The cold days are here again, and for those planning to travel, staying safe must be a top priority. The Better Business Bureau of Denver/Boulder (BBB) recommends taking a few extra precautions when hitting the road or airport this winter season.
• Prepare a budget: Planning is important. Make a little room in your budget by allowing for unexpected occurrences and emergencies.
• Avoid unnecessary costs: Don’t find yourself trapped by additional charges or fees. For example, avoid hotel room phones, which often carry hefty surcharges. When you are on the road, travel with a cooler and purchase snacks ahead of time.
• Create a car safety kit: Holiday driving often includes the threat of dangerous winter weather. Snow and ice can lead to accidents, car troubles, long delays, and road closures. You can be ready for bad weather by creating your own safety kit. Basics for the kit include a blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, radio, first aid kit, jumper cables, non-perishable foods like granola bars and nuts, bottled water, an ice scraper, and warm gloves.
• Get a tune-up: If your car is due for a tune-up, take it in before making that long haul. At the very least, check the car’s fluid levels, wipers and tire pressure. Check the condition of your tires and, if you plan on driving through serious winter weather, consider getting snow tires.
• Make sure you are organized: Plane travel can get overwhelming, especially when traveling with the family. Make sure you have all the necessary documents including plane tickets, identification, and itineraries. Having everything easily accessible makes check-in much easier.
• Look into the requirements of your airline: Different airlines have different ways of handling luggage, and many charge extra to check a bag. Look ahead so you don’t get stuck with extra, unwanted fees. Also, airport security has strict rules about carrying liquid in carry-on bags. Check in advance to avoid problems through security check points.
• Plan ahead for airport parking: Before heading to the airport make sure to look into parking rates at the airport garage. If you are traveling for an extended time, it may be more cost effective to find alternative transportation to the airport. Some taxi companies’ offer fixed rates to and from the airport. There are also shuttles that offer daily schedules for airport drop off.
• Take BBB with you: When you are away from home or in the midst of an emergency, it’s hard to know which businesses – such as tow trucks and locksmiths – you can trust. You can easily find businesses you can trust when you’re on the go by visiting bbb.org.
For the latest fraud alerts, consumer news, and free BBB Business Reviews, visit bbb.org.