It looks like it’s going to be a busy Thanksgiving on the roads and at the airports. It may be too late to make some adjustments, such as taking an extra day off to leave next Tuesday instead of Wednesday, but you might be able to get a jump in other ways. One of the new indicators we have to predict holiday travel is the reservation systems for parking at the airports. AirportParkingReservations.com is reporting that it is already having to “de-list” parking availability across the country — there are no more spaces to set aside. In addition, many parking facilities are raising the rates due to supply and demand because of the volume of reservations being taken.

A check of the parking availability at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport confirms that spaces will be tight. The PreFlight Airport Parking is already sold out for parking the day before Thanksgiving. However, the lots for EconPark Express and Park ‘N Go are still taking reservations. Yes, the ValetPark has spaces too, but at $16 a day, you might as well rent a limo and let someone else do the driving for you. Keep in mind that this service charges a $5 fee, and you have to pay for the first day upfront, although that gets credited when you leave. Even so, it could be a bargain in the aggravation saved. Getting everyone packed and ready to go before a holiday trip is enough stress; it would be nice not to have to drive in circles looking for a space at the airport when your flight is getting ready to board.

Get your E-ZPass

For those traveling to the north by car, it might not be too late to get an E-ZPass transponder. I got mine from the state of Maryland within two days of signing up for it online. This system, for those who don’t know, is a way to pay your tolls electronically instead of exchanging cash at the toll plazas (and there are a lot of them between here and Connecticut). The time savings of using E-ZPass are significant. I’ve found that I save anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes traveling from here to New York City during the holidays simply because I don’t have to wait in those long lines waiting to pay cash. E-ZPass keeps a balance in your account and draws from it each time you go through a toll. When the balance gets low, the system charges the credit card you’ve put on account to recharge the balance — usually $20 or so.

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Winter service

The other thing to do if you are driving is to make sure that your car is ready to go. Now would be a good time to get the oil changes and have the service people check all the fluid levels and make sure that your belts and hoses are in good shape. Don’t forget to make sure that your tire pressure is where it should be, and don’t make the mistake of putting too much air in if you are going to be hauling the whole family and some luggage. One of the worst things that can happen is to break down on the side of the interstate during the holidays — talk about stress.