Unpacking Tavel: 20 TIPS to Handle the Busy Travel Season
- Deborah Guthrie
- Mar 24
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 9
The travel industry predicts a record number of travelers in 2025. Nearly two in five (39%) travelers plan to take more vacations this year than last year. 19 million people will be cruising this year with the most popular destination being the Caribbean. 54% of travelers will be traveling domestically.
The top Spring Break destinations for US travelers are in warm weather locations almost anywhere in Florida, the US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, Mexico, and California. If you read any article from trade associations and the travel and tourism industry, you will read that every source predicts a record travel year and significantly higher number of Spring Breakers. This article Unpacks Travel with 20 Tips to Handle the Busy Travel Season.
Before we unpack our tips for handling the busy travel season, we need to understand how the increased numbers of travelers impacts our travels so we can Travel Wiser.
According to AAA Travel - nearly two in five (39%) travelers plan to take more vacations this year than last year. The most popular type of vacations this year are:
Beach Destination - 44%
Road Trip - 41%
Theme Park - 26%
National/State Park - 23%
City/Major Metro Destination - 22%
I'm guilty of having each of these popular types of vacations on my bucket list this year with most of these already completed within the first 3 months. My travels:
Beach Destination - Fort Myers and Tampa with Caribbean Cruise coming up
Road Trip - Georgia and North Carolina with M22 and Montana coming up
Theme Park - Not on my list this year but check out my many blogs on Disney.
National/State Park - Tom's Thumb with Manistee National Forest, Pictured Rocks, and one National Park coming up
City/Major Metro - Rome, Boston, with NY and Detroit coming up
AAA also states that 19 million people will be cruising this year with the most popular destination being the Caribbean. 54% of travelers will be traveling domestically.
Since my semi-retirement in November 2024, and deciding not to reenter the 9-5 daily workforce, my work life has gone to remote digital and my vacations have ramped up from quick weekend getaways to longer road trips, international travel, and US long excursion getaways.
My base location is in Michigan and as the weather begins to thaw and we gather more warmth, hiking trails and visiting destinations within my own state will increase as well. For now, as my husband and I are not winter sports enthusiasts, we've practically been living out of a suitcase going to warm and off-season destinations, contributing to AARP's survey of older adults who expect to travel by plane this year.
In 2025, 46 percent of respondents (Adults over 50) say they’re planning a plane trip, compared to 38 percent in 2024. Car trips are expected to dip from 49 percent in 2024 to 43 percent this year. - AARP
Across all age groups, the number of domestic travelers is expected to increase.
According to the US Travel Association - domestic leisure travel is forecast to increase by 3.9% and reach more than $1 trillion in 2025, equaling 2019 levels (inflation-adjusted). Air travel volumes are expected to continue growing into 2026 and beyond.
What does all this mean for Spring Breakers?
Airports will be packed and chaotic. I can tell you first hand that the airports have been absolutely nuts this month in March and will continue to be nuts through April. As Spring Breakers head for warmer weather, the airports are jammed with larger suitcases for those week long trips and bulkier bags like golf bags. In addition, if you have not traveled in awhile, airports are having passengers go to baggage kiosks to print their bag tags, and then have them go in line to a baggage drop off area; formerly the combined check-in/drop off line.
As this is a newish way of checking your bags at airports, it does add confusion and congestion as travelers 'line up' at kiosks installed as after thoughts at airports, only to cross paths with other travelers seeking their check in counter so they can drop off their bags or simply to check-in. Of course checking-in online is the best method as long as you are capable. For those who are not, and do not have a phone, good luck. You'll need to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance to figure out the correct lines to get in and where to go.
I've witnessed whole new systems, measures, and pre-check pop ups at major international airports like Rome, Atlanta, Paris, and Detroit. In Detroit, they also brought back curbside check-in to drop off your bags so you don't even have to carry them into the airport. This is great until the secret is out and the two areas for curbside check-in become overwhelmed. In Atlanta, they reconfigured their check-in area with mostly bag kiosks and an attendant redirecting anyone with a bag attempting to go to a check-in counter to go to the bag kiosk first.
In addition, airports have been introducing new scanners at security gates since 2023. With that comes training and learning a whole new system. My last flight had me in a pre-check line in Minneapolis with a new TSA Agent they were training on the scanner and another new agent they were training on bag search. The rest of my family was in the regular security line, and while I had no one in my line, my family still managed to be waiting for me due to the training time. I was cool with it, we had time, and I understand it's gotta be done.
