Some people have the luxury of staying put during the Holidays, but some of us have to travel hundreds of miles to spend time with our loved ones. This is not really so bad considering that Christmas is the time for family and friends. What’s bad about it is that hundreds of other people will be thinking of the same thing and will want to spend time with their loved ones too. This makes traveling during the Holidays difficult, harsh, and exhausting. Here are some tips to help you survive the holiday rush.
Pack Ahead
One of the reasons why you forget a toothbrush or your cell phone charger is, because you like to pack at the last minute. To avoid forgetting important things, pack ahead of time. If your flight is in a week, start putting together your wardrobe at least 3 days before the date of departure. The night before, pack your toiletries except for your toothbrush and deodorant. Upon getting up and using said items, put them inside your toiletry case then pack them up. This way, everything is inside your suitcase and ready to go. You can also purchase new toothbrush and deodorant so that you can pack them up 3 days before your trip.
Get Up 1 to 2 Hours Early
Set your alarm an hour or two earlier than the usual. This will give you extra time to get ready. You can use this time to pack (if you did not follow above tip), unplug appliances, eat and cook breakfast, and set up your security system or inform the neighbors or neighborhood watch that you’re going away. The extra time can also be used to check the car if you’re going on a road trip or to avoid traffic if you’re going to the airport or bus terminal.
Pack Earplugs
Ear plugs are some of the best inventions, especially if you’re on a long commercial flight. They will enable you to tune out unnecessary noise or get some much needed sleep. Shutting down noise can help decrease stress levels whether you’re waiting for your flight to board or actually sitting in your seat. Earplugs are not only for air travel, they can also be used to tune out your sister’s music or your brother’s sports talk.
Avoid Being Hangry
Have you ever noticed that you’re grumpier when you’re hungry? We call this being hangry. It’s when you’re hungry and angry at the same time. Avoid this by eating regularly even when you’re traveling. Eat something at the airport before boarding or eat the airplane food. You can also bring food along with you in the car and eat snacks or fill up on fluids to avoid getting hangry.
Give Gift Cards
Lugging heavy gifts in the airport or cramming them inside the car can be very inconvenient. The TSA suggests that giving gift cards instead of gifts to avoid checking in lots of items or being asked to open a bag at the x-ray machine. Gift cards are also smaller and fit inside your purse, so they don’t have to fight space inside the luggage compartment of your car.
Travel During Off-Peak Days
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest time for travel. Avoid this day as much as you can. If you work, arrange for a leave of absence early so that HR can prioritize you. Traveling early in the day is also better than getting later flights. According to studies, late flights have a bigger possibility of getting cancelled usually due to weather and other delays.
