Traveling in the holiday season is on the cards for many people. Though most of the people like to travel to relax, de-stress and unwind, traveling during the holiday times can become really stressful. It has been seen that the most seasoned traveler also faces stress and trouble while traveling in this part of the year. The crowded airports, the weather conditions, traffic jams, kids, additional luggage, gifts etc all pile up to increase the stress. Managing the holiday properly amidst this humdrum needs special skills.
Mentioned below find some highly effective tips which can make traveling in the holiday season less stressful:
Advanced planning for handling situation
It is a known fact that when you are traveling in the holiday season, you will face problems like traffic jams, crowded and disorganized airports, delays in transportation, winter weather and so on. So prepare your mind accordingly. Mental preparation for the situation will lead to less stress while you are traveling. You will be able to remain calm and composed in such situations and stress levels will be reduced considerably.
Making contingency plans help greatly
Unexpected situations can arise during any travel program. However, when it is the holiday season, the chances of such situations are higher. Filled up parking lots are quite common in the holiday season. Find out another convenient place to park your car well in advance so that you are not hassled at the last moment. Snowstorms are common in this season. Try checking out on the weather reports so that you have an idea regarding the impending weather conditions. Traffic is also badly hit in such times; leave home early to reach the destination on time in case you are stuck in a bad jam. Keeping contingency plans ready will save you from panic attacks and stress.
See that the kids remain occupied and happy
Kids are moody and can become really tough to handle at times. And on this, if there is stress from other sectors, traveling can become really painful. See that the kids are kept occupied and happy. Keep ample options open for the kids so that they remain busy with that. It can be in the form of a toy, a book or some games. If the kid is a little grown up, allot simple jobs to him/her. This will not only keep him/her busy, but also develop sense of responsibility and build confidence. Also talk to the kids about situations that might crop up so that they are not scared and panicked at that moment. Tell them about the boarding and the security process so that they are not scared. Carry snacks and water for the kids so that they are not hungry. Kids who are hungry can get real cranky.
Layered clothing helps
When you are traveling, particularly in the holiday season, try dressing in layers. This is not only comfortable, but highly convenient at the same time and keeps you stress-free. For instance, the weather can be chilly outside, but when you are inside the car, you might feel warm. Take off the uppermost jacket and you will feel fine. So when you are dressed in layers, you can add or remove clothing as per the need and situation. If you are traveling with toddlers or kids, make sure that you have extra sets of dresses ready as you might need to change their dresses.
Keep a check on the bags and luggage
Well, many people fear that checking in the luggage might lead to losing the same in holiday season as there is great rush. But the chances of the luggage getting lost are minimal. Many people pack their bags in a manner so that they can carry it with them as hand luggage. However, the already filled in overhead compartments of flights might refuse additional luggage. Also giving away the luggage at checking in reduces hassles of keeping a track of them in layovers at crowded airports. You might have to wait for a while at the final destination to get the luggage, but the wait is worth it for a stress free journey.
Now, that you have such tips, your holiday traveling should only be about fun and enjoyment and not stress and panic. Happy holidaying folks!
The author of this article Sam is a globe trotter and he has covered majority of destinations in Asian continent. During his China travel, he got his visa via Chinavisadepartment.com.