How to stay sane during holiday travel
The Holidays are officially here!
This can mean either excitement or dread as the holiday season means lots of travel near and far to see friends & family. I myself am doing a crazy amount of holiday travel since I am in Florida and my family is in North Carolina. Every other year, my ENTIRE extended family rents out a couple beach houses and we celebrate together. It’s always a treat since my Uncle was a chef! For black Friday, instead of shopping, we have a family tradition to golf in honor my Poppy. Winner gets bragging rights!
So while it’s a lot of fun to be spending time with family, it also can be a haul to get up to Myrtle Beach, SC from Tampa, FL. This year I am flying to Raleigh, NC, then riding 3hrs to the beach with my family, then after Thanksgiving driving up 3.5hrs to Charlotte, NC to see some friends (and get a haircut thanks Dave!) before then flying back to Tampa. All in a matter of a few days. Phew I’m exhausted just typing that out!
Whether you are flying, driving, catching a ride, taking a train or just going down the street, below are some of my tips for having the least amount of stress while traveling for the holidays!
Realize you have to be flexible
This is my number one tip when it comes to traveling. Period.
Decide if it’s worth driving v flying v trains
Let’s say you are going from Florida to NC. If you have the vacation time from work, driving is the cheaper option but also can be long with over 9 hours plus extra traffic on the roads. Then again, flights during certain times are expensive. Or maybe you are going between cities that are only a few hours apart and a train could be a great option (i.e. Charlotte to Raleigh). I personally love taking the train because it’s less crowded, barely any security lines to go through, and you can actually get work done as you go. Another factor could be luggage. If you are bringing up some bulkier Christmas gifts then obviously driving might be the way to go. Just check your options and know time is money!
Travel Christmas evening
Or basically any actual holiday. For instance, a flight back home on the evening of Christmas is about $120 cheaper than the next day anytime on Southwest Airlines.
Give yourself 30 extra minutes for everything
Just know there may be extra time to wait for TSA, delays, or even more people stopping at your local gas station to fill up. This goes for traveling while at your destination too. Giving yourself plenty of time = less stress about being on time.
Pack wisely
Know that you are bringing more than usual, and you may leave with more than usual. Leave some extra space in your suitcase for those unexpected gifts.
Wait until your destination to wrap gifts
The last thing you want is for TSA to unwrap your beautifully wrapped gifts.
Take a deep breath
Know that whatever the issue, you will get to your destination. Holiday stress is half the tradition right?
Sincerely,
Sarah
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