Traveling during the holidays is generally considered to be a stressful time to hop on an airplane. It is also an expensive time to travel because everyone wants to visit family, friends, or take advantage of their time off of work. Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, you can expect to be among most of the population trying to go somewhere during November and December. However, traveling during the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. If you’re traveling to a different state to visit your grandparents in their senior living community or going to another country to see your friend who is living abroad, here are some tips to make it more bearable.
Research Covid Restrictions
As covid has become a somewhat normal part of our everyday lives, it is also now something that needs to be considered before traveling. Travel restrictions for covid 19 are constantly changing, so you need to stay as up-to-date as possible about what the restrictions are where you live as well as where you plan on traveling to. The last thing you want is to be stuck at the airport unable to fly because you didn’t check the Covid updates. This is especially important if you plan to travel internationally because many countries require documentation like proof of vaccines and other information to allow you to enter.
Pick a Place Less Traveled
Many people use the time off during the holidays to travel to a new place, so if you aren’t traveling to meet family or friends consider going somewhere that is less popular with other tourists. For most people, a winter holiday means they want to go somewhere warm, so places like Florida, the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Mexico, and more are often flooded with tourists. This can make your experience less appealing and it also makes travel more expensive and difficult.
Instead of choosing somewhere obvious, try to think of places where you would still have a good time but beat all of the crowds. Countries in Europe may be colder this time of year, but you’ll also get to experience the holiday spirit in a different culture. Also, not all of Europe is freezing during the winter months, countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece can be very pleasant in the winter but without all of the usual tourist crowds.
Bring a Change of Clothes in Your Carry-On
Traveling during the holidays means more travelers, crowded airports, and sometimes lost baggage. Arriving in a new place and learning that all of your clothes have been misplaced is a huge headache, especially if you have absolutely nothing else to wear besides your dirty airplane clothes. To save yourself some stress make sure you have at least one outfit packed in your carry-on suitcase. This way, if your bags do get stolen, you’ll have at least two outfits to work with until you get your luggage.
Travel on Off-Peak Days and Times
One advantage you may have to skipping the turkey and traveling on Thanksgiving day is that the prices will be more affordable. Most people travel on the day before or the day after a holiday, so there can be huge financial and comfort advantages to traveling on the holiday itself. You can also save money by choosing flights at less ideal times. For example, a red eye that leaves at 4 am is not going to be most people’s first choice, but if you make it yours you can save a lot on airfare.
