Avoiding holiday travel headaches

TORONTO, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - Whether flying to a sunny southern destination or driving out of town to visit family, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) wants you to have a stress-free holiday vacation. And being prepared is the best way to avoid any kind of holiday headache.

"Stricter travel regulations for out of country adventures, winter weather and overall increased levels of stress this time of year need to be considered and planned for if you and your family are taking any type of vacation," said Meg Murgatroyd, director of product development with CAA travel.

"We want all holiday travellers, including our members, to be safe and enjoy their vacations, and the best way to do that is to let a travel expert, like ours at CAA, help them plan for every possible scenario," continued Murgatroyd.

CAA SCO recommends these tips for winter holiday travel:

When traveling by air:

• Pack light to avoid extra luggage fees
• Pack fragile gifts — unwrapped and liquid free — in your carry on
• Ensure your passport is valid
• Stay in the know with CAAs eTravel advisories
• Secure appropriate family travel and medical insurance

When traveling by car:

• Ensure you have a clearly planned route with alternative roads
• Check all fluids and tire pressure on your car
• Plan in-car activities like cards, DVDs or music to occupy kids
• Pack an emergency roadside kit including a fully charged cell phone

Popular CAA holiday travel destinations for sun seekers include the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico.

To learn more about travel regulations, CAA travel services or to book your next vacation through one of our travel experts, visit www.caasco.com/travel.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel, automotive care and roadside services. There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and 5 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance. Visit www.caasco.com.

For further information:

Media contact: JeffLeMoine, Internal/External PR Specialist, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]