Holiday Travel

My company has set up a special webinar on how to cut down on stress during the Holiday season. The area I would like to focus on is that of Holiday travel. I have traveled a lot through the years and have some suggestions that may help should you be traveling during this busy period.

I will bypass all of the tricks on how to get inexpensive airline tickets as I assume it is already too late to get a good deal. About now, the only trick you can leverage is flying on Christmas day. Nobody wants to do that and so it is when you will find the lowest prices on flights. In the future, the most inexpensive days to fly are Tuesday and Wednesday. That is a trick I use a lot.

Tip #1: Pack lightly. I always tell people there are 2 types of luggage on flights: carry-on and lost. If you are flying for your holiday travel then try to pack so lightly you can carry everything on the plane. Should you be bringing gifts for others, look into shipping those packages or have them delivered to your destination instead of your house. Also remember that gift cards are light and don't take up much space.

My wife and I spent a week in Fiji and both packed in small backpacks that fit under the seat in front of us. Now I know we just needed flip flops, a t-shirt, and a swimsuit but we packed in the same backpacks when we went to Europe for a week. It is also the same backpack I take for my week-long trips to Japan.

If you are driving, packing light also has its advantages. Should you get a flat tire on your journey it will be significantly easier to pull that spare out of your car if it isn't overloaded. You also have a lot less to worry about forgetting on either end of your trip.

Tip #2: Prepare for the Weather. What good are all of those weather websites and apps if we don't use them to help with our Holiday travel. Going someplace warm, you don't need that extra jacket. Going someplace cold, make sure it gets packed. More importantly, mentally prepare yourself for the weather and effect it will have on your journey. If you are flying and you see a storm on your travel dates, prepare to spend extra time in the airport. More than likely you will be delayed.

If you are driving, you have some flexibility in your schedule whether you realize it or not. Storms don't last forever and you have the option of leaving before it arrives or waiting it out. Sure you may be later than expected but you will cut down on the chances of being in a weather-caused accident. I am a great driver in the snow but that will not protect me from someone who isn't.

Tip #3: Remember why you are traveling. People travel over Christmas to spend time with family and friends. Travel can be stressful and it doesn't do any good if you show up at your destination grumpy. Think about who you are going to see and the importance of those people in your life. If you have a bad travel experience, think about how you can share it as a funny story instead of a stressful one. It will help others understand the trial you endured to get there without making anyone wish you hadn't come.

Once I flew home from the Bay Area and my flight got routed to Boise because of thunderstorms. All I could do is call my wife and tell her I would be a few hours late. Everyone on the flight was upset about the delay except me and the guy sitting next to me. We both knew each other because we took the same flights every week. We laughed about the experience and made light of the situation. When I arrived at home, I didn't bore my wife with a story of trials and hardship. Instead I shared how Ben and I kept throwing our arms in the air as the plane dodged and dove around thunder clouds as if we were on a roller coaster. I think she appreciated me being happy to see her and not sour about the difficult flight home.