Christmas getaway: How to avoid the queues

Nearly 14 million drivers are expected to hit the road in the last weekend before Christmas, marking a new record, according to the RAC motoring group.

Rail disruption due to engineering works is also expected to add to congestion on the roads.

So how can you avoid hotspots – whether travelling by road, air, ferry or rail?

The RAC says that on Friday, the worst time to travel is between 14:00 and 19:00, and an evening journey may be slightly easier. On Saturday, most traffic is expected between 13:00 and 18:00, and it’s best to set off in the morning.

The AA advises people to be prepared with plenty of fuel, have their phones charged and tyres and lights checked.

They also suggest carrying food and warm clothes in case you get stuck in a traffic jam during what it says could be one of the busiest festive periods for road travel since its records began in 2010.

Experts have said that with Christmas falling mid-week, this may spread traffic over a number of days.

“Check the traffic reports before you leave and try to travel when it’s quieter if you can, or consider taking a different route to beat the jams,” the AA’s Chris Wood adds.

Travel expert Julian Bray says if travelling by road, “go earlier and come back later” as heavy traffic will result from rail engineering works taking place over the festive period.

Network Rail advises passengers to check their journey before travelling.

Some services such as West Midlands Railway are running an amended service because of engineering works and last-minute train cancellations are possible.

As London Paddington is closed between 27 and 29 December for HS2 construction works, rail travel to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted, as well as journeys to south Wales and south-west England.

The RMT union has also announced strike action affecting Avanti West Coast on 31 December and 2 January, and the train firm will run amended timetables.

Eurostar says that it expects Boxing Day and 29 December to be its busiest days and to leave plenty of travel time.

Ella Boldron, travel expert at consumer group Which?, says: “If your rail journey is delayed, you’ll be entitled to compensation, though how this is awarded can vary between rail companies”.

Under the Delay Repay scheme, for example, it varies according to the length of the delay.

And she points out that if your train is cancelled you may be entitled to a full refund.

Friday 20 December is projected to be the busiest day for air travel over the festive period, according to data analysts Cirium.

It looked at all departures due to take place between 20 December and 2 January and said that overall, this year will see 5% more departures compared with 2023.

The busiest days for Heathrow will be 20 December, while 22 December will be busiest for Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Birmingham and Bristol airports.

Mr Bray says customers should stay in touch with their airline and expect alterations.

Leaving plenty of time for travelling to your departure airport is sensible, as well as checking baggage rules as some airlines have changes their policies recently.

He also says that customers should always reconfirm their return journey before setting off.

Which? advises that passengers will also be entitled to assistance from the airline, with things like food and drink, if their flight is delayed by more than two hours.

“For short-haul flights, the threshold for compensation kicks in after a three hour delay – but is only payable if the delay is deemed within the airline’s control, meaning you won’t be entitled to it if your plane is held up by a snow storm or security incident”, Ms Boldron says.

For cancellations, you should also get the choice of a refund or rebooking on the next available flight.

The Port of Dover is one of Europe’s busiest ports and it says that if you have booked with a third-party provider, you should check your details before travelling.

Allow plenty of time for your journey, and arrive only for your allotted sailing.

It also suggests having passports open and ready before Border Control, in addition to carrying snacks or entertainment to pass the time.

One of Britain’s busiest ports in Holyhead in north Wales, will remain closed until 15 January at the earliest after it sustained damage during Storm Darragh.

Ms Boldron says: “If your ferry is delayed, you won’t be entitled to compensation if weather conditions mean the ship can’t safely operate, or there are other extraordinary circumstances.

Otherwise, compensation is usually paid on a sliding scale depending on the length of your journey and the amount of time you’re held up.

She adds that if the ferry is cancelled or delayed by more than 90 minutes, you should be offered the choice between an alternative sailing, or a refund.

You may also be entitled to overnight accommodation if required, she adds.