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Just when you thought you had a full calendar of the top holiday events in Austin, there’s more! Keep on reading and writing a list and check it twice … there’s more magic to be found within a few miles from your apartment in El Paso.
Bikes & Brews SunCycle Ugly Sweater Bike Ride
December 3, 2022
Talk about a fun family event, this is another ‘must-do’ this holiday season. Adorn your bike and body with your ugliest holiday décor and sweater and peddle on over to Old Sheepdog & DeadBeach Breweries. They will be the first to tell you to “Dress to impress in your holiday worst: as the person with the ugliest sweater will win a SunCycle Semester Pass! Enjoy food, drinks, games, giveaways, and more.
A Drag Queen Christmas
December 10, 2022
This may be the perfect ‘date night’ or ‘ladies night out’ during the holiday season in El Paso. Get your tickets now to watch Murray & Peter present, “A Drag Queen Christmas”. Get ready to cheer on your favorite queens performing live on stage, then help select the winner from Fan Favorites to Miss Congeniality. VIP Meet & Greet tickets are also available. The M&G starts at 6pm. All ages are welcome.
Dave Koz and Friends: 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour
December 13, 2022
Dave Koz reunites with the original cast of the longest-running jazz-based Christmas Tour on his album, marking the 25th Anniversary milestone of the tour in 2022. Produced by the legendary Philippe Saisse, the album features all newly recorded Christmas favorites and one original song from Koz, who has previously released seven holiday-themed albums, and heartfelt performances by contemporary jazz icons, trumpeter Rick Braun, guitarist Peter White, and the original co-creator of the tour, pianist David Benoit.
A Merry-Achi Christmas
December 15, 2022
Led by the incomparable José Hernández, Mariachi Sol de Mexico® returns to El Paso for a festive musical tribute to Mexico’s Christmas traditions. Experience a multicultural celebration as the ensemble sings and plays holiday favorites from both Mexico and America in a vibrant performance you won’t want to miss.
Parade of Lights & Luminaria Festival
December 17, 2022
Here is another reason to get out and enjoy the holidays in El Paso. During the Parade of Lights and Luminaria Festival, you will see the Lighted Floats and participants along the parade route to take in the San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society’s Luminaria Festival and Posadas Celebration. Bring your cameras to capture thousands of Luminarias on display. Enjoy a reenactment of las posadas which is a traditional event in San Elizario.
But wait, there’s more! It’s fun for the entire family with music, dance, and last-minute Christmas shopping throughout the district, galleries and gift shops.
Burlesque on the Rio Presents: Stocking Stuffers
December 16, 2022
The gang at the Touch Bar & Nightclub promote this one best: “Time to jingle those bells on down for our holiday show! There will also be an artisan’s market before, during, and after the show so you can shop for presents! For yourself, for loved ones, for yourself again. It’s okay! Splurge and pamper yourself!
The Nutcracker ~ Magic Christmas Ballet
December 31, 2022
What a delightful way to end the year! Bring the whole family on New Year’s Eve to enjoy the season’s sensational and oh-so-traditional ballet! Celebrating its 30th year, the Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center brings magic to life so you can relive your childhood memories. Experience the larger-than-life costumes and the exquisite artistry of the international cast, featuring stars of Ukraine ballet, performing at the highest level of classical technique.
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]]>The post DIY Gift Ideas for Father’s Day appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.
]]>With Father’s Day around the corner on June ??, it is time to finalize your plans and gift ideas for Dad. Instead of heading out to the mall from your apartment in El Paso, TX, this year is the perfect year to try to make something yourself to present a heart-felt package to your favorite Pop.
To help you get your creative juices flowing, we visited some of our favorite websites and resources and hand-picked some easy and affordable ways to make a personal gift this year.
Whether Dad loves to BBQ, enjoys a cool brew, or looks forward to quality time with you know who, there is a perfect idea to please the big guy in your life all wrapped-up with DIY TLC!
If you need more ideas, just click into the links that we have provide within this blog. And speaking of which, on behalf of our team at Cantera apartment community in El Paso, TX, we’d like to offer credit where credit is due to all the websites we have noted below.
M&M Bow Tie Card
Photo/Idea Credit & Resource: Alydosdall.com

How sweet is this? And it is really simple to make as well. Just click into the resource above for all the directions on how to create a DIY candy card for Dad this year.
