The holidays are upon us & we all know that with the holidays come travel days! While some of us may be flying across the country to spend time with friends & families, others may only be celebrating a couple of cities away. But regardless of where you are heading, use these five tips to travel stress-free!
LEAVE EARLY OR LEAVE LATE
Arguably the most important tip for holiday travel is to avoid peak travel times & leave early or leave late. With the influx of tourists traveling around the holidays, you can avoid long custom lines, heavy traffic & travel delays by planning to fly (or drive) when others are not. If Christmas falls on a Saturday (for example) then plan to fly on the Thursday & enjoy an additional day off work … you won’t regret it!
TRAVEL LIGHT!
If you are flying then traveling carry-on only (that’s NO checked baggage) is the best way to guarantee a stress-free travel day. Not only can you check-in online & avoid baggage drop lines at the airport, but you will guarantee that your luggage does not get lost in the chaos.
If you are driving, try not to pack too much just because you can. Pack only what you need & prevent the anxiety that comes with an overcrowded bag (especially if you plan to return home with gifts!)
GIVE YOURSELF TIME
Whether this means checking in early at the airport or leaving an hour earlier for your drive, expect delays & give yourself more time than you would typically need.
PACK SNACKS
There’s nothing worse than being stuck in long weekend or holiday traffic with a car full of kids and just sitting & watching as the time on the clock creeps by. Whether you’re traveling with kids, or simply hoping to avoid “the hanger”, be sure to pack snacks & have them on hand for moments like these.
Flying? Having snacks on hand will not only help to avoid extra spending during your flight, but often times airport delays & extra long security lines leave holiday travelers without enough time to brave the line at Starbucks & grab a snack before boarding.
TRY TO RELAX
I know, I know, there’s nothing worse than being told to “just relax” but when you’re braving travel over the holidays it is SO necessary for a successful trip. Understand that as much as you do to prepare, crowds & delays are unavoidable. Remember that you’ve done everything in your control to ease your travels, but that some things are simply out of your control … & that’s ok. “Just relax” & enjoy the experience as it comes.