You know us best as data junkies, crunching the numbers from over a billion searches a year to bring you the biggest travel trends and tips. While we always prefer to let the numbers speak for themselves, the numbers have never been on a trans-continental flight during the holidays. So, we’re bringing you straight to the source. When KAYAK employees aren’t busy creating the best place to plan and book your travel, they’re out there in the trenches – suffering jet lag, surviving airport mayhem, coping with suddenly reclining seats, and embarking on once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. For the second year in a row, we’re sharing these invaluable tips with you, just in time for the holiday travel season.
Tips for Surviving Holiday Mayhem
• Download a good podcast and treat yourself to a plastic cup of the finest airplane wine so you can begin your holiday as soon as you’re settled in your seat.
• Take the longer route to your destination; stop and enjoy the local bars and cafes between different legs. Remember, it’s all about the journey, not just the destination.
• If you’re visiting a new city, think like a local, and avoid the places that would get swamped during the holidays. Ask a waiter or store clerk for suggestions on where to eat and what to see.
(Photo cred: onyxbeacon.com)
Sick of complaining about the same unspoken travel rules being broken? We’ve got you covered – blast your social channels with the KAYAK Top 5 Travel Commandments and hope it goes viral so you don’t have to remind people with an angry glare.
Top 5 Travel Commandments:
Alright, you’ve made it through security and to your gate with some semblance of your sanity and it’s time to celebrate – check out these airport bars and restaurants that have gotten the KAYAK employee seal of approval.
Top 5 Favorite Airport Bars/Restaurants
• Blue Smoke at JFK Airport – The food is finger-licking delicious and satisfying, so you’ll have no choice but to pass out once you board your flight.
• Joe & the Juice in Copenhagen Airport – Buy a freshly squeezed juice from Joe & the Juice and sneak in some champagne from the tax free shop.
• Airbrau at Munich Airport – Last chance to get Bavarian food before leaving the country. Also they have their own brewery and make fantastic beer.
• Stock Car Café in the Charlotte Douglas International Airport – The NASCAR bar’s Bud-Lightiest Bud Lights this side of Bud Light.
• Ramen Alley in New Chitose Airport – The airport in Sapporo features a special area of the food floor dedicated to ramen. Various famous ramen shops from across Hokkaido try to entice you into entering their restaurants.
(Photo cred: pointsmilesandmartinis.boardingarea.com)
Getting to your destination can be stressful, but don’t forget why you’re embarking on the journey. KAYAK employees remind us why we travel at all: those unforgettable experiences you can reference to impress colleagues around the water cooler for the rest of your career.
Most Memorable Travel Experiences
• “The flight approach into Jackson Hole, Wyoming is so memorable; there’s nothing but mountains as far as your eyes can see.” – Ian, Stamford office
• “Climbing up a near 1000-year-old temple in Bagan, Myanmar to watch the sunrise over hundreds of other temples/pagodas/stupas.” – Jeff, Concord office
• “Watching a green turtle lay her eggs on a deserted beach in the middle of the night on a Sri Lankan beach.” – Sophie, London office
• “Visiting the Aegean coast of Turkey to Kabak Valley in Fethiye. There is a 99% natural resort where you stay in bungalows, climb waterfalls, and take nice nature walks, all with zero light or air pollution.” – Gurhan, Zurich office
Craving some more tips from our season KAYAK travelers? Check out the infographic below, and leave us some love on Facebook or Twitter.
Are you traveling smarter with KAYAK? Make sure you’re using MyTrips, the Mobile App, and Explore tools for yourself. Happy Travels.
*Based on KAYAK employee responses to an internal survey administered on October 24, 2014
(Preview photo cred: iStock.com/RobertChurchill)