Super Dad Candy Card
Photo/Idea Credit & Resource: IHeartCraftyThings.com

There might not be a better way to let Dad know that he is your Superhero! All you need is a bit of construction paper and a tasty candy bar and your DIY card is DONE.
Monster Mix
Photo/Idea Credit & Resource: Lilluna.com

This delicious mix will keep Dad snackin’ through the weekend. It is a healthy mix of nuts and such that just might be in your cupboard as we speak. Make a batch or more to share with the rest of the family or make him a six pack that he can enjoy throughout the summer months.
Personalized Spatula
Photo/Idea Credit & Resource: SkiptoMyLou.com
This might be our favorite idea of all. And it is so simple! All you need is a little bit of paint and you are on your way to sharing your love every time it is time to BBQ.
Beer Bouquet
Photo/Idea Credit & Resource: Unoriginal Mom

Beer could be one of the best gifts to give a Dad who enjoys his brews. The picture pretty much shows you how to DIY yet for a complete play-by-play, click into UnoriginalMom to wrap this project up, and see many more ideas to please your Pop this year.
Grilling Apron
Photo/Idea Credit & Resource: LovelyIndeed.com

Keep all that BBQ sauce off Dad’s shorts! With this custom apron, you can keep Dad clean between the ribs, burgers, and brats all summer long.
Building Memories Jar
Photo/Idea Credit & Resource: TheSeasonedMom.com

Legos unite! Turn those buildings, ships, and super structures into a year-long jar of love. All you need to do is sacrifice a few Legos, grab a sharpie pen, and present a jar full of fun ideas to do with Dad this year.
And that is just the beginning. Click into more ideas noted below and get your DIY Fathers’ Day Gift Ideas into full gear this week.
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El Pasoans can celebrate Independence Day in a variety of ways, from popping their own fireworks outside the city limits or attending an organized event.
El Paso County Commissioners took no action to ban fireworks at a recent meeting because the necessary drought conditions could not be met.
Here is a roundup of area events for those looking for alternatives.
El Paso Chihuahuas: Enjoy a night of baseball against the Fresno Grizzlies and an early Independence Day celebration at 7:05 p.m. July 1 at Southwest University Park. Get a free miniflag with paid admission while supplies last. The team will be out of town July 4.
West Side Independence Day Parade: The Rotary Club of El Paso’s Independence Day parade will be from 9 a.m. to noon. July 4, starting at Western Hills Church, 530 Thunderbird. The grand marshal is Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas. The 2.6-mile parade route will go from the church down Shadow Mountain, then up Mesa to Coronado High School. Information: 474-4241, july4parade.com
Pop Goes the Fort: The El Paso Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert celebrating America’s Independence July 4, at Biggs Park, 11388 Sergeant Major Blvd. Assistant orchestra conductor James Welsch will lead the symphony in a patriotic and pops concert featuring USO Show Troupe in salute of the brave men and women of Fort Bliss and all those who served to protect the country.
Biggs Park will be open at 4:30 p.m.; festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cannon "Salute to the Union.” Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and the evening ends with fireworks.
The concert and activities are free and open to everyone. Make sure to bring valid ID for access to Biggs Park through Biggs gate. Lawn chairs and coolers are welcome. Pets, alcohol and glass containers are prohibited. Food and beer is available for purchase.
Ascarate Park: The county's Parks & Recreation will have a Fourth of July celebration from 5:30 to 10 p.m. July 4 at Ascarate Park. Parking is $5 per vehicle and picnic shelters are free on a first come, first serve basis. Shelter rentals are available starting at $50 for the day.
Ardovino's Desert Crossing: The restaurant invites patrons to enjoy a BBQ buffet, from 6 to 10 p.m. July 4 with music from Bosse Band and fireworks from the area. Reservations recommended. 575-589-0653.
Independence Day Extravaganza: The city of Socorro's annual celebration has music, food trucks, rides and fireworks on July 4. Gates open at 4 p.m. at Cougar Park, 10664 Socorro Road. Free. 915-860-8615.
Inn of the Mountain Gods: One of the biggest fireworks shows in New Mexico returns with the Star Spangled event that includes live music, barbecue and jumping balloons, starting at 3 p.m. July 4 on the Inn of the Mountain Gods lawn. Free for all attendees but wristbands for unlimited access to attractions and concessions are available for $10. Free shuttle service is also offered until midnight to ensure safe transport to and from parking lots.
