End-of-year travel can seem exciting. A golden ticket to get away from your boring routine. Before saying “Let’s go!” Take a pause and gain a real picture of your festive escape. It does come with its fair share of challenges. From planning your itinerary, packing the holiday travel essentials, managing your budget, health, and safety. Not to mention, if you don’t have a fish, what is your plan with the family dog? Whether you are traveling to visit your loved ones or are simply looking to get away like the “Kranks”, there are several things to consider before holiday travel. 

Why Travel During the Holidays?

If your bright idea is traveling during the holidays, you must have a good reason for it. Perhaps your family is waiting for you to start packing, or you are desperate to use your two weeks of vacation. Whatever it is, here’s your heads-up: you are about to face a packed airport, potentially spend more than expected, fight through a blizzard on a congested highway, or be met with unexpected delays that make you question every life choice that led you to that very moment. 

Map Out Your Adventure

Knowing that holiday travel can come with lots of pressure, preparing ahead can make for a smoother holiday vacation. Not every day might you get to travel. Your first thought might be to impulsively buy your plane ticket or rush to get a car rental. However, breaking down your key plans step by step in advance can save you real time and reduce holiday travel stress. Nevertheless, some mobile apps can help you organize your travel plans. Browse the following: 

• Tripit
• TripAdvisor
• Wanderlog
• Google Travel
• Kayak

Prioritize Key Activities 

Aside from celebrating your holiday traditions…Whatever it is you enjoy doing, whether it’s exchanging gifts, decorating cookies, attending holiday plays, lighting candles, or gathering at the dinner table with loved ones, you could take advantage of the area and explore its local points of interest.

Maybe start by researching the top 5 tourist museums in town. Take time to browse holiday events nearby. You might just discover an easter egg, such as a festive street performance, a hidden courtyard, or a mystical alley. Don’t forget to check holiday hours to prevent last-minute changes.

The Downsides of Holiday Travel

Let’s talk briefly about supply and demand. Supply is how much there is of something. Demand is how many people want it.

Now, it’s the holiday season. Everyone is packing and rushing to their next flight. When there is high demand for plane tickets, there are fewer seats. When flights start to sell out, this leaves people with higher-priced options. If you don’t buy your ticket in advance, you might be stuck paying for premium seating during peak travel times. This could leave you short on funds for meals, lodging, or other forms of transportation.

Prepare Your Finances Before Holiday Travel

If you choose to travel, you may need to budget for more than your holiday gift checklist. Holiday travel expenses go far beyond filling a full tank of gas or purchasing a single plane ticket.

What will you eat? Where will you sleep? What activities did you plan on the itinerary? You should have extra spending money to spare when you can’t seem to put down that souvenir. Don’t forget to budget a little extra gas money for if you get lost or run into unexpected emergencies… 

Budgeting Tips for Holiday Travel

Traveling can be expensive, especially during the holiday season. However, if you book early, use your rewards points and miles, or budget wisely, you can enjoy your trip without experiencing buyer’s remorse. Additional tips include the following:

• Compare hotel prices
• Travel on off-peak days
• Choose a location outside of the city
• Pack travel snacks
• Look for free events
• Build an emergency fund
• Set a daily spending limit

Traveling With Family

If you are considering holiday travel with kids, it’s important to think outside the box. Doing so can help you stay organized during peak travel season and keep everyone happy for the time being. Kids can get bored quickly. A new environment, whether it’s a plane, rental car, or place to sleep that doesn’t mirror home, can seem unsettling. Being far from friends can also erk your teenager.

Holiday Travel Tips for Families 

You’ll want to create a few accommodations to improve their level of comfort. Ask your kids where their favorite place to eat might be. Have them create a fun music playlist. Turn on their favorite movie in the backseat or bring their favorite security blanket. Some other practical comfort tips for traveling with young adolescents, teens, or special needs children include the following: 

• Stick to familiar routines
• Dress for comfort
• Plan movement breaks
• Prepare for motion sickness
• Bring sensory toys
• Use noise-canceling headphones

Traveling With Pets

Now, it’s the holidays. Do you really want to leave your family pet back at home? If your pet is your fur baby, chances are that’s a no! If you aren’t going too far, taking time to learn how to prepare for holiday travel with your pet can make for an easier trip. To start, you’ll want to confirm the hotel, Airbnb, or wherever you choose to stay, is pet-friendly. If not, you’d better give Aunt Suzan a ring!

Holiday Travel Tips With Pets

Once you confirm your reservation, you’ll want to bring all of the dog essentials. Load the car with the dog crate, food bowls, puppy chow, and that trusty old leash. Don’t forget the dog waste bags for easy cleanup on the go. If you are okay standing in the McDonald’s side yard in an area you aren’t familiar with or nearest rest area on demand, “bark, BARK,” then go for it!

If this all sounds like too much for you, you could consider boarding your dog or finding a dog sitter to keep him company for a few days or so. If you don’t have anyone in mind, don’t worry, you won’t be stuck at home for the holidays. Take comfort in knowing that several online platforms can help you find trusted people to care for your pet! A few pet care providers include the following: 

• Rover
• Wag!
• Pawshake
• PetBacker
• Holidog
• Care.com

What to Pack for Holiday Travel

Perfect, you have the kids and family pet planned out. What’s next? Aside from grabbing your go-to items from your trusty catchall tray, you’ll want to pack your travel lifeline! That’s right, don’t forget your “updated” passport, enhanced driver’s license, or boarding passes; packing efficiently for holiday travel is a must!

Rushing around Walmart to find a bathing suit, sunblock, umbrella, or hoodie to add to your collection at home can feel like a major setback. Being separated from your personal belongings can also be frustrating. Staying organized can prevent you from losing your essentials or worse, getting detained. 

Holiday Travel Health & Safety Considerations

Now I am about to touch on something most people fail to think about until it’s too late. Drum roll….Safety and well-being during holiday travel. When you travel, you are volunteering for your routine to be thrown off. When this occurs, you can forget to stay hydrated or skip a meal. Trust me, that Dixie cup of water on the plane won’t be enough. You’ll want to stay hydrated and eat smart to overcome the upcoming jet lag.

Now, don’t get me started on vaccinations; that’s a controversial topic. Let’s not go there. So, don’t forget to pack the Emergen-C tablets because chances are, you’ll get sneezed on once or twice. Crush one in your water bottle to boost your immune system, and you will be good to go.

Taking Precautionary Measures

Knowing that health and safety go hand in hand, choose a safe place to stay. Safety features and accessibility can be different everywhere. Moreover, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service for international travel from the U.S Department of State that can keep you safe overseas. If you are a nervous traveler like me, take comfort in knowing you will receive local safety, security, health, or weather alerts. Family and friends can also reach you through the embassy in a state of an emergency. 

Thinking Carefully Before Making a Decision

If this all sounds like a total nightmare, better pull out your phone and back out now. You can still take out your lucky pen and mail a holiday card. However, if you are feeling up to traveling during the holidays, you’d better scroll back up and jot down some key points and start packing! Aside from grabbing your grandma’s gift, sunglasses, a disposable camera, or digging up your phone charger for memorable pictures, there are a few more things to consider before holiday travel: 

• Bring travel insurance documents
• Look into currency exchange for international trips
• Review cancellation policies
• Pack prescription medications
• Bring a first-aid kit
• Research a local hospital for emergencies
• Review luggage size and restrictions
• Snag lockable luggage
• Research foreign transaction fees
• Estimate travel times
• Bring a travel pillow