Tropical Storm Hanna: Travel Tips and Advice

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Tropical Storm Hanna is set to track up the East Coast this weekend, and will no doubt cause significant disruptions to air, sea, and land travel. Here’s a rundown of what to do if you have travel plans:

If you’re flying, check your airport’s website for information on delays and closures. Some major airports that stand to see severe weather related to the storm include Charleston (South Carolina), Raleigh-Durham, the Washington, D.C., and New York airports, and Boston.
Your airline’s website will have information on any change-fee waivers put in effect for travelers stranded by the storm. So far, American, AirTran, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest, Spirit, United, US Airways, and Virgin America have issued travel advisories and waivers for some cities, and may expand those to include other locations as well.
If you have a cruise departing this weekend, particularly to the Caribbean or Bermuda, check with your cruise line to see what, if any, changes are being made to your departure and itinerary.
Amtrak has already canceled several trains this weekend, including departures of the Northeast Regional, Palmetto, and Auto Train.

We’ll continue to monitor the storm and its impact on travel throughout the weekend.

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