Discount travel services

Whether you're driving down South to visit your grandparents, catching the train to meet up with a long-distance love, or flying with girlfriends to celebrate New Year's Eve at a Caribbean paradise, you're bound to encounter some challenges when traveling during the winter holidays. With more than 36 million Americans taking off during Thanksgiving and about 60 million at Christmas and the New Year, the airports, railways and roadways will be jam-packed. We asked industry experts for advice on minimizing the madness. Following are their tips on how to get through the holiday travel season without the hassle:

Avoid the Crowds

The busiest times to travel are right before and right after the holidays. Some ways to sidestep long lines, jammed roads and overcrowded terminals:

* Travel on off days (like Christmas morning) or off-peak times (early morning or late evening), suggests Lani Teshima of Travelite.org. "Airport crowds are surprisingly light on actual holiday dates," she says.

* Check the weather report if you're driving to your destination, and try to start your trip before sunrise or after sunset, when roads are less congested.

* Plan several routes to get to your destination to decrease the risk of getting caught in traffic with no other options. The Federal Highway Administration Web site, fhwa.dot.gov, offers a link to national traffic and road-closure information.

* If you're picking up someone, call the train, bus or airline to find out the actual arrival time so you won't have to wait out any delays.

* Bring your sense of humor. "If you get stuck in a crowd, being frustrated isn't going to get you to your destination any faster," says Karl Swartz, spokesperson for Expedia.com, a travel Web site. Expedia.com lists a number of calming and entertaining activities you can do in airports around the globe to pass the time. The list is adapted from Harriet Baskas's book, Stuck at the Airport: The Very Best of Services, Dining, and Unexpected Attractions for Travelers (Fireside), and includes suggestions such as stopping in a chapel at a terminal in Atlanta for peace and quiet, resting near a covered garden with benches and a fountain in Phoenix, or trying your luck at the many slot machines scattered around the airport in Las Vegas.

Swartz also recommends playing games like I Spy with your kids or taking a free shuttle tour of the airport. "If you'll be there awhile, you may as well make the most of it," she says.

Use the Internet

The following travel-based Web sites can help make the holiday season less worrisome:

AAA.com: The American Automobile Association (AAA) can serve as more than your towing and repair guru. Use its online fuel-cost calculator to figure how much you'll spend on gas during your trip. Through its sister site, AAAmaps.com, you can get directions, maps and hotel reviews and book hotel stays at members-only rates.

Astanet.com: The site offers tips from the experts at the American Society of Travel Agents. Or use it to find an agent to do the legwork for you.

Expedia.com: This travel site gives you access to hundreds of discounted flight, hotel and rental-car rates, as well as trip packages and destination suggestions.

Lastminutetravel.com: A repository for discounted last-minute travel deals, this site is a helpful resource when you're under the gun.

Priceline.com: You can name your own price for car rentals, hotel and flights. If you can afford to be a little flexible with your plans, you could walk away with a great bargain.

Seatguru.com: If you're particular about features like legroom, noise level or entertainment on a flight, this site allows you to preview "seat profiles" on certain airlines.

SideStep.com: Don't want to surf for travel deals site after site? This one-stop search engine does the legwork for you, scanning hotel, airline and rental sites, as well as third-party sites such as hotels.com, for the best deals. It then directly links you to your site of choice for purchase.

Site59.com: This last-minute discount travel site provides profiles of hundreds of destinations and attractions that are offered in its packages.

Travelite.org: Pluses include pocket-size sample lists for packing, carry-on luggage and itinerary planning that you can print out for free.

CHECK YOUR BAGS.

Although most of us don't like to do this, Swartz says, it's a smart way to ease delays. If you dread sifting through a sea of luggage at baggage claim, make yours easier to find with a special luggage tag. Two we like: alphabet tags from Transversion by Loop (below, girlshop.com) and graphic styles by Jetsetgo (jetsetgobagtag.com).

Prep Early

"You've got to give yourself way more time than normal to get organized," says Lani Teshima, editor of Travelite.org, a travel-tip Web site. Booking holiday travel well in advance, for example, secures the lowest prices for flights, hotel rooms and rental cars, which usually sell out quickly this time of year, says the American Society of Travel Agents. Some other prep steps:

* Research your destination before you go. Convention and visitors bureaus and tourism boards can provide extensive information on popular travel locations.

* Visit airline, bus, train or rental-car Web sites to figure out which mode of transportation is best for you.

* Call to confirm your travel itinerary a few days before you leave. Ask about any changes to the transportation schedule, including special announcements, delays, cancellations, service charges and additional rules or restrictions.

* Inquire about complimentary airport shuttles and transfers or taxi services to your destination if you don't plan on renting a car.

* Look into hotel suites and vacation rentals as an option if you are traveling with a large family, says Phil Carpenter, vice-president of corporate marketing for SideStep.com, a travel search engine. You might also research kids' programs and babysitting services.

* Use checklists. It's better than kicking yourself later for having forgotten to bring your video camera or your toddler's favorite sippy cup. Some other items to put on your list should include toothbrush, toothpaste and bath supplies, a list of things to do and places to see, and empty collapsible bags that you can later use to bring home holiday gifts.

* Pack so you can dress in layers and avoid carrying bulky sweaters and coats. If you must take them, make sure to check them in your luggage to lighten your carry-on load.

RELATED ARTICLE: Breeze through security.

If you're traveling by air, getting through security check-points can time-consuming. The best solution? Streamline, says Karl Swartz of Expedia.com. You wants avoid any additional security screenings that eat up precious minutes, she says. Some tips:

[] Remove your jewelry before passing through the metal detector. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends packing expansive jewelry in your carry-on luggage or, better yeti leaving it at home. Visit tsa.gov for lists of prohibited items.

[] Mail gifts in advance, or leave them unwrapped in checked luggage or your carry-on bag. The TSA vigorously screens presents during the holidays and reserves the right to open them. They'll confiscate anything that doesn't comply with their rules.

[] Be prepared to remove your shoes before walking through the metal detector. Certain types of shoes--work boots, platforms and anything made with metal--are automatically subject to additional screenings and require manual inspection. To speed things UP, wear slip-on shoes or sandals.

[] If you're carrying your laptop computer, have it out of its case and ready for examination at the checkpoint, says Laura E. Quarantiello, author of Air-Ways: The Insider 's Guide to Air Travel (Tiare Publications): You may be asked to open it and turn it on, she adds, so make sure the battery is fully charged or that you have a power cord with you.

[] Carry a list of emergency contracts and information on your person at all times, and leave a copy of your health and travel information at home with someone you trust.

Jayme S. Ganey is an editorial assistant dor ESSENCE.