Holiday travel season is here! Traveling during the holidays can be both exciting and overwhelming. It’s a great time to visit and experience new or favorite places, but it can also be an intense time for travel. Airports are congested, roads are congested, tickets and accommodation are increasing, and people are often stressed and irritable. Take some of the stress out of traveling by getting ready this holiday season. Whether you’re traveling within the U.S. or abroad – the following travel tips will help you enjoy more of your travels. Here are some practical tips on how to travel on vacation and make the most of it.
20 Tips for Vacation Travel
Monitor flight deals
Traveling during the holidays can be very expensive.If you’re planning a trip this holiday season, save yourself some money by monitoring flight offers. The more flexible your travel plans, the better. Maybe fly to a less popular alternate airport or travel during off-peak hours. If you have points and miles, take advantage and use them! time to buy. In general, the best times to buy flights are obviously on Sundays and early mornings (5am) when deals are at their highest. Flights are usually cheapest between 4 months and 3 weeks before your departure date. Booking within 3 weeks of departure date is at risk! It is also possible to set price alerts on the flights you are looking for and you will be notified when the prices drop.
Travel during off-peak hours
If you can be flexible when planning your vacation travel, it will pay off. Traveling during off-peak hours will help you save some money. Usually, booking a trip departing on a Tuesday or Wednesday is the cheapest option. Sunday is usually the most expensive day to travel, so avoiding Sunday will save you money. While it’s not always the most fun time to travel, the cheapest travel options are usually early in the morning or late at night. A red eye is usually much cheaper than a noon flight. Avoiding peak travel days will help make your travel experience less hectic, less expensive, and generally more enjoyable!
Register for TSA PreCheck
TSA Pre-Check Will cost you a little more ($78 for 5 years), but will make your travel experience smoother and faster. You can even get PreCheck for free if you have certain qualifying credit cards. If you travel a lot, after 5 years you will feel that the cost is worth it. Skip those crazy, busy holiday lines, wait times, and pass TSA PreCheck with ease. If you’re not eligible yet, be sure to allow ample time to register before your travel date. Verification may take up to 60 days to complete.
Packed Healthy Snacks
Packing snacks is always a good idea! Airports and roads can often be extraordinarily busy during the holiday season. If you’re in a rush to catch a flight or stuck in traffic, you may not have time to get off the highway or wait in a long line for food. Packing some healthy snacks will ensure you have everything you need to get through a busy travel day.
Bring extra clothes in your carry-on
Unfortunately, busy airports during the holidays can lead to lost luggage and flight delays. Be sure to pack a change of clothes and some essential toiletries in your carry-on luggage so you have something clean and comfortable to wear if you’re stuck at the airport for an extended period or forced to check into a hotel without luggage.
Arrive at the airport early
I personally struggle with this, but it always pays off when I get there early. Even when airports get quieter as you travel, it always feels so much better to travel without being rushed. Planning your trip to get there and allowing plenty of time will ensure you don’t run to the gate or miss your flight. That way you have time to wait in line at security and get food if you need it.
flexible
Know that one of the downsides of traveling on vacation is that things most likely won’t go your way. The airport is understaffed and with so many bookings, something is bound to go wrong for many. Have a backup plan in case your plans are delayed. Make the most of it and go with the flow.
Package lights
Easier said than done, and I should never advise on it, but traveling light always makes traveling easier and less stressful. It sheds light on the possibility of overweight baggage or sore muscles from carrying too heavy a carry-on bag.
Make a packing list
Making a packing list will help ensure you don’t forget something important. Include everything on your list, from clothes to shoes to makeup and electronics. It will also help you avoid packing unnecessary items and focus on what you need for your trip.
Use packing cubes
packing cubes A great way to organize your items while packing. It also helps to consolidate and allow enough room for all your needs.
mail gift
Traveling with young children during the holidays can be very challenging. All the things you need to travel with little ones can make traveling any time of year difficult, but the extra stress of holiday gifts adds a whole new level. If you plan to celebrate Christmas and put presents under the tree, you can send gifts in advance. It solves the dilemma of dealing with gifts when trying to travel and get through the airport. Don’t pre-wrap presents, wrap them when they arrive!
Essential for holiday travel
charger
We’ve all done it. You arrive at the airport and find that your iPhone or kindle is low on battery, and when you dig through your bag, you realize you forgot to bring the charger. While they often sell chargers at the airport, they’re ridiculously expensive, so definitely remember to pack your own.
Advil/Tylenol
The stress, altitude, and commotion of travel can be enough to cause a headache. Make sure you have some Advil, Tylenol, or other pain relievers on hand to help stop the headache before it gets worse.
Lipstick/Lotion
Flying at high altitudes is the perfect recipe for dehydration and dryness. There’s nothing worse than having dry lips or skin while traveling. Pack your favorite lip balm and travel-sized lotion to make sure you’re prepared when your skin gets dry.
snack
I personally always pack snacks when I travel. I was anxious about not having enough food, and something about the travel day was making me hungry. At the end of the day, I can count twice the size of my usual meal. Especially on holidays when the airport is overcrowded, the lines can be long and you might be in a hurry to get to the gate in time. You may not have time to grab food, but it’s always handy to have a snack on hand in an emergency!
kettle
Carrying a bottle of water is always essential when traveling! Be sure to pour or drink water before going through the security line though! There are now plenty of places to fill up water bottles at airports. It is environmentally friendly and saves a lot of money on buying plastic water bottles.
hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is now a must-have when traveling! Best to have a travel size in your bag, ready to spray before meals or after touching escalators, elevators, etc. With so much germs this season, take this extra precaution to avoid getting sick during the holidays.
earphone
I love my AirPods for many reasons, and I always take them with me when I travel. They are very small and come in the charging case, which is very convenient. They also have excellent noise cancellation, which is great for traveling and eliminating all the chatter and overwhelming noise around you. If you have a long flight, layover, or other downtime, listening to music or podcasts is a great way to relax and enjoy life.
mask
Packing a few masks is a great idea for travel these days. That way, if you end up next to someone coughing on a plane, you can wear a mask and feel less likely to get sick. I used to get sick while traveling and now having the option to wear a mask to reduce my risk is very convenient!
cosmetic
It’s always nice to have the option to brush your teeth or wash your face while traveling. And you never know when plans will change and you’ll be without luggage for a night or more. Just be sure to pack some essential toiletries so you can be prepared no matter what happens.
What are the best travel tips and tricks for the holidays? Let us know in the comments below!
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