Unlock Stress-Free Holiday Travel: Top Expert Tips for a Smooth Journey

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — As the holiday season approaches, AAA anticipates a record-breaking number of travelers this year, with end-of-year holiday travel set to reach unprecedented levels.

AAA projects that 122 million Americans will be hitting the road or taking to the skies over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

In Florida alone, approximately 7.5 million residents are expected to travel during this festive period. AAA estimates that 6.7 million of these travelers will be taking to the highways to reach their holiday destinations.

Mark Jenkins, a spokesperson for AAA, advises that now is an ideal time to fill up your gas tank and embark on that long-awaited road trip.

In related news, Polk County deputies will soon be inquiring about individuals’ birthplaces as part of a new policy, according to the sheriff.

With majority of people in the state expected to drive, Florida Highway Patrol has some helpful tips.

“You’re still going to have millions of people out there traveling to see family, friends, and so forth. So, you want to remember, again, same issues, slow down, plan extra time into your trip, always buckle up, no drinking and driving,” said FHP Sergeant Steve Gaskins.

The airports are also expected to be busy. For the first time, the number of people flying during the holiday period will exceed 8 million.

At TPA, the airport expects around 80,000 passengers a day, with the busiest day being the day after Christmas.

“We’ve seen a lot of momentum throughout the year, with more and more people traveling, feeling more comfortable spending on traveling and of course, during the holidays, that’s a time where people really prioritize getting together with their friends and families,” Jenkins said.

You might see more people at the airports now than you did at Thanksgiving. The threat of the government shutdown extending through the holiday kept some people away from the airport, so they wouldn’t have to deal with any delays or cancellations.

“People out there traveling, hopefully the airlines can recover, shift some of that travel burden from the highways to the airways,” Sgt. Gaskins said.

If you are driving, officials encourage you to get your maintenance done on your car now to help avoid breakdowns and ensure a safe end to the year.

Last year, AAA said it responded to more than 860,000 calls for service over the holiday.

If you would like to check current gas prices in Florida, click here. For any delays at TPA, click here.

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Unlock Stress-Free Holiday Travel: Top Expert Tips for a Smooth Journey

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Unlock Stress-Free Holiday Travel: Top Expert Tips for a Smooth Journey

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