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. 

Benefits of Reserving Airport Parking Online

It's true: people love when things are made easier for them. Reserving Tampa Airport parking is no different! Imagine: you get to the busy airport late and now must drive in circles for fifteen minutes searching for a parking spot in a cramped garage. Doesn't sound relaxing does it? Lucky for you, times are a changing and the option to reserve airport parking online is rising more than ever before! Check out just a few of the MANY benefits that online reservations systems [such as the one we use!] offer:

• Convenience. Instead of having to go directly to the site where you want to reserve an item [the parking lot], and instead of having to email or call a company and sit on hold, online reservation systems offer you the chance to reserve a good or service from anywhere! Wherever you have internet connection, you will be able to book your airport parking reservation!
• Speed. Remember that whole sitting on hold or waiting for an email reply thing we just talked about? You won't have to deal with that when reserving online! The booking process airport parking using an online reservation system is very quick and can be completed in just a minute or two. This speed saves you valuable time that could be better spent somewhere else. 
• Reserve anytime. Stores close, people go to bed, and phones remain unanswered, but online reservation systems keep working 24/7/365. Need to book your off-airport parking at 3 am? No problem! Online systems afford you the ability to reserve anytime, anywhere. 
• Easy cancellations. Change your mind and want to cancel or switch your reservation? This swap can easily be made online, at your own convenience.
• Error reduction. When booking online, you will be asked multiple times to validate information and to check to ensure the date/time/price of your reservation is correct. You will also receive an e-receipt so that you are able to keep track of all of your relevant information. Reserve online and save yourself a lot of hassle!

Well, what are you waiting for?! Reserve your Tampa Airport Parking now with A1 Express! 

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! 

5 Winter Car Care Tips

We can imagine it now: you are sitting on your computer or tablet and you are scoffing at this title. "We don't even get snow in Florida," you say! While this may be true, many people travel up north during the winter for work, family, pleasure etc. If you will be driving in the snow this winter, check out these five tips to keep your car in tip top shape:

1. Clean the inside of your windshield with shaving cream. Seriously! Not only will shaving cream clean your window, it will aid in preventing fog and moisture buildup. The less you have to run the defroster, the better!
2. Unfreeze your keys. Sticking your car keys into an almost certainly frozen car door lock will open the door to a whole bunch of potential problems! Keys may break or the lock may be too frozen to even turn! To remedy this, keep a lighter handy and warm your key before trying to insert it. In a pinch, hand sanitizer will help unfreeze as well.
3. Cover your window. Scraping your windshield can be a hassle. Save yourself the trouble by purchasing old drop clothes, a rug, or any type of thick material and placing it over your windshield. When you are ready to leave, simply yank the cloth off your windshield and all of the pesky snow will come off too! 
4. Stuck? Use cardboard! Weather your car is stuck in the slushy mud at home, work, or the grocery store, cardboard boxes should be nearby. Place a flattened cardboard box in front of your wheels and your car will make it to safety a lot easier.
5. Face east. When possible, park your car facing an easterly direction. Since the sun rises from the east, you will have a little help from nature's heat in starting the unfreezing process on those cold winter mornings. 

Leave your car in the care of A1 Express as you head for the snowy tundra's of the north! We want to make your Tampa Airport Parking experience as hassle-free as possible! 

How to Dress like a Local in Top US Cities

Do you often strive to "look like a local" when you are traveling? Maybe you don't want to be targeted by pickpockets who prey on tourists. Maybe you just. cant. stand. to be seen as one of "those people." Whatever your reason for wanting to dress like a local, our friends from the Orbitz Travel Blog have created this hilarious little graphic: [Do you think the photo is true about Florida locals?]

That was funny, wasn't it? Before you pack your suitcase for your adventure as a "not tourist," remember to make your Tampa International Airport Parking reservation with A1 Express!

Five "Must See" Destinations for 2015

We are halfway through the first month of 2015, and if you haven't started planning your vacations for this year, you should probably start! Flight options from Tampa International Airport are continually increasing, and choosing a destination can be quite time consuming! To start your 2015 off right, we have a list of the top five "must see" travel destinations for 2015:

Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy certainly isn't a new, or even an up-and-coming destination, so why does it make our top five for places to travel from Tampa in 2015? This year, Milan is hosting a 2015 expo on "the future of food" that will draw over 20 million visitors! This expo brings along with it tons of new architecture unique to Milan and hundreds of cuisines from across the world. 

Singapore

As if you needed a reason to visit Singapore in the first place, this year, the country will celebrate its 50th year of independence with parades and merry making all year. The country is extremely safe and the urban areas are shockingly clean. Tourists can enjoy wide expanses of green spaces, cultural heritage, a national art museum, and world-class hotels and dining.

Oman

Most people have never even heard of this Middle Eastern country, located right next to the United Arab Emirates. Have you always wanted to travel to the Middle East and experience the culture and cuisine of this mysterious world? Oman is the safest Middle Eastern country in 2015 and is a highly anticipated destination to visit this year. 

Durham, North Carolina

8 hour flights and international border crossings not your idea of fun? Durham, N.C. is a lot closer to home and just as interesting as overseas destinations! Durham is boasting all the latest cuisine innovations, from fair-trade coffee shops and micro-breweries, to the best local diners you can find. This year, Durham is debuting a "tree house" hotel, where guests will stay some 20 feet above the ground.

Dominican Republic

If you are okay with a shorter flight [under 4 hours from most USA cities], but still want to visit an exotic destination, the Dominican Republic may be just right for you! Instead of visiting the "usual" high-tourist areas of the Dominican Republic, consider visiting the country's pristine northern shore. The north shore will have much less traffic and the beaches and hotels are a far cry away from "ordinary."

Before embarking on your 2015 trip of the year, don't forget to make your online parking reservation with A1 Express. We want to ensure that your Tampa International Airport flight experience is a smooth as possible by ensuring we get you to your gate on time so you don't have to worry about airport parking! 

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.