La Viña Fourth of July Picnic: The winery, 4201 S. NM Highway 28 in La Union, N.M., will host its 21st annual picnic 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 4, featuring musical entertainment. Bring a picnic or buy a hamburger or hot dog from K&B Barbeque. Croquet, badminton and a water slide. Wine, soda, water and wine margaritas for sale. No coolers or pets allowed. Admission is free. Visitors may bring their own lawn chairs. Information: (575) 882-7632 or lavinawinery.com.
Las Cruces Independence Day celebrations: The Electric Light Parade, “America Rocks” is at 9 p.m. July 3, beginning at Apodaca Park, 801 E. Madrid, and traveling south on Solano Drive, east on Hadley ending at the Maag Softball Complex. Information: (575) 541-2550.
Night Ranger will lead the concert at 8 p.m. July 4 at Pat and Lou Sisbarro Community Park, 3205 Arrowhead, at New Mexico State University. Opening performer ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro will perform at 6 p.m. Free.
Fireworks will kick off at 9:45 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. Food vendors on site; no grilling, personal fireworks, alcohol, RV’s or overnight parking allowed. Information: (575) 541-2550, (575) 646-5981 or las-cruces.org.
Mesilla Independence Day: The annual fireworks display will start at 9 p.m. July 4, at the historic old Mesilla Plaza. Bring a lawn chair; no pets or alcohol. Live music and food vendors, 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. Information: (575) 524-3262, ext. 116 or mesillanm.gov.
Silver City Independence Day: The annual parade will be at 10 a.m. July 4, in Downtown Silver City. Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast precedes the event in Gough Park; activities and entertainment throughout the day. Fireworks at dusk. Information: (575) 538-3785 or silvercity.org.
Silver City Museum’s 36th annual Ice Cream Social is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in museum’s courtyard, with refreshments, live music, Cake Walk, traditional children’s games and more.
Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
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]]>The post 5 Ideas to Easily Spruce Up Your Apartment Décor appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.
]]>1. Bring the Comfort

A sofa is the main piece to any living room, so why not make it stand out? Adding high-quality throw pillows that make a statement is a simple way to make your living room pop. Try playing with textures and stitching to find the perfect match for your space!
Sites like Wayfair.com and Pier1.com have beautiful, affordable options in all shapes and sizes. Pair your pillows along with a soft, cozy blanket that carries the same color themes and voila, your living room is transformed!
2. Add Some Borders

Prints and posters are an easy way to get our favorite art into our homes at an affordable price. However, most people leave their pictures unframed, instead tacking them up wherever is accessible in the moving craze – not to be touched again unless they fall down.
Unframed prints look unfinished. Adding a simple frame can really transform your picture – making that Monet poster from the museum actually look worthy of Monet! Take the time to measure your piece and go out and get a frame. It’s worth it!
3. Make it Match
Investing in a spice tower can really beautify your kitchen countertops and drawers to get rid of unwanted clutter. No more random jars with mismatched labels! Some spice racks even come with free refills, like this one on Amazon which refills for five years! Cooking will be more fun, too!
4. Go Green

House plants bring life into your space, but only if they’re still alive! Succulents make great house plants as they require little care and there are so many varieties.
Did you know you can buy plants from Amazon.com? Check out this 20 pack of succulents for only $40.00! You can decorate the whole house with this collection.
5. Bathe in Style

A beautiful shower curtain can transform your bathroom from something drab to something fab. Check out these options from Wayfair.com to bring your space up a notch!
So there you have it! Five easy tips to liven up your apartment that don’t require anything other than an online order. Happy shopping!
External Links Disclaimer
This post may contain links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or in any way affiliated with canteraapartments.com. Please note that canteraapartments.com does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites.
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]]>The post “My Idea of Housework is to Sweep the Room with a Glance” – Erma Bombeck appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.
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With spring just around the corner (March 20th), we wanted to help our residents at Cantera Apartments get motivated to start spring cleaning. With help from MarthaStewart.com and HouseBeautiful.com we compiled a yearly ‘To-Do List’ before the weather gets hot again and everyone wants to spend time having fun in the sun!
Start by cleaning out your closets.
Ever just stuff some clothes in there to get them off the floor? Or is it overflowing with bulky sweaters and coats? Now is a good time to pack your winter clothes away and make room for a spring and summer wardrobe. Make sure to make a donation pile for the items you don’t really want, use, or need anymore. When in doubt, throw it out!
The freezer is your friend.
