The holidays are here — and with 47% of Americans planning on traveling this year, the end of the year is looking slightly hectic. While there’s no guarantee that your trip to visit loved ones or to escape to a wondrous destination will be without a few hiccups, there are some strategies you can use to avoid stress. Check out a handful of RedWeek-approved holiday travel tips below.
Give Yourself Plenty Of Time
The holidays are all about giving gifts. So why not give yourself the gift of time this year? You’ve undoubtedly read all about the possibility of chaos at airports nationwide, with long security lines, unexpected delays and huge crowds. Those issues may or may not occur during your travels in the upcoming weeks — but regardless, it’s wise to arrive to your airport as early as possible this year. Even if you get to your gate with plenty of time to spare, your peace of mind will be reward enough. Sit back, enjoy a cup of coffee, listen to a podcast and rest easy knowing that your vacation is in progress.
- Bonus Tip: A Clear Plus membership will help you zoom past the crowds at security checkpoints.
Know What To Expect
It almost goes without saying that the last few years have changed the way we travel in a major way. While COVID-19 restrictions have loosened, it’s still a good idea to be as prepped as possible before heading out to your chosen destination. There are varying rules still in place in specific destinations and you don’t want to be caught unaware. An easy way to get up to speed is the CovidChecker.com website, which tracks global travel restrictions. Just enter the city or country where you’re going, and you’ll get a quick rundown of what to expect.
Stay Healthy
And speaking of COVID-19, you may have heard that it’s not the only health concern that could derail your holiday travel plans this year. Experts are calling it the “tripledemic” — the rise of the flu, RSV and coronavirus all at the same time. But there are plenty of precautions you can take. First of all, make sure your flu and COVID vaccinations are up to date (there’s no vaccine for RSV yet, unfortunately). Second, it might be time to start wearing that mask again. When you’re in transit at airports, it’s one of the best ways to protect yourself and those around you. The CDC is still in favor, recommending that travelers wear “a high-quality mask or respirator over the nose and mouth in indoor areas of public transportation (such as airplanes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, and seaports).”
Bring Help
No, we don’t mean you should hire a personal assistant for your holiday vacation — though that would be nice, wouldn’t it? The next best thing to settle your seasonal travel nerves fits right on your smartphone. Download Smart Traveler. The official app of the U.S. Department of State puts need-to-know information (travel advisories, U.S. embassy locations, regularly updated country information and more) in one place. Next, calm down with Calm. This popular meditation app gives users access to more than 100 guided meditation sessions, each one designed to reduce anxiety and stress. If you’re new to meditation, don’t worry. There are plenty of Calm sessions geared towards beginners. They’ll have you floating on a cloud as you float through the clouds.
- Bonus Tip: One more app for those of us who are not great at packing. Packpoint is a free, customizable app that can get you organized quickly and efficiently. Enter your destination, the type of trip, and what activities you plan on doing and Packpoint gives you a detailed list of what to pack that you can check off as you go.
Start planning your family’s winter vacation with RedWeek now.
