It's the busiest travel season ever! How to avoid lines, stay ahead of the crowds
And I'm sorry to break it to you, but it's about to get worse. Much worse.
This summer, travel is expected to hit record-breaking levels, with airports, attractions, and even once-quiet destinations bursting at the seams.
Want to fly somewhere? Get in line. Checking into a hotel? Get in line. Dining at a popular restaurant? Line. Visiting a museum and get out of the heat? Yep, another line.
It's not just an inconvenience. Serious crowds can form at the biggest tourism destinations, which can turn dangerous, said Tamara Herold, director of the Crowd Management Research Council at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
"Not knowing how to handle a crowd can increase the risks of serious injury or trampling," she said.
She's not kidding. Earlier this year, at least 30 people were killed and many more were reportedly injured at the Kumbh Mela festival in India. Tens of millions of people visit Uttar Pradesh to bathe in the Ganges River. And who can forget the 153 people crushed to death in Halloween celebrations a few years ago in Seoul, South Korea?
So, what's the best way to avoid long lines and handle the inevitable crowds?
How to handle a large crowd
Let's start with a worst-case scenario: You're stuck in a crowd this summer with nowhere to go.
Herold, the crowd control expert, has three tips for surviving a crush of people and getting out alive.
I hope you won't need these tips during your summer travels. But what about those long lines? What can you do beyond some of the obvious ways to steer clear of the lines, to avoid standing around during your vacation?
How to avoid the lines this summer
You don't have to get stuck in line during the next few weeks. Here are some practical ways to avoid a long queue.
Of course, you can also pay to avoid the crowds by carrying the right credit card or having a Global Entry membership. However, for many travelers who take only one or two flights a year, that's impractical advice. And as a consumer advocate, I second that. You shouldn't have to pay more to avoid long lines. Everyone's time is valuable, and no one's time should be wasted.
Story continues below.
It can't go on like this
As I review the summer travel projections and gauge visitor sentiment, I'm struck by the growing consensus among experts: something has to change.
There's already a strong case for capacity controls, not just at popular attractions but in entire cities. Many of my colleagues have already promised to stop promoting tourism during the summer because they don't want to contribute to the problem.
I agree with them – it can't go on like this – but I don't think the answer is to stop writing about summer travel. I think it's time to start encouraging responsible summer travel.
For example, most Americans don't realize that it's the off-season in half the world – the southern half. You can get to some of my favorite places, like New Zealand and Chile, and enjoy lower rates, smaller crowds, and great skiing. You can still travel this summer, but if you turn the equation on its head, you might find that travel will become more bearable.
But if everyone goes to the same places, I don't even want to think about the chaos that awaits us.Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.
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