This holiday season, consider NOT flying

— -- You know things are bad for travelers when the President of the United States chimes in, as George W. Bush did a few weeks ago when he addressed the airline industry's dismal record during November and December. In announcing steps to ease Thanksgiving airline congestion, he said, "Unfortunately, this is also a season of dread for too many Americans. Holiday travelers faced with the prospect of long delayed and canceled flights and lost baggage, and other problems have become all too often an occurrence. In other words, there's [sic] a lot of people that are worried about traveling because they've had unpleasant experiences when they've been flying around the country."

Recent holiday debacles—capped by the US Airways service meltdown during Christmas Week of 2004 that resulted in massive delays and mishandled baggage—clearly have taken a toll on passengers' confidence. A survey conducted in October for the US Travel Insurance Association found 93% of Americans believe that travel-related problems and the risk of lost luggage increase during the peak holiday season.

Of course, this won't prevent tens of thousands of travelers from booking flights during the coming weeks, but the combination of record passenger loads, security hassles, and the ever-present prospect of disruptive winter weather should be enough to make even the most frequent of fliers consider the feasibility of alternate transportation.

Now that low fares have conditioned many of us to view air travel as a cheap commodity, there are compelling reasons to think of other modes. For those who dread leaving for the airport, it may be time to consider one of the options outlined below.

Driving

During last week's Thanksgiving holiday period, AAA noted that record-high gas prices—averaging more than $3 per gallon—did not deter an increase in the number of Americans traveling 50 miles or more from home. In fact, AAA stated, "This is consistent with historical data, which show that high gas prices do not generally keep people from traveling by car." So while it's safe to assume the nation's highways will be as busy as its skies during the upcoming holiday season, there's no question driving offers more flexibility—and fewer opportunities to be stranded in a hub city.

Fuel costs. If you're concerned about budgeting for such trips, AAA provides a Fuel Cost Calculatorto estimate total gasoline expenses. This tool allows you to calculate based on origin, destination, and your car's year, make and model, on both a one-way and round-trip basis. Fuel costs are based on vehicles' EPA highway fuel economy ratings and AAA's daily Fuel Gauge Report.

Construction and closures. Before leaving home, you'll probably want to chart your course using a mapping site such as MapQuest or Google Maps. But first it's absolutely essential you visit the Federal Highway Administration's National Traffic and Road Closure Information page. This site provides numerous links to state and local highway departments in every state so you can obtain updates on traffic and road closures.

Travel hotline. While you're en route, you may want to remember the three-digit phone line 511, which is a Traveler Information hotline originated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Though 511 is not available in all areas of the U.S., it can be invaluable when you need up-to-date travel advisories on the road. Specific regions of the country also maintain both online and telephonic road condition updates, so they're worth checking out before you begin your journey.