Hurricane Sandy is in full swing, possibly delaying flights and making travel more difficult. While you may have to deal with some unpleasant travel setbacks, there are a number of websites and apps, in addition to smart advice, that can help make your journey as smooth as possible. (It might be wise to keep these in mind for holiday travel, too.)
Mashable reached out to some travel experts for tips about how you can protect yourself from losing money and avoiding figurative bumps in the road when you're traveling.
George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, says Trip Advisor site Tingo lets you book refundable hotel rooms. If the room rate drops, Tingo will automatically rebook the room and refund your credit card. And the further out you book, the better odds of getting a room rate drop.
You should download the app of the airline you're flying on, which you can use to access your ticket for check-in. The app will also usually have up-to-the-minute flight information. If you have iOS 5 you have access to Passbook, which holds your ticket information and alerts you if your departure gate's been changed. Follow the airline on Twitter, too. And before you leave, store these phone numbers on your smartphone: your hotel, your airline and your doctor.
Marybeth Bond, founder of the blog The Gutsy Traveler and National Geographic author, tells Mashable that sometimes delays can't be avoided, but there are some things you can do to make the experience less stressful.
When many flights are delayed at major travel hubs, it can be nearly impossible to find a nearby hotel room, so it's wise to book an airport hotel immediately. Use your laptop as well as call the hotel to find the best price. Rooms will fill-up quickly and you don't want to be stuck sleeping the airport. There are usually no refunds, so think of this as insurance in case you do experience a long delay.
HotelTonight is a great app for finding last minute deals with rooms that aren't always online, or if they are, the app often has much lower prices than you'll find online. You can book the rooms up until 2 a.m.
"If your flight is cancelled or delayed, you should call the airline directly," Bond said. "Or go to where they sell tickets — where you check in — and explain your problem. They'll know about flights you don't, like, a flight that's been delayed (and is about to depart). Or pay your $50 and go into the lounge area," and speak to a live person. Bond said she's personally been rescued by lounge attendants who were able to find alternative flights that she couldn't see online when her other flight was cancelled.
If you end up getting stuck and are in a drivable distance to your final destination, use Kayak's app to compare prices of rental cars. You can chose the pick-up and drop-off locations and type of vehicle. The app's available on Android and iOS.
In case of a delay, don't forget to carry a few items that'll make it more tolerable. Pack your computer and cellphone chargers, an extra shirt, a toothbrush, some hearty snacks and water. If lines are really long at the airport, or worse — you get stuck on the tarmac for hours, the crew usually doesn't serve snacks or water, so go prepared. The Packing Pro app for iPhone will help you remember what to bring before you leave on your trip.
If you must get in or out of a certain area, watch the surrounding airports for tickets. Bond suggests you purchase a fully-refundable ticket departing a day or two after your intended departure time in case your flight is cancelled.
Taking a cruise? Cruise ships won't come into shore if there's a storm, so the voyage may be delayed. But don't worry, it won't be cancelled, Bond said. The ships are already fully stocked and ready for customers. "But if you start the cruise and the storm's still bad, they might skip one or two ports," she added. Most cruise ships have apps as well as Twitter accounts, which you should follow to stay current on the latest information.
Is the Frankenstorm preventing you from traveling this weekend? Tell us in the comments.
Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Tromat
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