Are you traveling for the holidays this year, or staying close to home? Either way, you’ll see some effects from the season as you’re out and about. If you are hitting the road to visit friends or family soon, we have a few tips to help you stay safe. Remember to share it with all of the other road warriors you know!
Pick Strategic Travel Days
There’s always a fine balance to strike during the holidays. You want to have enough time with the people who matter most, without spending a little too much time away. This year, Christmas Eve falls on a Monday with Christmas extending near mid-week on a Tuesday. Many people will likely be leaving on Friday or Saturday to maximize the long weekend, without taking additional time off of work. If you can wait until Sunday, or leave early Thursday, you should see significantly less traffic. You’ll probably also find better deals if you’re flying, taking the bus, or a train. Fortunately, we have plenty of travel search engines at our disposal now that will help compare pricing and even plan our trips! Including Expedia, Kayak, Travelocity, and even Google Flights!
Pack as Little as Possible
Yes, we know it’s winter. And we know it’s the holidays. But any way you can lighten your travel load, you should explore! Flying without a checked bag is a much easier experience. It’s just one less thing you have to worry about carrying, transferring, and keeping an eye on. If you’re staying with friends or family, just ask them to stock some extra toiletries and accessories for you, so you can eliminate some extra weight. When it comes to gifts, just ship all of that ahead of time. Or better yet, have them delivered directly there! It’ll cut down on your luggage and your transit costs. You just have to trust them not to open the presents before you get there!
Always Be Prepared
As a frequent traveler, you should know how easy it is for things to go wrong. Flights get delayed, traffic causes problems, and you’re probably going to forget something. Just do your best to stay ahead of the curve. Plan to arrive everywhere an hour or before you actually need to be there. Worst case scenario, you have a lot of extra time sitting in the transit center. (But if you bring work, or a book with you, you can get a lot accomplished then!) Pack an extra supply of clothes and essentials in your carry-on bag—in case your checked luggage doesn’t land with you. Above all, remember to breathe.
At the end of your journey, you’ll still get to spend the holidays with the most important people in your life. That’s worth any hassle travel may bring, right? You might also consider adding travel insurance before your trip. That will just ensure that you’re not stuck paying for tickets or delays on your own. Contact us today for a free quote and don’t forget to actually enjoy the season! From all of us at The Freedom Insurance Agency, happy holidays!
