How to Save Time While Traveling

Everyone wishes to make the most of their vacation time. It’s one of the main reasons travelers turn to professionals: Travel advisors can streamline your vacation, so you spend less time waiting and more time enjoying. Here are a few of our favorite ways that you can save valuable time on your next getaway.

Subscribe to a Pre-Screening Service

The first bottleneck many vacationers face is waiting in the long security checkpoint line that seemingly snakes for miles through the airport. To bypass this holdup, join a pre-screening service that accelerates the security process.

• TSA PreCheck gives you a faster screening experience at domestic airports that is often less obtrusive.
• Global Entry expedites entry via air, land and sea into the U.S. and includes TSA PreCheck.

Choose Priority Boarding

Start your cruise off on the right, faster foot with priority boarding which allows you to use a dedicated security and check-in lane. This lets you skip the usual long lines at registration, and typically your accommodations will be ready before others. Priority boarding is often an included perk for suite passengers and cruise line loyalty members, but many cruise lines allow any passenger to pay for this worthwhile privilege.

Schedule Transfers

After a long flight to your destination, the last thing you want to do is queue up in a long taxi line or try to figure out where exactly your Uber driver might be. Have a professional transportation service booked and ready to whisk you away as soon as your luggage is secured. These services can either meet you inside the airport or can be easily accessed near the taxi area.

Natural Beauty, Year-Round

A popular gateway to Canada’s maritime provinces, Halifax is steeped in coastal charm, naval history and natural beauty. You can take in many of Canada’s east coast highlights within the city and its surrounds. Following the Fraserville scenic route, past the lashing Atlantic, you can spot the picturesque lighthouses that dot the dramatic black rock.

While the city is most alive in the summer, with terraces overflowing onto pedestrian-only streets and sailboats gliding along the harbor, there’s never a bad time to visit. In the fall, the leaves of Point Pleasant Park change, making for photogenic strolls along the peninsula. If you’re ready to brave the cold come February, you’ll have to bring your bib because it’s the peak of the lobster season.

An Easygoing City Life

In recent years, a wave of new hotels and restaurants has emerged onto the scene, giving travelers new reasons to check out Nova Scotia’s capital. Although most visitors dedicate a weekend to sightseeing, we recommend taking your time and getting swept up in the city’s relaxed, slow-paced lifestyle.

However you prefer to spend your days, you’ll always find that your best option in Halifax is to mix with the local crowd. Take a tour of a city brewery, or stop off at a historic market for bundles of fresh, seasonal produce. Mingle with the students in the local pubs, or indulge in a fine-dining experience in one of the city’s new high-end restaurants. Visitors love the easygoing pace of life in this Canadian hub, away from the crowds of its big-city neighbors. We’ve got a few insider recommendations to get you started.

Natural Beauty, Year-Round

A popular gateway to Canada’s maritime provinces, Halifax is steeped in coastal charm, naval history and natural beauty. You can take in many of Canada’s east coast highlights within the city and its surrounds. Following the Fraserville scenic route, past the lashing Atlantic, you can spot the picturesque lighthouses that dot the dramatic black rock.

While the city is most alive in the summer, with terraces overflowing onto pedestrian-only streets and sailboats gliding along the harbor, there’s never a bad time to visit. In the fall, the leaves of Point Pleasant Park change, making for photogenic strolls along the peninsula. If you’re ready to brave the cold come February, you’ll have to bring your bib because it’s the peak of the lobster season.

An Easygoing City Life

In recent years, a wave of new hotels and restaurants has emerged onto the scene, giving travelers new reasons to check out Nova Scotia’s capital. Although most visitors dedicate a weekend to sightseeing, we recommend taking your time and getting swept up in the city’s relaxed, slow-paced lifestyle.

However you prefer to spend your days, you’ll always find that your best option in Halifax is to mix with the local crowd. Take a tour of a city brewery, or stop off at a historic market for bundles of fresh, seasonal produce. Mingle with the students in the local pubs, or indulge in a fine-dining experience in one of the city’s new high-end restaurants. Visitors love the easygoing pace of life in this Canadian hub, away from the crowds of its big-city neighbors. We’ve got a few insider recommendations to get you started.

Spend Less on Florals

Chances are you picked your wedding destination because of its spectacular beauty, so forgo expensive over-the-top floral arrangements and let the natural surroundings shine. If fresh flowers are a must, save money with simple, local arrangements or add a splash of color with garlands or centerpieces made only from greenery. These vibrant, on-trend arrangements can be made with anything from ferns to rosemary and add major bang for the buck. You can also re-use your bridesmaids’ bouquets as centerpieces at the reception.

Buy an Affordable Dress

Wedding dresses by famous designers can really cut into your budget. Instead, opt for a gown you love versus the name on the tag. You should also avoid heavy and expensive fabrics like silk shantung. Fabrics such as chiffon are usually more affordable, and their breathability is perfect for tropical climates. It will also be easier to travel with your gown if it has less fabric. When you’ve got some extra cash to spare and you’re as cool as a cucumber, you’ll be a much happier bride. If you still crave a designer gown, consider finding it at a bridal consignment shop. Since they’ve only been worn once, the gowns are typically in excellent condition and are sold at a fraction of the original price.

It's easy to elevate your big day to a big event with the help of an all-inclusive resort.

Take Advantage of Wedding Packages

Many all-inclusive resorts provide wedding packages that are not only affordable, but they also make hosting your wedding a tropical breeze. Some resorts even include free wedding packages if you stay a certain amount of nights. By allowing the resort to take care of the flowers, reception venue, ceremony set up and more, you save both cash and stress.

Reconsider Party Favors

While thoughtful, customized favors are a fast way to empty your pockets, think about what’s unique to your location and how you can incorporate that into your favors. If your destination wedding is in Hawaii, give out Kona coffee beans. Do you and your significant other have a charity that’s near and dear to your heart? Make a donation in your guests’ name in lieu of a tangible gift. Thinking local and personal will not only save you money, it will also fit right in with your wedding theme.

You've got enough planning to handle as is; let a travel agent take some of it off your hands.

Get a Travel Advisor

Finally, If your dream wedding includes a big smiling group of family and friends, you need a travel advisor. They can handle everything from coordinating airline reservations to arranging preferred room types. Not only will they ensure your guests arrive in a celebratory mood, but they'll also take a load of stress off your shoulders. And thanks to group discounts, they can save you a lot of money in the process. What’s more, travel advisors can help you understand all safety precautions and cancellation policies, giving you and your family the peace of mind you need.