Traveling during the holidays is no secret for being stressful and overcrowded. Those survival books are amazing and they are full of tips and tricks that help you navigate large airports as well as long road trips.
The holidays are upon us and with that holiday travel season to help you keep some sanity through it all, here are my top 10 tips for surviving the Holidays.
10 Tips to Keep You Sane During Holiday Travel
1. Do Your Research
Before you start your journey; research on options of other routes and other means of transportation. Opt for beautiful roads to skip on the traffic or go off-the-beaten path.
If you plan to travel by air, becoming familiar with the airlines baggage policies and any carry-on restrictions will help make your visit to the airport smoother.
2. Stay Connected
Well, get on to the best travel apps and keep yourself updated and organized. The app Flight Status and GateGuru provide up-to-the-minute updates about delays, gate changes and wait times at security.
The app partnership also offers GasBuddy which is why we discussed clean the bathroom earlier and SitOrSquat, (everyone needs to find a place to go right?) as you plan your road trip.
3. Pack Light
Reduce stress by not checking bags and pack as light as you can. Travel is quicker when you can skip the baggage claim, and it limits the dreaded lost luggage scenario as well.
Packing important items like medicine, documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on just helps with them being organized, so you know exactly where to find in the event you need anything.
4. Pack Earplugs
All the craziness of holiday travel is quickly drowned out with a pair of earplugs. Whether it be a crying infant on has no choice but to earplugs offer the ideal reprieving from the endless cacophony. For some additional relaxation, and this goes well with the long flights or drives they can an eye mask.
5. Don’t Get Hangry
Avoid meals on the road by investing in lots of chips as well bottles of water for your adventure. If you leave in a hurry or do not eat well, chances are that you can get upset and make mistakes afterwards traveling, on the road or even flying. Stave off the airline food lust by bringing light, vitamin-rich goodies with which to stuff your face during travel.
6. Ship Gifts or Give Gift Cards
Save yourself the grief of rattling through wrapped gifts at airport security by either mailing your presents ahead or giving instead gift cards.
TSA also reminds the public to ship wrapped gifts or wait until you get to your destination, as they might need to be unwrapped for inspection.
7. Travel on Off-Peak Days
Whenever possible, plan to travel on off-peak days to minimize the crowds and chaos. If you don’t want to deal with the travel rush, leave for your Thanksgiving destination on the day of the holiday early in time for breakfast. You can save on long lines and crowded airports by flying the day of the holiday
8. Travel Early or Late in the Day
Book early morning and well into evening departures to have a better chance at leaving on time, and shorter security lines. This way if your flight is canceled, you will have more rebooking options with other flights all day long. Likewise, avoid times when most others are awake and on the road to help ensure smoother travels with fewer traffic jams.
9. Plan for the Unexpected
Anticipate potential delays or disruptions by planning ahead and allowing extra time for connections and security checkpoints.
For road trips during winter months, pack essentials like tire chains and flashlights to prepare for snowy conditions. A little preparation can go a long way in handling unexpected challenges.
10. Inhale. Exhale.
Keep calm holiday travel is inevitable trouble, wrap it in a joke and send it on its way. Celebrate the surprise and laugh off the blunders whose tales you will tell your friends.
Right, because holiday travel stress is part of the fun! So just take a deep breath in and exhale into the journey.
Conclusion
By following these ten survival tips, you can navigate the holiday travel season with ease and make the most of your festive adventures. Safe travels!
