Travel Add-ons To Make The Journey Easier

Whilst travelling is an exciting time, there can be some factors along the way that make it a little more stressful or increase waiting times, for example. Before we can even think about our destination, we have to pass through security, the boarding process, and how we are actually getting to our accommodation at the other end.

There are some holiday extras and add-ons available, however, that can help to make the journey more seamless and reduce any stress or worry that these factors may induce. These add-ons can be especially beneficial if it is our first time travelling or if we do not travel regularly to be completely comfortable with all areas of the airport and travel.

In this post, I will go through some of the extras you can add on to your trip to help make the journey more comfortable and laid back. These are not a necessity, but can be a nice additional bonus for your trip, especially if you are going abroad for a special occasion and want to make the journey feel extra special!

Airport Lounges:

These can be a great option for those looking to sit back and just relax before the flight is ready for boarding. Every lounge is quite unique and different in terms of what they offer, and it is a good idea to check (or get your independent travel agent to research) exactly what you can get for each lounge, but some typical features include:

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• All-you-can-eat buffet style options

• Free WiFi

• Charging areas for devices

• Areas to sit back and relax

• Desks for working/studying/etc

• Entertainment such as TVs and magazines

• Some lounges offer features such as games rooms, kids play areas, and meeting rooms

Booking an airport lounge can help make the experience of flying both more comfortable and special. Also, it can help with budget planning too! Once you've paid for your lounge, you know exactly what services will be available and don't have to spend extra once you are there, in most circumstances.

Lounges with areas that entertain the kids can be a great option too as it helps to keep the little ones distracted and busy whilst the family waits for the flight to be called for boarding.

The other great thing about lounges is that they are suitable for basically anyone. Whether you are travelling solo, with a friend/partner, or your family, airport lounges have something for everyone. One thing to be aware of, however, is your group size. When you are booking, or booking through a travel agent, you will be made aware of any group booking size limits. This is usually between the 7-10 people mark, and will vary by airport and airport lounge. Also, some lounges have restrictions on stag and hen parties.

One final thing to note here is that airport lounges may have a dress code. This is not normally anything too extreme, but is usually labelled as smart-casual, and there may be some additional rules about offensive/specific slogans on clothing.

Overall, though, airport lounges are a great way to sit back, relax, and be able to enjoy your travels even more. They are available at most airports now too.

Airport Parking / Meet & Greet:

The way we get to the airport differs for each and every one of us. Some of us may have family who can drop us off, others may pre-book a taxi or bus service, and some others will choose to drive to the airport.

Taking your own car or vehicle to the airport can have a number of benefits, including:

• Having the comfort of your own car as you travel

• Storing items in the car which you need for the journey to the airport but do not want to take on holiday with you

• Only paying for petrol rather than the taxi fare on top of this, which can be pretty costly at the moment

• No waiting for taxis/buses and stressing if they'll even turn up on time or at all!

• Choosing your own music and having control of the radio stations for the journey!

However, that car needs to stay somewhere whilst you go jetting off on holiday. So, if using your own vehicle to get to the airport sound easier for you, you need to think about your airport parking. This can also be called meet & greet if the company you book through meets you at the parking spaces to check you in and take your keys to look after whilst you are away.

Another reason airport parking can be a great idea is specifically related to the journey home. Once you land back home (my personal worst part of any holiday!!), the last thing you usually want to be doing is waiting around for a taxi or trying to figure out which level your taxi is waiting on compared to the level you are currently on etc etc. This is especially true if you have a super early or late flight, and feel absolutely exhausted upon arriving home due to missing out on some sleep.

By booking airport parking, you know exactly where your car is parked and how to get there. This means you also do not have to worry about any running pick up fees either thrown in by the taxi companies or the airport themselves. Travelling back home in your car also has the same benefits as travelling to the airport in your car, and you could even keep some nice cosy blankets stored in the car whilst you are on holiday so you can use them for a nice sleep on the way home... as long as you aren't the one driving!

Fast Track Security:

Fast track security can help to reduce waiting times and stress too. This is especially the case if you are travelling during school breaks or heights of seasons, such as summer and Christmas time.

Fast track security differs by airport, but essentially, there is usually a separate lane once you reach the security area labelled as fast track (or something similar). It is usually your boarding pass which has fast track embedded into it, so you simply show (or scan) this at the entrance to fast track security and head right on in.

Fast track doesn't differ majorly compared to normal in terms of what happens once you are in there, but the whole process of getting through security is definitely made quicker and easier. This can be a great option for families who do not want to spend ages trying to entertain kids whilst in a long queue for security. It can also be great for solo travellers who want to just breeze on through and keep to themselves as much as possible!

Fast track security isn't just an option for when you are flying out, you can also get fast track at a huge range of airports across the world so you can benefit from it on the way home too. The speed and efficiency of the service may differ by country but generally, it makes the whole security process less stressful and more seamless.

