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3 apps that could take the misery out of Thanksgiving travel

Thanksgiving travel can be a joy … or an absolute nightmare. When you factor in the weather, mode of transportation and day of departure, it’s difficult to know what to expect. Maybe you’ll breeze through airport security or you maybe you’ll pop a tire in the middle of nowhere. Who knows? \\_(?)_/

AAA projects that more than 48 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving. That’s an increase of more than 1 million travelers compared with last year’s predicted 46.9 million. So really, the only people safe from the hassles of holiday travel are party hosts (*side-eye*).

Fortunately, one or all three of the following apps might be just the assist you need. You’re welcome.

Good Hands Rescue

Flat tire? Need a tow? Out of gas? If you’re unfortunate enough to have an emergency while driving to your Thanksgiving destination, you can download (for free) the Allstate Good Hands Rescue app to get roadside assistance.

Good Hands Rescue will provide a $2 roadside rescue promotion on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 23), which Allstate describes as the busiest travel day of the year.

>> You don’t need to be an Allstate customer to use the app or service. It’s an on-demand, pay-per-service available to everyone.

>> Outside of the $2 roadside rescue promotion, prices for non-tow services start at $69, and at $99 for tows.

>> “Wait times can vary based on things like location and complexity,” said Pam Dufour, Allstate’s president of roadside services. “Rescues are treated with the utmost urgency, and once service is confirmed, our innovative digital technology taps the phone’s GPS to allow people to track the provider’s en-route status.”

Getaround

If you’re flying to your Turkey Day destination but want a vehicle to get you around once you’re there, check out the short-term car rental service Getaround.

You can download the Getaround app for free and gain access to hundreds of cars available for rent by Chicago residents and by those in other cities. You can view the list of Getaround cities here.

“The primary difference between Getaround and traditional car rental options is that Getaround does not own any of the vehicles available on our platform,” Getaround founder Jessica Scorpio said in a statement. “Since Getaround cars are owned by real people in the community, we are able to offer a wider variety of cars in more convenient locations across the city.”

>> The average cost to rent a Getaround car is $7.50 per hour or $60 per day, and insurance is included in the hourly rate.

>> Users open the app, choose a car that’s available to rent nearby and then unlock the vehicle with the app upon arrival.

>> Because car owners set their vehicle’s hours and availability, renters can book cars on demand 24/7.

>> Renters must have a valid credit card on file before booking a trip, and most major credit cards are accepted.

>> You can list your own car for rent to earn a little extra money, but you first will need to have the Getaround Connect installed in your vehicle so it can be unlocked with the app. More details are available here.

FastToll

Nothing is more annoying on your trip into or out of Chicago than getting stuck in miles-long bumper-to-bumper traffic, only to have to wait behind a million other bozos when it comes time to go through a tollbooth.

FastToll is a new toll-tracking app that allows you to save time by passing through Illinois open-road tollways without having an I-Pass. (Because we’ve all cheated and gone through the express lane and then forgotten to pay later.) Well, FastToll tracks each toll you drive through and then allows you to pay the tolls within seven days through its app.

“FastToll helps the Illinois Tollway drivers use the I-Pass lanes without a transponder,” FastToll founder Radek Mista said in a statement. “This means that it helps drivers save time by avoiding lines in cash lanes and lowers stress for drivers unfamiliar with Illinois roads.”

>> You need to turn it on for it to do its job. Once you open the app, select the “Turn On Tracking” option so tolls can be detected. You can talk on the phone or use other apps and FastToll will operate in the background.

>> Users must adhere to Illinois Tollway policies. So if you forget to pay your tolls within seven days, they could turn into violations and you could be subject to a penalty. But the app issues reminders if your tolls aren’t paid after three days.

>> If you decide to make a payment through the app, FastToll charges a processing fee of 99 cents or 10 percent of the total toll payment.

>> FastToll does not work on toll roads outside of Illinois.

@RianneCoale | rcoale@redeyechicago.com

The Transit Diaries runs in RedEye’s print edition every Tuesday on Page 4. If you have a story you’d like to share, email us at redeye@redeyechicago.com with “Transit Diaries” in the subject line.