Travel Planning Guide

Here at AirportsPickup.com we know how stressful traveling can be. We have many years of experience of helping take the stress out of trip. From seamless airport pickups to save you parking at the airport, to a luxury limousine service. We’re here to help. So, we thought we’d put this handy guide together to help you plan your next trip.

Where do you want to go?

If it is a leisure trip, then the first step is to work out where you want to travel to. We recommend taking into account the time of year you will be going and looking at the weather, festivals & events that will be on, religious holidays etc in that country. For example, if you go to Canada, do you want to experience their winter and skate on a canal, go skiing or snowboarding, or would you rather go in their summer and camp under the stars and swim in their famous lakes? The time of year you go can completely change your experience of a country and also the activities and places you go there.

Passport/Visa/Vaccinations

Once you have chosen your destination, and if it is abroad, before booking anything we always recommend having a look at your passport. Is it still valid, and have you got at least 6 months left on the passport? As many countries require at least 6 months until it expires.
Then you need to look at visa as some countries require you apply for these beforehand. A good visa checking website is VisaHQ to see what is required.
When you have this information, also check online and with your local medical professionals, if you require any vaccinations before traveling to another country and can you have all the necessary doses in the time before you plan to travel.

Book Travel

If all of the above is ok, then it is time to book your travel arrangements! There are various websites to use to book your flights, but have a look at Skyscanner or Kiwi among the many others.
It also helps to factor in what time your flight/train arrives. Will it be easy to get transport from the airport/train station to your hotel? If you arrive at an airport at 3 am, then public transport may not be running for instance. You
We can of course help with any rides to and from an airport in the USA with our excellent car service!

What activities?

There’s usually a wealth of information online about what you want to see and do in the location you have chosen, so search to see what is free, must do, off the beaten path, day trips from your main location etc. Make a list of what appeals and see if there is anything you need to do before visiting. Are there any activities or events that you need tickets before? For example, if you’re going to New York City and want to see a Broadway show, then you should purchase tickets in advance.
Also look in advance at places you would like to eat and drink, especially if you have any special dietary requirements that would require restaurants to accommodate you. If you want to eat at a restaurant on a certain night, then look to book that before so you know you have it confirmed
Quick tip! If it is a business trip you should see if there are any activities or events on that you can attend outside your work schedule, these are also a great way to meet people.

Book accommodation

When you are choosing your accommodation, keep in mind how important location is. A lower priced option may appear great at first, but if it’s not near where you want to be, then the cost of travelling via taxi or by other means may soon add up and negate the saving you made in the first place.
There are many accommodation sites to book with. If you’re after a hotel you could try booking.com, Agoda or Hotels.com
AirBnB is another popular option to book with, and with AirBnB you can often get a whole house or apartment, which then also means you get access to a kitchen.
How to get to the train station/airport/port from your home
Of course, you can often get a train or bus but do you want to go on there with your luggage? Do you want to deal with the hassle of driving there and airport parking? We have a range of fantastic car services that help you get to your destination before your vacation, in a safe and relaxed environment. We can also offer a limo service, so you start your trip off in style. Call us now for more information.

How to get from train station/airport to your new destination

There will be a variety of ways to get around depending on your location. If you are in a different country, you can see if Uber or Lyft operate there. If not, you can also grab a local taxi. We recommend speaking to your accommodation first to see what they think the local rate should be from the airport to your hotel, so you are not overcharged. You also run the risk of surge pricing with Uber depending on the time you land. You can always check to see what the local bus and train situation is too. However, with luggage this can be cumbersome.

How to make better use of your time if you are on a business trip

If you are on a business trip then you want to be as productive as possible and make the most of every minute. If you have to drive yourself around with a rental car, then this is valuable time that you are wasting as you are not only going “A to B” but also then trying to find parking. Just imagine doing this in a city such as New York City, it can be very time consuming and stressful. We recommend having someone drive you about when you get to your destination. This removes a lot of the stress of you finding your location each time such as your hotel or office, especially when in a new place.
This then gives you more time to prepare and work before meetings, relax before that all-important presentation and make phone calls without having to worry about being distracted by driving.
If you are in the USA then look at our limo service as this will provide you with an excellent and comfortable environment to work in. Other countries will offer similar services.

Copies of important travel docs

We recommend always having a photocopy of your passport with you in case it is ever needed. Also, with a digitally scanned copy of your passport that you should either email yourself so you can access it from any computer, or on a similar service such as Dropbox. You should then do this for any other important documents, such driving licence, flight details, visas etc.
Quick tip! Have a few spare passport photos with you. These can come in handy sometimes with immigration in certain countries for their forms.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential if anything happens to you while you are abroad, from flights being cancelled, to being injured or having a medical emergency, to your passport being lost or stolen. If you do not have any travel insurance, this can lead to expensive bills. Please ensure you are insured before travelling anywhere!

Access Money

Having access is not always easy when traveling, especially if you are abroad. We recommend carrying a mixture of local money, and at least 2 credit/debit cards. You should also inquire with banks before leaving about cards that do not charge you fees when you are abroad.
Quick tip! It is also always useful to have some US dollars with you in cash at all times, as these are widely accepted around the world.

Packing and Electronics

Packing is a lot easier if you know the weather of the destination you’ll be arriving in, so once you know the season then you can pack accordingly. If going to a colder climate, it’s always easier to pack and wear layers than take big bulky clothing. If you are checking in your luggage when flying then always have a spare change of clothes in your hand luggage just in case your luggage goes missing in transit.
Ensure all your electronic devices are charged before the flight or train journey and look to see if you can get your mobile phone unlocked before going abroad. This can help you avoid high roaming costs as if your phone is unlocked then you can put in a local sim card and use data this way.
Quick tip! If you check with your accommodation beforehand what is provided, then you know if you need to take items like towels and hairdryers.

Confirm Flights

A couple of days before flying, check in online and reserve seats and choose meals if applicable. The day of the flight, please ensure it is not delayed, by looking online, and leave plenty of time to get to the airport.
All you need to do now is have a great time and we hope you enjoy your trip!