It is finally here, the summer travel season. School is out and after saving up all year for this, it is time to make plans for your favorite destination. Hotel, airfare, and your E-Z Rent-A-Car reservations all made and you are ready to go, but wait, are you really ready. Recently around the country and even the world, extreme weather has been affecting everyone with tornados, floods, and unseasonable weather. They did have 30 inches of snow in NY and VT over Memorial Day weekend.
A little extra preparation may keep your vacation from getting disrupted. Here are some tips for the summer travel season.
- Emergency Contacts. Have a written copy of all your reservation numbers, family and friend’s phone and email addresses, and travel documents. When your phone battery has run out and you need to use a landline, you will need this information.
- Prepare for your destination. When packing for a trip check the 10 day forecast for your destination. Plan for that forecast with the proper clothing. If room in your luggage allows, you may want to pack a backup emergency bag of clothing in a large ziplock bag. Include a disposable rain poncho and 2 days of any medications.
- Use Phone Applications. There are many apps that can help when traveling. The Weather Channel app works with your location. Radar Scope comes in handy when at the beach or theme park. Gives you a heads up on storm paths.
- Check with destination accommodations. If your plans take you to a coastal region between June 1 and November 30th, you may want to consider tropical storms or Hurricanes. Check to see if you can remain or will you need to evacuate. What are the evacuation plans and when are they executed. Contact your rental car office for instructions on what to do with the car.
- Personal Supply Kit. Put together a kit with a small led flashlight, hand sanitizer, soap and some packs of crackers or granola bars. If your hotel has no power, it could mean no food. Add some basic first aid supplies as well.
- Electronics and mobile phones. A power outage can really be an inconvenience for recharging these devices. Take along you wall charger as well as your car charger. Not knowing when you will have a chance to charge, take all options with you. Other options are portable power chargers. These can be charged by USB and can recharge a phone 1-2 times. Keep a ziplock bag with you at all times. It can provide an instant waterproof location for phones, wallets and passports.
With all the planning for your trip, Mother Nature sometimes has different plans. You may want to consider travel insurance for non-refundable reservations. A few minutes of research could save your vacation plans.
Where ever you go consider using E-Z Rent-A-Car for your rental car needs.
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