Traveling Over the Holidays

That holiday time of the year is fast approaching, and I’ve written some tips for dealing with holiday travel, stress, and the family.

• Be sure to book flights early. If you haven’t booked your flight already, you must do it ASAP. Not only will it be difficult to find flights you want, but the longer you wait, the more expensive they will be.
• Have a travel backup plan. In the northern hemisphere around this time of year, the weather can be rather tricky and unpredictable with snow, blizzards, and ice. Have a backup plan in case your flight is canceled or the roads are too slippery to drive.
• When traveling with children, have multiple games and activities packed. Make sure some of the games do not require batteries so that if your flight is delayed and the game dies you won’t have a screaming child on your hands. Also, think about games you can play together as a family. This can make airport waiting time and car rides seem shorter and more fun.
• Always pack additional winter clothes. It always gets colder than you think it will.
• When driving, its a good idea to have some chains for your tires in the car in case you run into bad weather. If your in need of a quick fix getting out of a patch of icy road, keep some roof shingles in your trunk. Place them under your tire to help gain some traction over the icy patch.
• Bring an extra suitcase or one that is half full. Don’t forget you will be getting presents and be needing to get them back home somehow.
• The “I Have Never” game has saved long car rides of falling asleep drivers many times. How you play is everyone in the car has 10 fingers up, and every takes a turn saying something they have never done. If you have done it, you put a finger down. The first person with all fingers down wins (or loses depending on how you are playing).
• Make sure you turn off your holiday lights and unplug them before you leave so you don’t start a fire.
• If you start to feel like your family is getting to you, offer to play a board game together or work on a craft together to bring you all to a common ground.
• Don’t feel like you have to do everything. Sure you’re back in town and everyone is having a holiday party, but be sure to pace yourself. This is your vacation, and you need to make to sure to have some time to yourself.

Stay safe and happy travels. Happy holidays!!

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