Thanksgiving means getting out of the city while literally a bajillion other people are trying to do the same thing! It’s not as bad as the zombie apocalypse, but still. It’s gonna suck. Fortunately, old man Bwog has been flying the friendly skies/riding the rails/cruising down the open road to get outta here for many a holiday season. Find out how to skip town like a pro, below. And don’t forget to charge your gadgets.

Unfortunately, this airline doesn't offer online check-in.

Planes

• Before you leave, check if your airline offers online check-in. This service allows you to check in to your flight before you even arrive at the airport. Most major airlines, including United, Continental, Jetblue, US Airways, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines, Air Canada, and British Airways offer this useful service.
• Early morning flight? Bring your own snack, because Au Bon Pain won’t be open yet.
• To get to the LGA by bus, you can take the M60 for only $2.25—but expect lots of humans and travel time, so bring a book and leave at least an hour-and-a-half before your flight time. Bonus: there are luggage racks!
• You can swiftly reach JFK by taking the E to AirTrain, a monorail that drops you off right at your terminal. Be sure your MetroCard has $7.25, though, cause AirTrain is $5. Supply and demand, you know how it is.
• If you want to travel by cab but don’t want to take too big a hit to your wallet, use ESC’s service Carsplit. You share a cab with other Columbians headed to LGA, JFK, or EWR who need to arrive at the same time. And maybe you’ll make a friend!
• If you’re flying out of Newark, shun the GWB, and take NJ Transit from Penn Station to Newark AirTrain.
• To avoid being that pesky person who takes forever at security, wear comfy moccasins or other shoes you can slip right on and off.

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Europe is scary! For those of you considering a summer romp through the continental continent, Caitlyn Levin, an Actual European, details her journey through Europe and describes the workings of the mysterious Eurail system.

If you’re thinking about traveling around Europe this summer, you’ve probably already heard the term “Eurail” thrown around, and if you’re anything like me, you have no idea what it means, because (being fairly ignorant of how train travel works) the concept is completely new. I was in a similar situation this past Spring Break, when I decided to embrace my Junior year abroad and travel forth into the great unknown of Europe–scary, I know. Friends told me that if you’re making the great train trip, a Eurail pass is the way to go. There’s an abundance of information on the Internet about Eurail passes, but most of it is confusing who have never traveled anywhere in Europe by train before.

Thrown into deep confusion, my research into these multi-faceted passes began.

Basically, a Eurail pass is a train ticket that enables you to take multiple trains through multiple cities on multiple days. Simple, right? They’re often recommended to people, especially young people, who want to travel via train through Europe with the flexibility to plan their course as they move. It sounds easy—and for the most part, it is—but it’s important to do research beforehand to figure out whether or not you actually need one.

The passes are produced by Eurail Group, a non-profit organization, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Firstly, they’re broken down into four categories:

• One-country passes get you anywhere you want within the country you choose
• Regional passes get you through two countries
• Select passes allow you to “select” three to five countries
• Global passes give you virtually free reign to run wild and free through the continent

These passes vary in price depending on which countries you choose, and how many “travel days” you want to have. “What is a travel day?!” you shout. Read on to find out.

Once again, many of us will be making the pilgrimage from Morningside to a home, whether it’s yours, your grandparents, significant other’s. There will be queues at the airport, train stations and bus terminals. It will be stressful. To help ease the pain, Bwog has once again compiled advice from the most experienced travelers on how best to brave the pre-Thanksgiving exodus. Bear in mind that some readers may have preferred routes or differing past experiences. We are only trying to help! Bwog wishes everyone a safe, cheap, and relatively painless journey home. And have a happy Thanksgiving!

Some simple tips

• Leave TODAY.
• Take Xanax.
• Charge your iPod.
• Invest in a neck pillow.
• THINK AHEAD. Double-check your departure times and locations, any baggage restrictions, and especially how to get to and from your area of departure/arrival.
• If you are thinking about taking a cab, sign up for Carsplit, Columbia’s cabshare service that organizes taxis to LGA, JFK and Newark.

Planning on driving?

• Remember, Wednesday November 25th is the worst traffic day of the year. So be prepared.
• If you’re going to Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, or anywhere that makes you pass through those places, don’t be conned by your GPS into taking I80/I380/I81 out of New York: it’s a guaranteed way to be stuck in traffic/construction hell. Take I87 North, then take NYS Route 17- it splits, one way going to Albany, the other going to Binghamton, where it meets up with 81 again. It’ll shave a cool 45 minutes off your trip, and Route 17 is really scenic. – Really specific, but it changed my life.
• If you are crazy enough to go down I-95, at least try to leave in the early afternoon (1-2 P.M.) or else you will be caught in the Great New York Exodus.
• Check metrocommute for up-to-date traffic alerts in the area.
  

Okay, maybe take the bus.

• Try to get a bus that has guaranteed seating (Vamoose, Bolt, etc.)
• Bolt Bus sold out? There are still tickets left on Greyhound. Alternatively, you can always try Craig’s list. Occasionally people post tickets they can no longer use.

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The perennial Carsplit enthusiasts have resurfaced! And they’ve asked that we post a link to this thing in hopes of securing cheaper airport-bound cab rides for everyone.

So sure, here’s Carsplit. We know it’s hard to see past your last final, but if you’re headed to JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark by taxi in the coming days, use this thing to find new friends who are doing the same, thus saving everyone money. 

If you’re heading home via bus this Thanksgiving weekend, make an informed choice! Here, Bwog correspondents persuade you to ride DC2NY, Bolt, VamooseBus and, in an impassioned, extended defense, Fung Wah. 

VamooseBus

My experience with VamooseBus is a prime example of brand loyalty. When I first went to visit Columbia without my parents, my Columbia friend recommend VamooseBus. At the time, it was only $20, $35 for a round trip, and left from right outside my high school. It was still a fledgling service — another high school friend and I each had a set of two seats to ourselves, and, although the Subway system proved complicated at the time, (we called the 1 Train the “red line”), Vamoose and the friendly, overweight orthodox Jews who sold the tickets, were quite easy to deal with.

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As Columbians begin to trickle slowly away from Morningside Heights for the much-anticipated and well-deserved Thanksgiving Holiday, the queues at JFK, La Guardia, Penn Station, and yes even the Port Authority Bus Terminal are beginning to fill out.  In typical fashion, Bwog has asked its most experienced travelers for tips on how best to brave the pre-Thanksgiving exodus that is sure to take place tomorrow afternoon.  Bwog wishes everyone a safe, cheap, and relatively painless journey home.  Bon voyage!

Planning on driving?

• If you’re going to Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, or anywhere that makes you pass through those places, don’t be conned by your GPS into taking I80/I380/I81 out of New York: it’s a guaranteed way to be stuck in traffic/construction hell.  Take I87 North, then take NYS Route 17- it splits, one way going to Albany, the other going to Binghamton, where it meets up with 81 again.  It’ll shave a cool 45 minutes off your trip, and Route 17 is really scenic. – Really specific, but it changed my life.
• If you are crazy enough to go down I-95, at least try to leave in the early afternoon (1-2 P.M.) or else you will be caught in the Great New York Exodus.
  
  Read more…