Top 10 Holiday Travel Tips

Top 10 Holiday Travel Tips

Make Your Getaway Easier With These Simple Tips
By CARLY MILNE

Travel can be a somewhat stressful experience no matter what the time of year, but taking a trip during the holidays can multiply that anxiety to an unbearable level if you’re not properly prepared. Whether you're packing up for a cross-country flight or loading the car for a road trip to spend holiday time with friends and family, these simple tips will help you get the most out of your vacation time… and manage your travel stress during the busiest transit season of the year.

1. Have a Game Plan

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling alone, with your significant other or a big group -- you should know where you’re going, how you're getting there, what it’s going to cost and what you need while you’re gone. And if you're flying, familiarize yourself with security requirements and carry on allowances to help you plan your packing. Hammering out all the details of your trip before you put down your credit card not only organizes you, but mentally prepares you for the trip ahead.

2. Make Sure You Know What You're Committing To

Are you absolutely sure that you want to jump in the kitchen and help Aunt Susie make a 15-course Thanksgiving dinner after you've spent six hours on a plane? Not to mention the fact that you had to get up at 3am to get to the airport on time, and then there's the jet lag… It’s best you give yourself a day or two to acclimate before launching into the typical holiday madness, unless you’re the type who works best under pressure and exhaustion. In that case, more power to you (and can you share your secrets for such boundless energy?)

3. Make Arrangements for Home

For some people, all they need to feel secure about leaving home is an indoor light timer and having the post office put a hold on their mail. For others -- especially those who have pets -- having a house sitter is more their speed. Whichever category you fall into, making those arrangements early on in your planning will make you all the more comfortable about leaving home behind.

4. Create a List

What do you absolutely need to bring with you that you can't live without? Do you have room for the gifts you bought the family? How about a passport? Starting with a master list of what you need -- not just for each day of your trip, but also while you're in transit -- will help ensure you’re not scrambling to remember if you really did pack your medication in your checked luggage.

5. Try and Travel on Off Days

As a general rule, weekends are the busiest travel times while weekdays tend to carry a lighter load. If you can, aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday departure to make transit easier. If you can’t, try and leave as early as possible to allow for delays and traffic.

6. Be Prepared

You can't always prevent travel drama from happening, but you can always do what you can ahead of time to ensure it’s easier to deal with. Make sure you take your car in for a tune-up at least a week ahead of departure if you’re road tripping and pack at least one change of clothes into a carry-on just in case your checked luggage takes a side trip to Albuquerque. That said…

7. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

It's never fun when the airline reroutes your luggage and getting a flat on the interstate isn’t exactly a great time, but getting all worked up over it isn't going to serve to do anything but give you an ulcer. Do your best to keep your cool, even if the small stuff becomes big stuff. It’ll make it easier to deal with and get through.

8. Know You're Not Going to Get It All Done

You might have every second of every day jam packed with activities, and that’s fine… as long as you accept that there’s no way you'll accomplish it all (unless you’re super human.) There's nothing wrong with a schedule, but making allowances for exhaustion or cousin Joey’s last-minute recital will make life so much easier on you.

9. Recharge Your Batteries

It doesn't matter how long it's been since you’ve seen Uncle Ned -- if you need a nap, take it. Running yourself down during the holidays will only ensure that you get sick, and who wants to take a trip home when they're sick? (Certainly not the passengers traveling with you!)

10. Enjoy the Trip Home

Don't endure your return -- celebrate it. Put yourself in a good mood and enjoy the process of easing back into normal life. Worrying about the dog, bills and what you have to do when you get back to work will just undo all the hard work you did to de-stress in the first place. Don't you want to hang on to vacation bliss as long as you can?