Whether you’re visiting family or taking a well-earned family vacation, the holiday season is a busy and popular time for travel. As a result, travelers face unique challenges and risks. With careful consideration of details and pre-planning, however, your holiday travel can go off without a hitch. Start planning your stress-free holiday with our top four holiday travel tips!
Use technology to your advantage
Technology continues to revolutionize travel, making it more convenient than ever. Take advantage of these advancements before and during your trip. Check in for your flight online and get your boarding passes sent directly to your smartphone to skip airline counter lines and save time. Sign up for text alerts that will keep you up to date on your flight status and let you know if your flight is delayed or canceled. Download useful travel apps and follow the weather at your destination closely.
Plan ahead, do your research and don’t panic
Booking flights, hotels, rental cars and other reservations for holiday travel as early as possible in the year will not only help with the cost, it will also give you more time to plan your trip. If you can, book non-stop flights to help reduce the chance of missed connections and lost luggage.
Follow traffic updates closely on your departure day to avoid unexpected delays that could cause you to miss your flight or fall behind schedule if embarking on a road trip. If flying, plan to arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare before your flight, to allow for unusually long lines, crowded walkways and last-minute gate changes. If you find you have time to kill, you can always grab a bite to eat and shop around for forgotten items or last-minute gifts.
Pack wisely
Creating or downloading a holiday packing checklist will help you to stay organized and make sure you’re not forgetting anything important. If you can limit your items to your carry-on luggage, you’ll reduce the chances of your bags getting lost, delayed, damaged or stolen.
Whenever possible have souvenirs and gifts shipped them to your destination or to your home country depending on where and when you buy them. Packing them in your already stuffed luggage can cause damage and raises the risk of theft. If you must pack gifts in your luggage, make sure they’re unwrapped, as TSA may have to search or screen them.
Take care of yourself
Drink plenty of bottled water, eat healthy snacks and stretch regularly while flying or driving. This keeps the blood flowing and helps you stay alert. Find ways to de-stress and reduce your travel anxiety.
Download a few episodes of your favorite podcast or make a travel playlist to help you unwind. Deep breathing and meditation can also help to clear your mind if you’ve had a stressful travel day. Here are even more helpful ways to reduce travel anxiety.
No matter how much you plan, travel is still hard to predict and mishaps can happen. That doesn’t mean holiday travel has to be stressful. A comprehensive travel medical insurance or trip insurance plan can help you to travel confidently during the holidays and throughout the year. Explore plans and get a quote for international travel today.
