Is there anything quite like a holiday abroad? No hectic schedules, no holiday highway gridlock…just you, a glass of wine and the Italian riviera. Or the Serengeti plains. Or, well, anywhere!
The only issue is that everyone feels this way too, making the holidays one of the toughest times to travel to around the world. Here are a few holiday travel tips to help you cut through the noise and get you to your happy place as smoothly as possible.
- Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. Sitting in traffic and wondering if you’ll make it to your gate on time is not the best way to start a vacation. Get off on the right foot, leave earlier than normal for the airport and you’ll be better prepared for any surprises along the way.
- Research the best airport to leave from. Sometimes it makes sense to fly out of a smaller airport, even if it’s father out of the way. Major airport hubs are guaranteed to be busy and are susceptible to more hold-ups. No one wants that!
- Pack light. This can make life easier in so many ways. Packing lighter allows you to avoid checking a bag and makes it easier to switch hotels as you go from city to city. The only thing to consider when only having a carry on is overhead space. Getting to your gate early and opting for early boarding can eliminate that concern for you.
- Take advantage of the latest technology. A few travel apps can make not only holiday travel, but all travel much easier. A good ones is FlightAware–it gives you real-time time updates on delays, baggage numbers and much more.
- Fly direct if you can. Direct flights lower the chances that you’ll run into a delay due to weather. If you must have a layover, do your best to layover in a warmer and drier climate to avoid any chance of snow and ice.
- Most importantly, stay calm. Everyone will be high strung in route to their dream holiday getaway. The staff at the airport and hotel may be missing out on time with their families and dealing with irritable customers all day. It’s the holidays—stay calm and try to help spread a little joy, if you can spare it!
