Tips for Holiday Travel
By Elizabeth Walling
 Today, more people are finding themselves living far from family and friends and longing to be closer to loved ones during the holidays. Holiday travel has been a tradition for many years and it is often associated with hectic car rides and crowded airports. Here are some ways to make your holiday trip go smoothly.
The first rule of travel is to plan your trip well ahead of time. This is important whether you travel by plane or by car. If possible, book your flights far in advance, when you will have more options for flight times and seating, and ticket prices may be lower. If traveling by car, plan your route ahead of time so you know which roads to take and where the best places to stop may be. Hotel rooms should also be booked well in advance to ensure that you get the best room at the best price. When packing, have a list of everything you have to bring and follow that list carefully while you are packing your suitcase. Planning for emergencies is especially essential during road trips, so be sure to pack a first aid kit, flashlights, blankets, and jumper cables.
Avoiding the urge to rush your trip will also make holiday travel much more enjoyable. The day immediately before or after major holidays is when airports and roads will be most congested. |
It may be easier to make travel arrangements at least two days before and after the actual holiday. This alone can ease a lot of the stress associated with holiday travel. If you are traveling by car and your trip is long, it may be worthwhile to break the trip down into more than one day of driving. Driving when you are over-tired and over-stressed can make holiday travel hard on everyone. If you can’t break the trip down, try to have more than one driver available in the car so that you can take turns driving during the trip.
Along with rushed crowds, holiday travel can also mean bringing gifts with you on your trip. You can avoid this hassle altogether by shipping your gifts ahead of time. This can save you the trouble of bringing gifts to the airport where baggage is limited, or having gifts take up precious space in the trunk of your car. If you do choose to bring your gifts along with you, it might be a good idea to leave them unwrapped until you arrive at your destination. Bring fancy gift bags and tissue with you, and then your gift-wrapping can be done in a snap as soon as you arrive.
Using these simple planning tips can save you a lot of stress and allow you to enjoy this holiday season to the fullest. |
