Whether you’re ready to admit it to yourself or not… the holidays are practically here – and along with it: The first big travel day of the season. So to help you survive the madness that inevitably ensues, I’ve cooked up a few tips to make it easier to negotiate the airport and car trips with your sanity (mostly) intact.At the Airport
Skip the baggage check… but make sure your carry-on luggage meets the airlines’ size regulations. This will save you the checked-bag fee many airlines are imposing and help you avoid the mayhem at the carousel.
Use online check-in when at all possible. This way you can print your boarding pass and avoid the wait at the airport’s check-in stations.
Take something to distract yourself with. Because flights are often delayed and the airports are crowded, something like an MP3 Player with FM Radio will let you rock out to your favorite songs or pick up signals from local stations.
Invest in some noise-canceling headphones and let the roar of the airport or the crying babies on your flight just drift away.
In the Car
Leave earlier than you think you need to. With more people expected to hit the road this holiday season, it’s the only sensible thing to do (unless you don’t want to make it to Aunt Molly’s house in time for the turkey).
If you’re traveling alone, go to your local library and check out a book on CD or a Berlitz language CD and learn something new along the way.
Pick up a handheld GPS system and get real-time directions to your destination. (Another great perk: It will give you points-of-interest along your route so you can enjoy the journey as much as you’ll enjoy the meal at the end of the road.)
If you’re traveling with kids, give them blankets and neck pillows to help keep them comfy, pack some healthy snacks in a small cooler, load up on their favorite DVDs (and either a portable DVD player or laptop your kids can use to watch movies on) and enjoy the ride.
What are your favorite tips for surviving holiday travel? Hit the “comments” button below and tell us!
