A new post by the Orbitz Insider Index has just announced the busiest airports for Thanksgiving, with Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver taking the top three spots. Interestingly enough, New York-area airports ranked 7-9, narrowly beating Seattle which squeezed itself into the number 10 spot.

Where to expect the smallest crowds? Check out San Jose, CA, followed by Nashville and then Richmond, VA.

But, regardless of your departure site and/or destination, there are some friendly and useful tips that just may make your holiday travel a little bit easier.

Go small and flexible

You will find that planning in advance can make all the difference. One thing to think about before buying those tickets is whether or not you can fly out of smaller, alternative airports. Typically, these usually commuter-based hubs are much easier to navigate and less crowded. For example, if you are traveling in or out of New York, consider White Plains Westchester County Airport (HPN). Heading into or out of Los Angeles? Check out the scene in Burbank (BUR) or Orange County (SNA). Sure, tickets in or out of these airports tend to be in a higher price range, but you never know. Besides, sometimes time and aggravation outweigh all costs.

Save time

If at all possible, use online check-in. You will instantly bypass half the line-time. Print your boarding pass at home, and have them (and your ID) ready as you approach the security line. Most major airports now offer easy-to-use baggage check kiosks if you are traveling with luggage.

Stay informed

Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport, as well as traffic conditions en route. There are a multitude of online and mobile tools that offer free flight status updates for your PDA or mobile phone. Also, most airlines offer real-time flight stats on their websites.

Also, staying informed means staying safe. Airport security can be a daunting endeavor -  Keep anything and everything you need to show airport security such as ID, boarding passes, liquids in a zip-top bag, or medication, in a separate compartment of your carry-on bag. Digging for these items once you get to the front of the security line will cause delays and certainly not make you any friends.

Get going

So, what are you waiting for? Lock-in early-bird rates before they hit the roof. Now that you got these key points in mind, nothing can stop you. Travel speedy, and have a great holiday season!

Before you Visit

Luggage – Do not plan on bringing a lot of luggage with you to the Galapagos. Most flights do not accept more than 44 pounds (20 kilos) of baggage.

Passports – Galapagos requires that travelers carry their passport to the islands and the passport number must be furnished one month prior to arrival.

Entrance Fee – A $100 per person fee must be paid upon arrival at the Galapagos airport. This rate is can sometimes change.

On the Island

Once on the Galapagos Islands, the serene calmness and beauty of the islands becomes apparent. While the islands’ species are not immune from the effects of humans, the Galapagos give a true glimpse of nature at its purist. Much credit for this can be given to the Ecuadorian Government that passed the first laws to protect the islands animals, plants, and insects over 75 years ago. Today, many laws and rules are in place to preserve the island’s splendor.

Take Pictures, Not Souvenirs – As tempting as it is to bring part of the island home with you, it is best to settle for photos. Island ecology experts stress that you should not buy or take home souvenirs such as turtle shells, sea lion teeth and black coral. While the trade of some objects is not strictly illegal, it can be very disruptive to the islands ecological conditions.

No Touching Animals – Sure they are cute, cuddly and the sea lions seem to call to you, but it is not a good idea to touch the animals. Sea lion pups are sometimes abandoned if they have the scent of a human on them.

Don’t Leave the Trails – This is for your safety as much as it is for the protection of the Islands. Visitors must stay on trails that are marked with black and white posts. Wondering off the trail can, for instance, result in the destruction of marine iguana nests, which are buried beneath the sand.

No Traveling On Your Own – Visitors to the National Park are required to be accompanied by a qualified guide. Traveling on your own is forbidden.

No Littering – All disposals must be removed from the islands as it can harm or kill some species. Plastic bags have been known to suffocate sea turtles.

Following these easy rules will ensure that the Galapagos Islands are preserved and protected. You can also help by booking your Galapagos tour with an eco-friendly touring company like Adventure Associates.

I may not be scaling a mountain or hiking the hills of Peru anytime soon, but something tells me that this bag has what it takes to care for my most precious materials no matter where I am off to, be it my next dash to catch a flight or just commuting back and forth to the office. Whether I am carrying my laptop, wallet, spare clothes, iPod, cell phone, chargers or whatever else – you name it, I’m packing it.

