A Family Traveler's Guide to the Holiday Season
A Family Traveler's Guide to the Holiday Season
Issue #44-23 takes a look at travel tips for a less stressful holiday travel season
A Family Traveler's Guide to the Holiday Season
Some of life’s most memorable moments are experienced while exploring and connecting with your family on vacation and even more so during the holiday season.
Based on reports, the 2023 holiday season appears set to be a busy one in airports and hotels, as nearly half of Americans plan to travel, so it is essential to be prepared for whatever journey you have planned from now until the end of the year.
Travel Tips for Less Stressful Holiday Travel
Here are some tips to make help your trip as smooth as possible this holiday travel season:
Plan ahead (when possible)
The earlier you start planning your trip, the more likely you are to find good deals on flights and accommodations. And if you're traveling during the peak holiday season, it's important to book your travel plans as early as possible (it may be a little late now for good pricing/availability if you haven’t already booked that flight or hotel stay!)
Be flexible with your travel dates
If you can, try to be flexible with your travel dates. Traveling during the week instead of on weekends can often save you money on flights and accommodations.
Make sure you have the airlines app downloaded and ready to use
In case of delays or cancellations, having the airline's app on your phone can be a lifesaver. It allows you to rebook swiftly, avoiding long lines at customer service desks or help lines.
Fly direct/non-stop when possible, especially during potential bad weather/storms during the holidays
I always prefer flying non-stop to avoid potential delays, missed connections and probability of lost luggage.
Connecting flights canincrease the risk of complications, particularly if the first leg encounters a delay.
Early morning flights
Try to take early morning flights, if at all possible, to reduce the chances of being caught in cascading delays and cancellations.
Buy Travel Insurance and/or Use the right Credit Card when booking
Travel insurance can come in handy for any flight delays/cancellations or if someone gets sick (flu, covid, etc) during the trip.
Most premium credit cards provide a level of protection and benefits for delays, cancellations, lost luggage, etc, but another good way to get more peace of mind and comprehensive coverage is with a travel insurance policy.
I personally purchase a yearly family travel insurance plan that covers all of our trips, in addition to using the right premium credit card for added benefits.
Make use of essential travel technology
Use Apple AirTags (or similar devices) to track your luggage
If you remember the last holiday travel season of 2022, it seemed like there were stories of lost luggage and delayed/cancelled flights in the news every day. If the airlines lose your luggage you can at least track it and no where it is with an AirTag. I place on in every piece of checked luggage and in our backpacks (in case someone tries to take it)
Download offline maps to save on data
You can save an area from Google Maps to your phone and use it to navigate, even when you're offline and don’t have a data connection.
Pack a portable charger for your devices.
You don't want to be stuck with a dead phone when you're out exploring a new destination or stuck at the airport
Keep electronic copies of all important documents
Have electronic copies (stored securely) of passports, travel itineraries and other important documents you may need
“You can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle three things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights.” –Maya Angelou
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