Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 24, which means that UK students get an extended five-day weekend next week!
Given three days off of classes, many students will be traveling home to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their families and friends.
Since my immediate family lives in New Jersey and Florida, I consider myself a bit of a guru when it comes to holiday travel. Below are some tips to consider when driving home, whether you go as near as Louisville or as far as Miami!
1. Dress comfy. This is my number one tip, and applies to all types of travel, be it by land, air or sea!
2. Traveling with a pet? Give them Benadryl to keep them calm. My vet recommended one pill per 25 pounds of dog for my pets. Call your vet and get their recommendation before trying it on your pet. After the approval of your vet you will also want to do a test dosage on your animal before sticking them in the car. I have heard that with some animals Benadryl has a reverse reaction and increases any hyperactivity.
My dog is at his best behavior when he is drugged out in the backseat!
3. Travel Safety for driving-
– Have your car serviced a few days before you leave – get an oil change, tires rotated and balanced, and ask them to give your vehicle a general clean bill of health.
-Don’t travel tired.
-Keep your gas at least a ¼ tank full. It would stink to get stuck in a traffic jam or end up on a stretch of highway without any rest stops and run out.
-If it is dark, only stop at well-light gas stations. Leave early so that you have to do as little driving in the dark as possible.
-Have a credit card with you in case of an emergency (i.e.- flat tire or engine troubles).
4. Bring plenty of bottled water and snacks. Traveling with pets? Make sure you bring extra water with a bowl and have treats and dog food easily accessible. You never know if you will get stuck in traffic and traveling hydrated and fed will help your alert on the road. Just make sure you pack food that is easy to eat – mixed nuts, carrot sticks and granola bars are some of my favorites!
**Also, don’t freeze your water bottles before hand. The water has a tendency to expand and overflow all over your lap when you open it. Cool, and not in a good way!!
5. Check the weather along the route you will be traveling as well as any road closures due to construction or accidents.
UK Parking & Transportation Services is offering shuttle transportation to help students get from campus to Blue Grass Airport (but not back to campus when you return to Lexington).
The shuttle will run Monday, Nov. 21 through Wednesday, Nov. 23, with daily campus pick-up times of 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
It is recommended you leave campus at least two hours before your scheduled flight.
To schedule a pick-up, email ukparking@lsv.uky.edu the following information at least two business days in advance:
- Subject: Thanksgiving Break Shuttle
- Name
- Campus address
- Campus phone number and/or cell number
- Date, time and location of campus pick-up
A PTS representative will call to confirm a pick-up time and convenient location.
PTS also offers Ride Home Express, a safe and affordable service that helps students travel home for school breaks.
For Thanksgiving break, the departure date is Tuesday, Nov. 22 and the return date is Sunday, Nov. 27.
The cities along the routes are*:
- Atlanta Area Route – Corbin, KY; Knoxville, Chattanooga, TN; Kennesaw, GA
- Chicago Area Route – Louisville, KY; Indianapolis, Lafayette, Merrillville, IN; Naperville, IL
- Cleveland Area Route – Florence, KY; Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Mansfield, Medina, OH
- Western KY Area Route – Elizabethtown, Beaver Dam, Madisonville, Hopkinsville, KY
Travelers may bring one large piece of luggage, one small piece of luggage and one carry-on item.
Visit the PTS website for ticket information.
Have a safe and fun holiday!!
*Please note PTS disclaimer regarding Thanksgiving break Ride Home Express travel:
In the event that the minimum number of riders is not met, routes or stops along the routes may be eliminated. If the route is eliminated, ticketholders will be refunded in full. If a stop or stops is eliminated, the impacted riders will be contacted and be permitted to choose a new destination for a partial refund or to cancel for a full refund.