And what makes them even better is that they are good for the planet.

Self labeled as a "toxic free" product, the Ecogear bags are truly a "smart" product. As Ecogear puts it, the bags are each "tough enough to handle any hike, run, or walk without being tough on the environment."

Saving the world one bag at a time

So, what’s so eco-friendly about them? Keep in mind that, after all, it is just a bag…so don’t go thinking they are going to solve climate change, bring water to the masses, rid us of our oil addiction, or solar-power your next night hike.

The Genus line of bags are rugged and stylish while made from a material appropriately named "Ecoweave" – a patented, PVC-free coating – as well as sustainable components and toxic-free dyes.

“Genus is defined as a class or group,” says Ecogear owner Jimmy Chen. “We named these bags Genus because we think they are in a group all of their own. No other eco-friendly product is compatible enough to accompany you on a climb up a treacherous mountain, and stylish enough to act as a briefcase in the office. They are versatile, trendy, and best of all they are not harmful to the environment. We are very proud of this product, and hope everyone loves it as much as we do.”

Ecogear’s Genus line has five different styles to choose from with options ranging from designs like Snow Leopard with pockets and varied components, to the simpler Mohave Tui suited for everyday use. Bags come in a wide variety of colors including sporty color combinations as well as more professional all-black exteriors.

Ecogear promises the full functionality of other bags, with the additional bonus of safe and eco-friendly materials.

The bags retail starting at $39.99 and can be purchased on the Ecogear e-commerce site. For more information on Genus or on any of Ecogear’s products please visit www.ecogear-products.com .

“The overall state of the economy continues to present real challenges for some Americans looking to travel this Thanksgiving,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “However, the desire to spend time with family, combined with significantly lower gasoline prices than earlier this year, will provide a strong impetus for many Americans to travel this holiday season.”

More than 33.2 million Americans (81 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to travel by automobile, a 1.2 percent decrease from the 33.6 million people who drove a year ago.

The national average for self-serve regular gasoline is $2.07 per gallon. Today’s price is 88 cents less than a month ago and $1.03 less than a year ago.

Nearly 4.54 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by airplane, a 7.2 percent decrease from the 4.89 million travelers who flew last year.

Approximately 3.26 million Americans (eight percent of holiday travelers) intend to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation. That is an increase of 5.8 percent (or 180,000 travelers) when compared to the 3.08 million who traveled by a mode other than automobile or airplane last year.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index (LTI), which is based on available rates this holiday, Thanksgiving holiday travelers can expect to pay more for airfares and car rentals this year. Air passengers can expect airfares eight percent higher than last year. AAA advises travelers that many changes have occurred since the last holiday travel season. Most airlines continue to charge fees for checked baggage and other previously complimentary services like beverages and snacks. Travelers should check with the airline or their travel counselor about any additional fees for their trip.

On average, car rental prices are four percent higher than a year ago for the same period. Car rental rates vary from location to location, so some cities in AAA’s LTI show significant increases when compared to last year, while others show significant decreases. AAA’s index for car rentals is based on the average lowest intermediate size car daily rate in 20 U.S. airport locations. The rates do not include sales tax, insurance and other miscellaneous charges.

Thanksgiving travelers across the country, however, will find bargains when looking to book their hotel stay this year. Rates for AAA Three Diamond hotels are down an average of 10 percent compared to last year.

The greatest number of automobile travelers this Thanksgiving holiday will originate in the Southeast with 8.8 million, followed by the West with 6.9 million, Midwest, 6.5 million, Great Lakes, 6.1 million, and Northeast, 4.8 million.

The Southeast is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.176 million, followed by the West with 1.172 million, Northeast, 882,000, Midwest, 731,000, and Great Lakes, 575,000.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Report Web site lists average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250 localities for all grades of gasoline.

Research for Thanksgiving weekend holiday travel projections are derived from the Travel Industry Association’s (TIA) Holiday Travel Forecast Model. The model was developed based on consumer travel intentions and TIA’s quarterly travel forecast data. The travel intentions data are collected through an online survey of over 2,000 adults nationwide, supplemented by an additional 6,500 Americans surveyed from the top 10 states of origin in the United States. Historical travel volume and other economic data such as GDP, disposable income, employment and travel costs (including fuel prices) are also incorporated into the model. Analysis of the data and the forecasts are produced by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA.