Airport Hotels:

These are a great option for those flying out super early in the morning, or even just for those who want to make that holiday experience last a little longer.

Airports hotels are usually located just a few minutes, if that, from the airport you are flying from. Some of them are within easy walking distance, whereas others have their own shuttle service which regularly runs to take you to the airport.

Like I mentioned, these are great for early morning flyers, and this is even more true if you live a fair distance from your nearest airport. It can mean you get a little extra sleep the day before you fly which can be really helpful as flying can often be an exhausting journey for many of us. It can also help reduce the complexity of the journey on the day of travelling if you are breaking it up by travelling to the hotel, getting some food and rest, and then going on to the whole airport and flying experience.

Some things to be aware of when booking airport hotels are:

• How far away is it from the airport?

• How do you get to the airport from the hotel? (walk, shuttle bus service, taxi required?)

• Which terminal are you flying from? Many airports have multiple terminals, and these can be located pretty far from each other so make sure your airport is near the correct terminal

• Are there any relevant check in/check out times you need to be aware of? Do these match up with your travel plans?

• Do you need parking at your hotel and is this offered where you are staying?

As an independent travel agent, I would always be happy to go through and check all these details for you so you don't have to worry and can enjoy the holiday process even more!

Speedy Boarding:

This can usually bring about some mixed opinions amongst travellers. Some people may stand in the speedy boarding queue, happy to get on the plane first, whereas others may wonder what the point of speedy boarding is in the first place if we all end up on the same plane. I'm okay with either option when I'm travelling, though if I'm not speedy boarding, I usually do like to get in the other queue as quick as possible. I'd always rather be on the plane than waiting in the airport, it makes me feel one step closer to my destination!

Whatever your opinion is on speedy boarding, it can be hugely beneficial in some circumstances. Some cases speedy boarding may be helpful is if:

• You are travelling as a family with kids who don't want to be waiting in queues

• You like to get on the plane first to avoid having to squeeze past everyone placing their luggage in overhead lockers

• You would rather have some time to get comfortable and seated on the plane rather than feeling rushed to sit down

• You, like me, want to feel that extra step closer to your destination by being on the plane rather than stood around in the airport.

Some airlines throw in speedy boarding for free when you buy a certain add on. One example of this is Ryanair. If you upgrade your hand luggage to the larger side which can go in the overhead locker, you also get speedy boarding thrown in for free.

Overall, it can be a great option for those who want to beat the queues or get on the plane quicker.

Car hire:

We all have a different way of enjoying our holidays. Maybe we prefer to find a sun bed, open a book, and just sit and relax. However, driving around, seeing the sites and having a good explore may suit some of us more.

In this case, we might choose to hire a car. It means we don't have to chase around taxis and we can have a bit more freedom about where we are going. You might choose to just book this car hire once you arrive somewhere.

Alternatively, booking ahead can help secure that booking and guarantee things such as availability and you qualifying to hire the car in the first place. As an independent travel agent, this is another thing I can help arrange for you.

Always make sure you are aware of the rules of the destination you are travelling to. We've all seen those videos and films of people driving on the wrong side of the road! So, to avoid being that person, it's best practice to read about these types of rules, as well as any other useful information about car hire and driving in the country you are visiting.

Car hire is a great option for those holidays where you want to explore more, have more freedom, and take in more of the country you are visiting.

Transfers:

This refers to the journey to your accommodation from the airport, and back again when you are flying home.

There are different ways of organising this journey. You may want to book ahead or you may just rock up after your flight has landed and head to the taxi rank, or book an Uber as you head out of the airport.

Booking your transfer ahead of time is just another thing less to think about when you land and can help assure that there will be someone available to take you to your accommodation. Most companies now do a meet & greet service along with their transfer booking whereby they meet you with your name on a board to help find them easier.

Your transfer confirmation will contain important information about where to find your driver, important numbers to call in case of a delay/emergency/cancellation/not being able to find the driver etc, and the exact times and locations relating to your booking.

Some companies may also use Uber. You book through the company, and then once you land, you will receive information about your Uber driver and their vehicle. Once again though, all information will be provided with your confirmation.

With transfers, you can usually choose between a shuttle bus which does drop-offs at multiple hotels, and is usually the less costly option, or you can pay a little bit more (how much depends on the company and number of passengers) to get a private transfer and get taken straight to your hotel.

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These are some of the options that can be booked to help make travelling more comfortable and stress-free. Booking them ahead of time can make the journey even better as you can guarantee things such as availability, quality of service, and cost.

Thank you so much for reading. As an independent travel agent, I can help you find and book your perfect holiday, along with these extras should you wish to have them. Most of these extras can be booked on their own too, so you can book them after your main trip or flight has been purchased.

Check out the rest of my website to learn more, or contact me at ellie.burnett@outlook.com!