester. We wore Under Armour, which is made of synthetic fabric, and a popular wool brand is SmartWool.

The middle layer provides insulation by retaining heat and trapping warm air close to your body. The middle layer should be made with wool, down, or fleece. For our tops we chose fleece, which is lightweight, breathable, and can still insulate when wet. Fleece comes in different weights depending on the weather and your needs.

For our bottoms, jeans weren’t going to cut it. I actually wore jeans one day in Kiruna, thinking it would be okay since we were just walking around and would be inside most of the time. That was a mistake and my legs were cold and slightly numb. The best purchase we made for our winter travel was of Craghoppers' lined winter pants, made with polyester and cotton and lined with fleece.

The shell or outer layer protects you from the elements like wind, rain, and snow. A good down jacket is the perfect outer layer for when you’re walking around outside in the cold and snow. Down is lightweight and can pack very small when using space saver vacuum seal bags. It also traps in warmth.

For winter outdoor activities like snowmobiling and dog sledding you’ll need more. The best item of winter clothing for winter outdoor activities is a full-body snowsuit. Luckily this isn’t something we had to pack. During our stay at the ICEHOTEL we were provided with a snowsuit which we were able to use for our entire stay. Also, every tour company provided snowsuits for guest use.

It’s also important to keep your head, hands and feet warm. Wool socks are essential, and if one pair is good, two pairs are better. We suggest wearing thin socks with very little cotton underneath your wool socks, which help wick away moisture and protect from the wool itch. Again, make sure not to wear mostly cotton socks. My favorite winter boots are my lined Ugg boots, but another good option is Sorel boots. The ICEHOTEL and tour operators provided boots, but I preferred using my own. Make sure your boots are big enough to fit your extra thick socks.

Protect your hands with really good gloves or mittens. It’s important for your gloves to be waterproof as you will most likely be touching snow multiple times. It is suggested to wear mittens because the insulation works better when all your fingers are together in the same opening. However, I really couldn’t get the hang of wearing mittens so I stuck with my gloves. Again, the ICEHOTEL and our tour operators provided leather mittens.

To keep your head warm, pack a good knit hat. My Under Armour hat worked spectacularly because it had an inner layer which trapped heat in. Also pack a wool scarf to cover your face, especially when joining in fast moving outdoor winter activities. You may even want to invest in a balaclava, especially for snowmobiling.

If you use this winter travel packing list for your next outdoor winter adventure, you’ll have a successful winter trip and be warm and toasty while outside playing in freezing temperatures.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of the links it costs you nothing extra and we earn a small commission which goes towards our travels and helps us bring you more stories. Thank you!

Travel the World: Winter travel packing list for a vacation filled with winter outdoor activities.

Travel Tip: Offsite Airport Parking

San Diego Airport Mural Offsite Airport Parking

Our home airport, San Diego (SAN).

Three things most of us dread being asked by friends and family are to borrow money, help move, and drop off and pick up at the airport. We can’t help you get out of all three of those dreaded requests, but we can help with one of them. The next time you need to get to the airport, instead of asking your loved ones to wake up before the crack of dawn to get you to the airport in time for your 6:00 a.m. flight, consider reserving an offsite airport parking spot through Global Airport Parking.

Parking at on-site airport parking can get pretty pricey, but most airports have nearby offsite airport parking for significantly less money. These parking lots are usually very close to the airport and offer complimentary shuttle service between the parking lot and the airport. Depending on which airport you fly out from, airport parking can be around $20 a day, but parking at one of Global Airport Parking’s offsite locations can be as little as $3 to $4 a day. Those savings can add up pretty quickly (you can save even more by using the discount code provided at the end of this article).

Our airport shuttle awaits.

Sometimes it can be frustrating trying to find airport parking at different airports. We don’t only fly out of the San Diego airport. We also occasionally fly out of LAX and Santa Ana and, when we do, we have to find parking for our car. Global Airport Parking not only offers affordable and convenient airport parking, they also work with hotels and parking lots near airports throughout the United States and Canada, so their website can be your one-stop shop for reserving offsite airport parking.

We recently reserved offsite airport parking with Global Airport Parking for a long weekend trip from San Diego to Virginia. Parking can be reserved either on Global Airport Parking’s website or by calling customer support at (954) 828-0242. We arrived at the gated parking lot, parked our car, and immediately boarded the shuttle that was waiting. During the short drive to our terminal, we learned from the shuttle driver that you can figure out how long a yellow light will last based on the speed limit. Yellow lights stay yellow one second for every 10 miles per hour of the speed limit. Our drive was educational too!

All packed up and ready to go.

The parking attendant had given us a business card when we arrived at the parking lot, but our shuttle bus driver also checked with us to make sure we had a business card with the phone number. When he dropped us off at the airport, he told us all we needed to do was call that number as soon as we had our luggage and then meet the shuttle at the same place we were dropped off. When we returned from our trip, we did just as we were instructed and the shuttle pulled up about one minute after we arrived at the pickup spot. After the short ride back to the parking lot, we hopped into our car and drove home.

The next time you travel, consider reserving offsite airport parking. Your friends and family will thank you.

When booking offsite airport parking with Global Airport Parking, Travel the World readers can save $3.00 by applying the discount code justtravel15.

Thank you to Global Airport Parking for hosting our parking and making this post possible. As always, all opinions are my own.

Vacation For Life

Labels

Breaking News