The bags are all hand made in family run and small scale workshops in Portugal. Because they are made from recycled materials, no two products are exactly the same.

Waste reduction is a major initiative for Virgin Atlantic, which donated over 1000 seats to the project for a haul of 2000 actual finished bags. Worn Again is working with Virgin Atlantic to meet its goal to halve the waste it sends to landfill by 50% by 2012.

The airline has successfully reduced the waste it produces in its offices and ground operations significantly and is working hard to reduce the waste it produces in the air.

About Worn Again
Worn Again is a social business which was set up not only to transform consumption and manufacturing patterns through production of goods made from recycled materials, but also to generate income for Anti-Apathy, a registered charity. Worn Again takes a transparent approach to communicating the real ingredients that go into its products, including materials, labor standards and energy use, while addressing the impacts of its activities on trade and climate change.

• Start with a durable, 22-inch rolling bag, which is the maximum carry-on size. “Remember, you get what you pay for so it’s a good idea to get a better bag with a better guarantee. You’ll be happier in the long run,” Bob says. He notes that while both Travelpro and Briggs & Riley make excellent bags, he finds that he most often recommends Eagle Creek’s Tarmac carry-on, which is several pounds lighter than competing bags without giving away anything in looks or durability or warranty coverage.
• Add additional carry-on packing space with a tote or small duffel as your “personal bag.” Along with your in-flight comfort and entertainment items, it will hold any “overflow” necessities from your larger carry-on as well. You’ll store it under the seat. While the airlines offer no guidelines for the maximum size allowable for this bag, you should be okay if it’s soft-sided and no bigger than 18 x 12 x 10. And make sure it has a slip panel so it can fit over the handle of your rolling bag, plus a comfortable shoulder strap for when you’ll need to carry it.
• Use packing organizers. “It seems counter-intuitive at first,” Bob says, “because you’d think the organizers would take up space. But they actually compress your belongings and make it easier to fit more. You can start with an overstuffed bag and repack it with the help of some organizers, and suddenly everything will fit neatly and easily.” Organizers are also a big help if the TSA decides to search your bag–which inevitably happens when you are on the tightest schedule. Bob notes that Eagle Creek offers organizers in lots of sizes for everything from electronics to a week’s worth of shirts and pants.
• Your jacket is the bulkiest item in your travel wardrobe. So don’t pack it. Either wear it or carry it separately. You can stuff the pockets with your phone, watch, sunglasses and change when you are passing through security, and you’ll always find room for it in the overhead.
• Design your wardrobe around two or three complementary colors for an array of outfits from just a few garments. Travel clothing companies, such as ExOfficio and Royal Robbins, design their lines around color schemes, and generally offer lightweight, quick drying, and wrinkle-resistant garments. Many also feature built-in sun protection.
• If you really need to take your laptop, buy a simple protective sleeve for it and carry it in your tote. “Unless you’re on a business trip and you have a very large briefcase, your tote will hold more and the padded sleeve will provide plenty of protection for your computer,” notes Nancy. She says their newest sleeves, from GreenSmart, offer excellent protection and are made of recycled plastic bottles.
• Travel-specific socks and underwear can save precious space. Made of modern synthetics, these travel garments are as soft and comfortable as their conventional counterparts yet pack smaller and dry overnight after a quick hand wash, the Bestor’s say. “You can get by on just a couple sets and a small bottle of detergent,” Bob notes.
• Take items that offer more than one use. “Microfiber travel towels are always great to take on a trip–they pack down into a small package, they dry quickly, and you never know when you will be stuck somewhere without a towel,” says Nancy. But she points out that a large travel towel can easily double as a blanket, sarong or even shawl.
• When in doubt – leave it out! Or as Nancy puts it, “If you want to get away from it all, don’t take it all with you!”

Travel Essentials is a local, family-run business, owned by Robert and Nancy Bestor since 1994. For more information about Travel Essentials’ store or products, visit http://www.TravelEssentials.com or call 1-800-258-0758.