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! 

5 Tips for Traveling After Graduation

Graduation is just around the corner. Many times, grads love to celebrate their accomplishments with a trip or vacation of a lifetime, before they settle into a full time job. If this sounds like you or someone you know, check out our list of travel tips just for grads:

1. Don't be afraid. This is our #1 piece of advice! Jump feet first into your life long dream. You already accomplished graduation [whew!], now it's your turn to have fun!
2. Research your options. Do you know what WOOFing is? Never heard of Airbnb? Maybe it's time to do some research into all the alternatives out there. Traveling somewhere fun and new doesn't have to be a financial burden. Have the credentials? Why not spend a semester in South Korea teaching English? 
3. Save your pennies. No matter what option you choose, travel is going to take some money. Do the hard part now while you finish up school. Take on a few extra hours at work. Eat dinner at home for the next month and forego your daily Starbucks. A penny saved is a penny earned!
4. Get the most bang for your buck. Sure, places like Italy and the UK are popular destinations, but that also makes them expensive. Why not consider Thailand, Belize, or Cambodia? At many of these destinations, you are able to eat on $10 a day and can receive a massage on the beach for just a few bucks! What's not to love?!
5. Wait just a few months. Summer is often the busiest and most expensive time to travel. If you spend a few more months at home and leave for your trip in say, September, you will be able to score fantastic deals! 

Already booked your flight out of Tampa International Airport? Don't forget to make your Tampa Airport Parking reservation with A1 Express! 

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. 

Best and Worst Airports 2014

It is no secret that airport travel can be stressful! Thankfully, Tampa International Airport doesn't fall on the "worst airport" list! Make your free online reservation with A1 Express Airport Parking and see how stress-free travel can be! By comparing the percentage of positive and negative tweets about each airport, these are rankings, ordered from best to worst:

BEST AIRPORTS:

1. Orlando International, Florida (MCO)
2. Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
3. Miami International, Florida (MIA)
4. Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Minnesota (MSP)
5. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW)
6. San Francisco International, California (SFO)
7. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Michigan (DTW)
8. Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
9. Charlotte Douglas International, North Carolina (CLT)
10. Los Angeles International, California (LAX)
11. John F. Kennedy, New York, New York (JFK)
12. Boston International, Massachusetts (BOS)
13. Denver International, Colorado (DEN)
14. Phoenix International, Arizona (PHX)
15. Seattle-Tacoma International, Washington (SEA)
16. Newark International, New Jersey (EWR)
17. Chicago O'Hare, Illinois (ORD)
18. LaGuardia, New York, New York (LGA)
19. George Bush International, Houston, Texas (IAH)
20. Philadelphia International, Pennsylvania (PHL)

WORST AIRPORTS:

1. La Guardia International, New York (LGA)
2. Los Angeles International, California (LAX)
3. Honolulu International, Hawaii (HNL)
4. Newark Liberty International, New Jersey (EWR)
5. John F. Kennedy International, New York (JFK)
6. Philadelphia International, Pennsylvania (PHL)
7. Miami International, Florida (MIA)
8. Cancun International, Mexico ()
9. Las Vegas McCarran International, Nevada (LAS)
10. Washington Dulles International, D.C. (IAD)