7 Essential Tips That Will Make Holiday Travel Go Smoother

Living in California & having relatives back in the Midwest, I've traveled for either Thanksgiving or Christmas for over 30 years. There's nothing I dread more than flying during the peak of holiday travel. Delayed & overbooked flights along with recirculated airplane air that inevitably leads to my annual Christmas cold...who signed me up for this?

One of the annoying things about travel that leads to my irritability is losing the everyday comforts I rely on. For instance, if I don't get a caffeine fix early enough in my morning, I end up with a headache. By the way, who decided airline cups needed to be sample sized?

So, over the years, I've learned how to bring many of the comforts of home along with me when I travel. I've also learned that some simple preparation will help my day go smoother.

Here's 7 essential tips that will make your holiday travel much smoother:

1. Reserve a Parking Spot or Arrange for a Ride

Guess what - the on-site and off-site parking lots around the airport do reach capacity. Especially at SFO where I fly out of. I've been the frantic traveler trying to figure out where to park my car and praying I didn't miss my flight. Many lots have websites and you can let them know your travel dates and reserve a spot. 

Since most of these places don't accept coupons on holidays (boo!), you're better off getting a ride from someone else - a friend, neighbor, Uber, limo or taxi. Again, just be sure to arrange it in advance so there's no last-minute surprises on travel day!

2. Be Realistic with Time Estimations

Typically you need to arrive at the airport 1 hour prior to your plane's departure. However, for holiday travel the lines to check your bags & get through security are shockingly time consuming. Aim to arrive at least 1 hour 45 minutes prior to departure. That's walking into the airport with your bags. If driving yourself, plan on 25 minutes to park and ride the shuttle over. 

You can save time by using on-line checkin and packing light enough that you don't have to check a bag. If you plan to give gifts while you're away that can eat up a lot of valuable space in your luggage. I like to shop online (many sites offer great holiday deals and free shipping) and ship stuff directly to my destination. Then I can wrap everything once I'm there and I don't have to check my luggage.

3. Bring a Large Empty Water Bottle

I used to always buy a large bottle of water in the gift shop before boarding the plane. It's expensive. My husband - the frugal one in our marriage - pointed out that they actually have water bottle fill stations (and if not, there are always water fountains by the restrooms). 

So bring an empty bottle with you, then fill it once you're through security. That way, you don't have to deal with waiting for the flight attendant to come around with a tiny water sample that's not even close to enough liquid to keep you hydrated.

4. Plan Your Caffeine Fix

If you have a caffeine addiction then you know This. Is. No. Joke. Traveling on the busiest travel day of the year is stressful enough - don't add a headache to the mix. 

If you have a long ride to the airport, bring along a travel mug with coffee that you can enjoy in the car. Then, bring your empty mug through security (or pack another one that's clean in your carry-on). I can assure you the Starbuck's and Peet's lines inside the airport will be way too long to wait in. 

So either get there an extra 30-40 minutes early to get coffee, or just ask the flight attendant to fill up your travel mug once you're on the plane. They don't have the best coffee, but at least you'll have more than a couple ounces at at time - those airline coffee cups are SO small!

I take it all a step further and bring a large fast food cup with me. That way I can add ice, water and a cold-brew tea bag and enjoy a large cup of iced tea while I fly - continuously feeding my caffeine addiction. Again, it beats waiting on the flight attendants and it lasts much longer than what they bring. Plus I just love this travel tea bag case I stow in my purse.

5. Bring a Plastic Bag & Sanitary Wipes

I once read that the seat-back pocket is as germy (if not worse) than the fold-down tray. I like to keep my phone, book, gum & chapstick in that pocket. So, I bring along a thick plastic bag (Barnes and Noble ones work great!) and put it into the pocket. Then, all my items can sit inside the pocket without picking up any germs from any used kleenexes another passenger left behind. An added bonus is that I never leave anything in the seat pocket when I exit the plane.

It's also a good idea to wipe down the tray and seatbelt with an anti-bacterial wipe to kill any lurking germs.

6. Take Preventative Measures Against Illness

Drink some Airbourne the morning of your flight (and pack some for your return travel day) and wear a mask while on-board. You know those dust masks they sell at the hardware store? Stock up on those for you holiday travel this year - you won't regret it. 

Wearing a mask serves 2 purposes. One is that it keeps you from breathing in contaminated air from any sick passengers on your flight. Second, it leads others to think that you might be sick and they'll stay out of your personal space.

If you're on Southwest, pay close attention to your fellow passengers as you board the plane and steer clear of anyone who is coughing or looks sick. Sit as far away from them as possible. Also, since toddlers and infants don't love flying, it's best to seat yourself as far away from them as well.

7. Don't Forget Your Pets!

It can be difficult to find someone to watch your pets while you're gone since everyone is either out of town or busy. Boarding facilities book up months in advance. One thing I do to keep my travel day on track is line up dog boarding as soon as my flights are booked (or earlier - you can always call to adjust arrival and departure days but you need to be sure to lock in Thanksgiving and Christmas!).

To make things go even smoother, I add a day to the start and end of my trip when I board my dog. That way, I can get her situated the day before I leave and I don't have to worry about missed connections or delayed flights getting me back too late for pickup. If I happen to get back early enough I can easily call to let them know I'm back early and get her home.

So there you have it - 7 tips I use to get me through holiday travel. Now, if I could only get my in-laws to get a fridge with an ice maker!