Bad Weather in Tampa: 5 Travel Tips

Summer is upon us and with this season comes a huge potential for encountering bad weather in the Tampa Bay Area. Sure, rain and wind may be relaxing when you are curled up at home with Netflix and a cup of coffee, but no one wants to deal with mother nature's wrath when traveling! Check out our foul weather travel tips to help make your next trip out of Tampa International Airport a little less stressful:

1. Check the forecast. It may be obvious, but check the forecast of your departure, destination, and any layover cities. Sunny skies? Fantastic! If you see the potential for weather at least you will be able to prepare for potential disruption in the future.
2. Contact your airline. See bad weather where your plane will be flying? Call your airline to inquire about flight routes and get an idea of any delays or cancellation you might encounter. 
3. Ask for the "spirit" of the law. Sure, your terms and conditions may say that the airline doesn't owe you anything, but it never hurts to ask! Flight desk staff often have the ability to give meal or beverage vouchers, transfer you to a new flight for free etc. You never know until you ask! 
4. Avoid the crowds. Don't stand in line to speak with a desk agent if the line is crazy long. Call the airline's 1-800 number and chances are you will speak to an agent much quicker than your fellow travelers. Staying away from the crowds will help reduce your stress.
5. Stay calm during your flight. If your flight does take off and encounters bad weather, your chances for experiencing turbulence are high. Don't fret, stay calm, and fasten your seat belt. Turbulence is no worse than driving along a road with potholes. If you know flying gives you anxiety or stress, prepare accordingly.

Although the weather may be bad, A1 Express Airport Parking will be here to safely shuttle you too and from Tampa International Airport. Don't forget to make your free online reservation to ensure your Tampa Airport Parking is ready and waiting upon your arrival! 

Coupons for Tampa Airport Parking

Who doesn't love coupons? Here at A1 Express, we want to make your travel as hassle-free as possible. We totally understand that traveling is expensive, so we try to offer as many coupons for Tampa Airport Parking as possible! Check out our latest and save some money! [Don't forget to make your online reservation to save some time once you arrive at the airport!] 

Here is our newest Tampa Airport Parking Coupon! 

Traveling with Pollen Allergies

With the first day of spring coming soon, allergy season will be on the rise. Do you suffer from allergies related to pollen or hay? When traveling from Tampa International Airport to your destination, your allergens may kick into high gear. Here are 5 ways you can plan in advance in order to keep your watery eyes at bay:

• Bring the comforts of home. Do you sleep with a dust-proof pillow case or use allergen-free sheets at home? Roll your pillow case into a small ball and bring it along during your trip. It will take up relatively little space and will help reduce your allergies while you sleep.
• Pack all your medications in your carry-on. Resist the urge to pack your medications in your checked luggage. You will need to access your medications easily and quickly in case of an emergency. Think you need a certain amount of doses during your trip? Double that amount so you don't run into trouble.
• Pack nasal saline spray. Surprise surprise: the air in plane cabins is abnormally dry. Nasal spray doesn't cost much and it will save you tons of trouble in the long run. Use the spray once or twice an hour to keep your nasal passage clear and hydrated from the dry air.
• Book "smoke free" hotels. Even if a hotel has "smoking" and "non-smoking" rooms, the policy is often not strictly enforced and people bend the rules to their advantage. The best way to ensure you won't have to deal with pesky smoke is to book a hotel that does not allow smoking indoors at all.
• Check the pollen count. Check the pollen counts from grass, trees, weeds etc. at your intended destination. This way, you will have a better idea of what you will encounter.

Before you leave out of TPA, don't forget to book your online parking reservation with A1 Express Parking! Book online and save big. 

The Tampa Airport Parking Process

Are you a little leery about trying A1 Express Airport Parking for the first time because you aren't sure what to expect? Booked your reservation but afraid that the commute from our facility to the airport will cause you to be late for your flight? Banish your airport parking worries and leave your car and your travel vacation in our capable hands. Still unsure? Here are a just a few benefits that you will receive when you use our Tampa Airport parking service:

• Expect a cheaper price! When you park at Tampa International Airport, you will pay high daily parking fees. At A1 Express, we charge you a much more reasonable parking price. Check on our coupons and discounts page for even cheaper parking options!
• Don't worry about the time! Guess what? It only takes us 15 minutes to check you in and shuttle you to the airport! Say what?! If you self-park at Tampa International Airport you will have to deal with finding a spot and then finding transportation to bring you to the airport and/or walking great distances.
• Your own personal chauffeur! When you park with us, our friendly staff will personally chauffeur you from the door of your car to your terminal entrance. How cool is that? They will even load and unload your bags for you, for free! All you have to do is sit back, relax, and catch up on work or social media.
• You have options! Sure, you have options other places too, but how often do you get the opportunity to valet park your car for an affordable price? Thought so!
• Auto Detail Services. Where else can you park your car for your flight out of Tampa International Airport and receive a whole host of additional services for just a small fee? From waxing to changing you oil, there are tons of ways we can pamper your car while you are away!
• FREE online reservations. Gone are the days of endlessly driving in circles looking for a parking spot. With our free online reservation system, you are able to reserve your parking for free in advance. All you have to do is show up and let us do the rest! 

