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Tourism expert: Plan ahead, have patience to make most of the holiday season

Crystal Graham
holiday travel
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If you are making plans to travel this holiday season, a Virginia Tech travel and tourism expert says that advanced planning is key.

“With the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays coming soon, the best travel planning should start now, if not earlier,” says Mahmood Khan, professor and director in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Virginia Tech. “Planning ahead of holiday travel solves many problems encountered by holiday travelers.”

Advanced planning when it comes to hotels and restaurants could help, and Khan said, patience is also required due to short staffing at many places.

“With unexpected delays and cancellations, it is easy for people to lose their patience,” said Khan. “Enjoying yourself will help work through holiday travels, especially those traveling with young children.”

For international travel, Khan says it is important to double-check if your passport or visa is still valid.

“Getting new passports or renewing them is time-consuming and takes at least a month, so consider that in your planning. Due to the pandemic, many travelers need to relearn travel procedures such as customs checks, seat assignments or reservations.”

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Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]

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