TSA projects it will screen more than 50 million travelers through security checkpoints at airports across the country. This is a 5% increase over the 2024 spring break travel period. -TSA
The airports are doing everything they can to hire additional staff, open additional lanes, reconfigure their set ups, and get people through. These measures include passengers opting in for digital ID. As this is new for most, and as REAL ID and Enhanced ID has a May 7, 2025 deadline fast approaching, checking these ID's and what to do if a passenger doesn't have it, will add to what I've seen as chaos in at the check-in counters. I'm not blaming anyone for it. I'm simply stating that I've noticed an increase in passenger confusion and airport staff trying to get passengers through as quickly as possible.
If you are traveling during the busy season, here are 20 tips for Unpacking Spring Break and How to Handle the Busy Travel Season:
Pack Lighter. Get your items into one carry-on and one backpack. Overpacking not only is hard to travel with but the heavier the bag, the harder to put in the overhead bin. If it's too heavy and does not meet the weight requirements, it will need to be checked. If you're checked bag exceeds the weight limits, you will pay extra not only to check the bag but for the additional weight.
Pack Only What You Need. Leave the hairdryer, shampoo, bulky brush, & multiple types of the same item at home. Check out my packing lists
Rent Items Instead of Packing. Think snorkel gear, clubs, skates, bulky camping gear
Know the TSA Liquid Rules for Packing Checked Bags. Not everything is allowed on the plane and for some items allowed, there is a limit.
Follow TSA Liquid Carry-On Rules so you're not in line taking these items out and throwing them away, holding up the line and costing you money.
TSA Liquid Carry-On and Checked Bag Rules. source: TSA website - This line should be shorter than other lines although my husband and I have seen this increase significantly over the years.
- Children 17 and under can join an adult with TSA PreCheck® when TSA PreCheck® appears on the child’s boarding pass.
- TSA PreCheck® has nationwide access at over 200 airports and 90+ airlines.
- TSA PreCheck® is free through certain credit cards so you may want to check if this is part of your credit card rewards program.
Understand Clear and the difference between Clear and TSA PreCheck® . I often see people getting in the wrong line for Clear, TSA PreCheck® , and the regular security line. Check you ticket to see what it says on it. If you do not see these symbols below, you will go to the regular security line.
What to expect at security as a TSA PreCheck® Member and additional services as a Clear Member. source: TSA website Understand the difference between Digital ID and how to enroll and Touchless ID and how to enroll. This is technology that is being rolled out so fast, that TSA does not even have all of the locations where this is available. Go to the airport website or the TSA Checkpoints and Map Page to see the Digital ID TSA checkpoints available at domestic airports.
TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID is available to current TSA PreCheck® travelers at select security checkpoints and airports. Interested passengers must opt-in during flight check-in with participating airlines. TSA PreCheck® and Touchless ID participating airlines and locations:
Delta Airlines (ATL, DCA, DTW, JFK, LAX, LGA, SLC)
United Airlines (ATL, DCA, EWR, LAS, LAX, LGA, ORD, SLC)
Alaska Airlines (DCA)
You will need to participate in the program by agreeing to it on the airline's website or in the app. You can also ask to participate in the program at the airport. TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID requires:
Active airline profile with a participating airline
Current TSA PreCheck® traveler
Valid passport holder
source: TSA website
Get to Know your Airport before arriving so you know where to go. Check which terminal and gate you are arriving and departing from, where security gates are located, baggage, and ticketing.
Check-in online in advance 24 hours before your flight and avoid doing this at the airport.
Know Required Travel Documents for Minors
Know Pick Up Locations and Times for Driver(s) and where to park or consider taking alternate modes of transportation to get to the airport instead of parking at the airport.
Keep Items Secure and Safely Ready to Use
Check Out the Airport in Person in Advance. Some airports allow you to have a day pass at the airport inside the terminal. You print your day pass, go through security, and then you will be able to not only check out where ticketing and security is located, but also the terminal in advance of your day of departure. This is so helpful in getting to know the airport better and understanding where to go.
Use the Appropriate Luggage Size. Yes. Size does matter. If you want to not be that person at the airport removing items, or taking them out and wearing them, know how much your luggage can weigh, and what size your luggage can be. Sign up for my newsletters and I will send you my Luggage Size Cheat Sheet.
Sign up for Flight Updates and be aware that some airlines don't provide these. Another way of knowing your flight status is by going to flightawarelive.com and put your flight number into the search fields. This allows you to see where your plane is at and updates delays and cancelations for flights.
Don't Block Walkways and Entryways. Several times I have had people stand in front of an elevator, walkway, train, escalator, etc. trying to figure out where to go. Please step off to the side, away from the flow of traffic until you can get your bearings straight.
Find your Gate Before Visiting Shops and Restaurants or entering your membership lounge.
Consider signing up for Global Entry. This program is best for international travelers who travel internationally four or more times per year. If that's you, the sign up process is through the Office of Homeland and Security website.
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