Holiday Travel Tips

Even though you may live in Florida, you are still going to have to deal with weather and crowds when traveling home for the holidays. Whether you are traveling for a holiday cruise, exotic vacation, or flying home from Tampa International Airport for family festivities, it is important to remember that millions of other Americans are going to be doing the same exact thing this winter! In addition, it always seems that poor weather conditions show up around holiday travel time! What luck.

Don't let long car rides, cramped airplanes, invasive security, or bad weather get you down; You are going on a relaxing cruise or traveling to visit your beloved family back home! Regardless of your plans, you will be thankful for our winter holiday travel tips:

1. Plan ahead and do your research. Driving to your destination? Research alternate travel routes ahead of time in case major traffic blocks the interstate. Depending on where you are driving from, you may be able to find some fun mini-destinations such as National Parks to visit on your way! Flying? Make sure you check your airlines baggage restrictions ahead of time to avoid stress on the day of your flight.
2. Pack accordingly. Packing light during winter travel is always suggested. If you can get away with just a carry on, that would be even better! This way, you won't have to worry about your luggage getting lost in transit. If you do check your bags, make sure that you pack at least two pairs of extra clothes, your phone charger, and whatever necessities you may need in your carry on just in case. 
3. Pack earplugs. Sure popping in headphones and listening to music is often a great way to zone out at a busy airport or loud car ride, but sometimes a person just needs silence! These little lifesavers can also ensure you get a few hours of shuteye before arriving at your destination.
4. Reserve your parking in advance. Since you and millions of people will be traveling this winter season, it is important to reserve your A1 Express Airport parking in advance! Reserving ahead will often save you money, and certainly saves you the stress of searching for a spot last minute.
5. Travel early or late in the day. Do you really want to beat the rush? Traveling during hours when most people want to be asleep can save you a whole lot of hassle since the roads will be less busy and the airports less crowded. 
6. Eat well and stay hydrated. This may seem like a simple tip, but it is often overlooked, as travelers rush to pack the car, struggle to read the GPS or fight with TSA about their luggage. Drinking water and eating regularly timed meals and snacks will make you feel oh so much better when you arrive at your final destination. 

Thanksgiving Travel 2014

You won't even have to do this when you park with us!

According to the AAA, 2014 is going to be the busiest travel year since 2007, with over 46.3 million American's taking a trip for the Thanksgiving Holiday. WHAT?! In addition, air travel is also going to be up by at least 3.6 million people since 2007 as well, meaning more people are going to be looking for Tampa International Airport Parking. People are expected to spend an average of $575 on their travels this holiday season.

By parking your car with A1 Express, you will save money on your Tampa Airport Parking, so more of your $575 can be used doing the things that you want to do! In addition to offering cheap airport parking at TPA, A1 Express is proud to offer:

• Free online reservations [save even more money and time by booking online]
• Complementary shuttle service 
• Short 5 minute ride to the airport [let us deal with TPA traffic while you relax]
• Self and valet park options
• Auto detailing upgrade options
• Complementary luggage handling
• Discounted prices!

Cheap Places to Fly to from Tampa

We get it! Life is busy and hectic and sometimes you just can’t get away for the extravagant vacation of your dreams. Just because you can’t afford to jet off to Tahiti doesn’t mean that there aren’t some splendid locations close to Tampa Bay! Check out these destinations that are affordable and easy to fly to from Tampa International Airport:

• Puerto Rico (2 ½ hour flight from TPA). It is no surprise that Puerto Rico is one of the most affordable places for Tampa travelers to go with flights roughly around $180 round trip! Fly on JetBlue and you will receive complementary television and movies during the flight. When you arrive at San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, be sure to explore the candy-colored shops and watch the sun set over the Caribbean from local Spanish forts.
• Atlanta, Georgia. (1 hour 20 min flight from TPA). Yes, Atlanta is “only” a nine hour drive from Tampa, but why drive eighteen hours round trip when you can leave your car at A1 express and hop on a plane for $138 round trip? If you are craving city life, check out midtown and downtown Atlanta. Olympic Park is always fun to explore and you can even visit where they filmed the popular TV Series “The Walking Dead!”
• Bermuda. (3 hour flight from TPA). Bermuda is a beautiful little island nation off the coast of the eastern United States. Coming in at around $500 round trip, the island is a bit more expensive to fly to, but it is totally worth it! After sampling Bermuda’s famous pink beaches, push your fear factor to its limit with a round of fly boarding, which has you flying over the ocean using a water-powered jetpack! You superhero you!

Once you figure out where you should fly to from Tampa International Airport, make your free online reservation with A1 Express to ensure you get the cheapest TPA airport parking!