If you don’t like to be inside cooking in the hot summer months, use your freezer. Prep meals that freeze well and that can be reheated quickly to speed up dinner. Grilling is also a quick way to serve up dinner on hot summer nights.
Organize!
Separate your cleaning supplies into buckets for where they are for such as bathroom, kitchen, laundry, etc. If you’re feeling extra motivated, create labels for each bucket. Now is also a good time to go through medicine cabinets and throw out old and expired products. You will be better able to determine what products you might need to stock up on and which ones to skip.
Clean House.
A clean house is a happy house! Deep clean the entire house so that when you clean again it will be quick. Here are a number of items that sometimes get overlooked when we clean house.
The dishwasher. Use a specialty dishwasher cleaner to ensure the dishwasher is clean and can effectively clean your dishes. This should be done monthly.
Entire countertop surfaces. Clean the entire surface and don’t forget to get the backsplash.
Cabinets. Take the time to wipe off the tops and front sides of the cabinets where dust and grease can settle and build-up.
The refrigerator. It’s a good idea to take all the shelves and drawers out and wash with soap and water and wipe down the interior of the fridge.
The oven. At least once a year we should deep clean our ovens from top to bottom. Here’s an almost effortless way! Just warm up the oven to 150 degrees, turn the oven off, and then place a small bowl of ammonia (1/2 cup) on the top rack and a large pot with boiling water on the bottom rack. Let it sit overnight with the oven door closed and then wipe clean with some dishwashing liquid and a rag or sponge.
Bedding. Pillows, comforters, dust ruffles.
The washing machine. You can purchase a specialty cleaner or use white cleaning vinegar for the washer to ensure mold and mildew don’t build up and cause a stench you can’t get rid of. Leave the washer door open when not in use so it can dry out and further prevent mold and mildew.
Windows. Clean the inside of each window but also make sure to clean the outside of the windows to remove dirt and grime that built up over winter. House Beautiful’s pro tip is to wash on a cloudy day, so the cleanser doesn’t immediately dry on the windows.
Carpet. According to House Beautiful, the carpet should be professionally cleaned every 18 months in areas that don’t have a lot of traffic and three or four times a year in high traffic area.
Complete Unfinished Projects. Finish up and projects you started over the winter to make time for the new ones come spring when the air is fresh, and the temperatures start to rise.
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]]>The post Wondering where to spend Valentine’s Day this year? We’ve got you covered! appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.
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With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we have gathered a variety of things to do for our tenants at Cantera Apartments, whether your single, committed or anywhere in between. Grab your beau or your best friend and head out this Valentine’s Day for a night to remember!
Valentine’s Super Love Jam
Ticket Prices: $28.50, $33.50, $38.50 and $49.50 plus applicable fees
Feb. 9, 2018 @ UTEP’s Don Haskins Center
151 Glory Rd, El Paso, TX 79902
7:30PM Doors Open
Featured Artists: GQ, Rose Royce, Peaches & Herb, Jojo the original lead singer of Mary Jane Girls, Color Me Badd, Lighter Shade of Brown, Malo, Eddie Holman, The Chi-Lites, The Moments
Purchase tickets here
Bettman & Halpin and Chocolate Buffet $10 – $30
Feb. 10, 2018 @ Flickinger Center for Performing Arts in Alamogordo
1110 N New York Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310
7PM – show starts
The folk/Americana duo perform the annual Valentine’s Day event.
Valentine’s in Valentine $20 in advance $25 at the door
Feb. 14, 2018 @ The Old Mercantile
Old Mercantile Building Valentine, TX 79854
Annual Celebration – live music from local musicians, food, and plenty of beer. Bring your own chairs and blankets in case it gets cold.
Cupid’s Chase 5k Run $30 in advance $40 day of
Old Mesilla Plaza
2114 Calle De Santiago Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001
7AM – Registration
9AM – Race starts
Get ready to run in Cupid’s Chase and make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities. All runners, walkers, strollers, and wheelchairs welcome.
If a chilly run isn’t in the forecast for you, become a virtual participant and still support people with disabilities.
*Finisher Medals while supplies last
*Cupid’s Chase shirts first come, first served on race day
La Viña Winery
4201 South Highway NM-28, La Union, NM 88021
Every Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 – 4:30 PM
Enjoy a glass of wine with your friends or cozy up with your significant other. La Viña Winery offers 15,000 gallons of wine containing different blends for everyone. They also offer food and live music on the patio.
Here’s a quick list of suggestions for Valentine’s Day dinner.
