Holiday Travel Tips

​The holiday season is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year and getting to your destination can be overwhelming! We've collected a few of our best tips and tricks to make getting to your holiday destination a little easier. 
 
Be prepared through packing
 
Packing for your trip is the first step to getting your trip off on the right foot! The amount and size of luggage needed for your trip will really be determined by your family’s size and needs. No matter how you choose to pack, we always strongly recommend bringing at least one carryon bag with the essentials for your family—a change of clothes, medicine, baby care items, that special blankie, etc. There’s always a chance of luggage being delayed, especially with the high volume of travelers, and knowing you'll have your must-have items for at least the first day or two can eliminate a lot of stress should something unforeseen happen. 
 
Also make sure each member of our family has a backpack or purse with everything they’ll need for while we are traveling- fun, candy, and snacks, entertainment for during the flight, and any other must have items! 
 
And be sure to pack light while also accounting for weather at your destination! Not unusual this time of year to get on a plane in warm weather and land in the cold—or vice versa!

---

​Book that reservation
 
If you are going to any major tourist destination over the holiday season and want a specific experience, especially on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, make sure you have a reservation in place. Whether it’s a show or dining experience you should plan ahead. This is especially important for places like Walt Disney World.
 
Making your way through the airport:
 
Airports are almost always significantly busier during the holiday season than at other times during the year. You should anticipate longer than typical wait times in all areas of the airport, and allow plenty of time to accommodate any slow spots you may encounter. Make sure you've planned ahead to account for all of the stops your family will need to make at the airport- checking your bags, security, grabbing snacks, drinks, or books and magazines, bathroom stops, etc. Also, be sure you know the TSA guidelines when it comes to your carry-on luggage! You can read more about the most up to date guidelines here before you go!  

---

​Pack your patience
 
This may seem surprising, but you are not the only one traveling this time of year! So pack your patience and give yourself plenty of extra time. This may mean showing up to the airport two hours before your domestic flight or aiming to get that special dinner reservation 15-minutes early. It also means just mentally prepare yourself for the longer lines along the way. If it normally takes you 30 minutes to do something, plan an hour just to be safe. This small shift in how you perceive time will help eliminate many stressful moments along the way!
 
Keeping the kids entertained along the way
 
Making sure your kids have enough to keep them busy along the way can make your travel day(s) much more enjoyable.  Some of my favorite items to pack for kids are coloring books or puzzle books, I Spy type books, movies on your tablet or portable DVD player, video games, and books to read.  Many of these items can be found at dollar stores or in the bargain section of stores like Target.  For littler kids, pack lollipops to help clear their ears on the plane.  Another great toddler activity - pipe cleaners.  Children will spend so much time creating different things from them, and when they are done they can be tossed in the backpack or trash!  You will also want to make sure you have plenty of snacks and a water bottle that can be filled once you are through airport security. 
 
Online check-in

Take advantage of online check in whenever and wherever you can! Check-in online for your airline, hotel or cruise vacation. Taking just a few minutes to check-in online can often help you skip lines or at least make the lines much more efficient during this time of year!

---