A record-breaking 112 million Americans are expected to take to the skies, roads, and rails this holiday season. Add in unpredictable winter weather, bags plus children and things can get pretty dicey.
It would be great if we could all afford a valet, private cars, and jets; but most people’s travel experiences involve the hassle of crying babies, arguments, and long lines.
Thanks to new technology, hassle-free travel does not have to be just for the rich and famous. That’s exactly what Maureen Adler discovered when she went on a golf outing with her girlfriends.
"I found LugLess to be the way to go, you know just from the hassle standpoint and the cost standpoint," Adler said.
Instead of lugging luggage, the clubs, and everything else to airport, they used the service LugLess, which got everything there before they arrived and shipped it all home when they were done.
"All I had to do was jump in a car and get dropped off at the airport without having to worry about...last second packing,” Adler explained.
The company says it will ship just about anything, including holiday gifts, strollers, car seats, and even breast milk. It's all at or below the cost of checking a bag.
"We are trying to take something that was once a luxury service for first class premium travelers and make it available to everyone,” President of LugLess Aaron Kirley told us.
The service is not just for air travelers: If you are going over the river and through the woods for the holidays, shipping ahead may still be a good idea.
So is preparing to get stranded in a terminal with all the inevitable delays due to weather woes. But even if you’re not a first class flier, you don’t need to camp out in a cramped airport chair. An app called "LoungeBuddy" will help you get into one of the airport member-lounges for a small fee, usually less than $50.
Finally, once you get to your destination—no matter how early, late, or busy it is—you don’t have to worry about waiting for a ride: Uber let’s you pre-book your pickup a month in advance, so no need to book an expensive limo.
"When there are a lot of people arriving at a particular hotel, it would be nice to have all of that lined up ahead of time," Adler said.
And if you do pre-schedule and they’re late, you’ll get a $10 credit for your next ride. Lyft offers a similar service, but only allows you to schedule a week out.