Café Central – voted “Most Romantic Restaurant”
Call (915) 545-2233 for reservations
Anson 11 – Bistro and Fine Dining
Call for reservations (915) 504-6400
The El Paso Club – Romantic Five Course Valentine's Day Dinner
Call for reservations (915) 544-1135
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]]>The post Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.
]]>- Remember why you made the resolution in the first place.
- If you haven’t already, write it down. Make sure the goal is specific and attainable.
- Visualize yourself achieving your goal.
- Commit to change and make it a habit. The more you repeat something, the more your brain creates a memory of it and the easier it becomes.
- Don’t beat yourself up for slip-ups. No one is perfect. Get back on track the next day.
- Last but not least, reward yourself! When you reward yourself for meeting smaller, specific goals that lead up to your final goal, you reinforce the habit.
Fitness Coach Laurent Amzallag from Yala Fitness reminds us that altering our routine is a long-term process. Thus, our new years resolutions will become easier to maintain over time. So, stick to it and don’t give up!
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]]>The post Look No Further for a List of Where to See the Best Holiday Lights in El Paso appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.
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If you’re anything like us and love to look at beautiful Christmas lights around town, we’ve got you covered.
With help from Kiss FM and The City of El Paso, we’ve compiled a list with some of our favorites.
Fred Loya Christmas Light Show
This light show is absolutely amazing. Fred Loya puts on an annual light show featuring over 450,000 lights all synchronized to Christmas music. He offers free hot chocolate and cookies after every show and even invites you to take photos with Santa and his elves. Be sure not to miss this one this year.
12001 Paseo de Oro Ln
El Paso, TX 79936 United States
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening at 6, 7, and 8pm. Also, Christmas night 6, 7, and 8pm.
Eastridge Neighborhood Christmas Lights
This neighborhood-wide Christmas lights display is sure to impress. Residents each participate by elaborately lighting up their houses each year for a beautiful drive through the neighborhood.
Eastridge Dr
El Paso, TX 79925
Downtown Christmas Lights
Cleveland Square – between El Paso Museum of History and the downtown library
Stop by to participate in the 3rd annual ‘Lights on the Lake’ event on December 9th, at 5pm. Festivities include a Jingle Bell Jog, lighting ceremony, food trucks, music and a showing of A Christmas Story. If you can’t make the event, don’t fret. The lights will be displayed nightly thereafter until early January.
6900 Delta Drive
El Paso, TX, 79915
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Earlier this month we introduced some good ideas from our partners at Travel Channel on how to make traveling before, during, and after the holidays a little more enjoyable and a lot less stressful. There is so much information available that we’re sharing more tips with you today – courtesy of TravelChannel.com and the FrugalTravelGuy.com.
What and How to Pack Up Your Family
Before you pack your luggage, make sure you grab the most important items you’ll need for your trip, especially if you’re flying. IDs, tickets, passes and any other documents that are required for entry into a building, destination or attraction aren’t things that can be purchased or easily replaced. Packing for a flight requires a more strategic list than that for a road trip.
Packing for Toddlers and School-Age Kids
The key to packing for an infant is to carry any and every item that will keep them happy during the journey. This is where your Gerber snacks, Baby Einstein toys and Disney storybooks become your best friends. Thankfully, your toddler or school-age children are less dependent and can help you with the packing process. Giving them this responsibility helps build their excitement for your family vacation and also teaches them organizational skills early on.
There’s an APP for That
Turn your phone into the equivalent of an electronic Swiss Army knife with 10 of the TravelChannel’s favorite road-tested travel apps. All you have to do is download them and go.
TripIt
Forward confirmation emails from airlines, hotels, bus companies and more to TripIt, and the app will instantly organize it all into a single trip itinerary that you can view on your phone (or on your computer). The service also makes it easy to share itineraries with friends, family members and co-workers.
GateGuru
Hungry, but don't have a lot of time between flights? Finished your book and need a new one for the next leg of your trip? Maybe you just want to find the nearest ATM. Skip the giant wall map of the airport terminal. Before you deplane from your first flight, get the lay of the airport land with GateGuru. The app offers gate-by-gate lists of restaurants, shops and services in, most (for now) US and Canadian airports.
Skype
If you're traveling outside the US but don't want to return home to a crazy big cell-phone bill, rely on Skype's mobile phone app, which allows you to make low-cost calls over the internet instead of using your cell-phone provider's costly per-minute international plan. Pair Skype with free Wi-Fi in the hotel lobby or café of your choice, and you can phone landlines or other cell phones for just pennies and other Skype customers for free.
HopStop
Don't get lost on that new-to-you public transportation system. Plug your start and end points into HopStop to find out the best train or bus route in the city you're visiting. The app is currently available for 16 cities, states and regions in the US and Europe, including New York City, Long Island, San Francisco, Paris and New Jersey. Yes, New Jersey.
AutoStitch
That landscape in front of you screams out for a panoramic photo, don't you think? Take 2 to 5 snaps of any scene and AutoStitch will digitally sew them together to create a panorama. Right there. In your phone. Nifty.
iTalk Lite
Photos are nice but how about a soundtrack to go with those vacation memories? With iTalk, you can capture on your phone the sounds of your trip: bird calls, street sounds and late-night sangria-fueled banter with newfound travel friends (but, please, get the friends' permission first). Use the free iTalk Sync program to download audio to your computer via Bluetooth.
Guide Apps
As much as we enjoy some good crowd-sourced information via Twitter or Yelp, we still love a good guidebook. Or, these days, a good guide app. Companies including Not For Tourists and Sutro Media publish quality guides written by travel expert.
And as we have noted earlier this month, if you happen to decide to stay at home right here at our apartments in El Paso, Texas, we’ll look forward to sharing the seasons with you!
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With the fall season right around the corner, smart travelers are already looking for good deals and great tips on how to enjoy their holiday travel this year. Be it Thanksgiving, Christmas, or events in-between, traveling can be a challenge to say the least.
To help you stay ahead of the (stress) curve, we decided to use our blogs this month on some tips that we have found online that will hopefully make your travels to and from our apartment community in El Paso, Texas, this Thanksgiving (and other holidays) a lot more enjoyable this year.
We’ll send along our thanks to the Travel Channel who has enlightened us with the following tips.
Safe travels!
Plan Ahead
It's never too early to start your holiday travel planning. In the early fall, you can take advantage of lower rates and seats aplenty. To jump on a bargain, sign up for sale notifications from your preferred airlines or Amtrak and follow your favorites on Twitter and Facebook where special sale notifications may pop up before they are available to the general public.
Travel Light
As more airlines start charging for checked bags, it's a good idea to pack light and carry on your bag. But keep in mind that your fellow travelers will all have the same idea and overhead space may be tight onboard. To lighten your traveling load, consider shipping some of your belongings to your final destination ahead of time, especially presents and bulky items like diapers or extra clothes that you won't need for the journey.
Choose the Best Days
The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year closely followed by the Sunday after the big day when travelers tear themselves away from the leftovers and football to make the journey home. Christmas has a similar pattern.
Avoid these days by flying out on Monday or Tuesday if the holiday schedule makes sense. When you're ready to head home, take flight on Friday when the masses have moved on from the airports to the shopping centers to score the best holiday deals. The crowds pick up again on Saturday, reaching a critical peak on Sunday, before leveling out on Monday.
High-Tech Troubleshooting
It's commonsense to arrive at the airport early — you'll need the time for parking, security and to wait your turn for that necessary cup of coffee. But you can avoid some airport hassles by taking advantage of useful applications that can be used on your smart phone. iPhone users can get the skinny on the airport, including maps showing the gates and restaurant information, using the GateGuru app. Airlines including Southwest, Delta and American Airlines all have mobile websites where passengers can check in, confirm seats and keep track of their flight status. Plan your route ahead of time and travel with a GPS system, smart phone or old-school maps to offer alternatives if you need a Plan B.
Holiday Road
While you certainly save money and avoid some headaches traveling by land, navigating the highways presents its own set of holiday challenges during the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Traffic can choke heavily traveled routes adding hours to generally speedy trips. Follow the same best practices for road travel, including avoiding the highways on the Wednesday before turkey day and the following Sunday.
Plan your route ahead of time and travel with a GPS system, smart phone or old-school maps to offer alternatives if you need a Plan B. And to avoid unnecessary delays, bring along an E-ZPass or change for the tolls, as well as plenty of snacks, and be sure to fill up on gas before you hit the road.
Unplug. Unwind. Have fun.
Although traveling during the holidays has its challenges, when all is said and done it give us all a chance to really unplug, unwind, and spend good times with family and friends.
On behalf of the entire team at Cantera we wish you the best of success in planning your holiday travels. If you happen to decide to stay at home, we’ll look forward to sharing the seasons with you!
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