On a normal day, it's bad enough to experience traffic and travel delays. All you want to do is get on that plane/train/bus and get the heck out of here! Your nerves are heightened while all you can think about is getting to your destination.
Throw in the holidays into that equation and you'll already experience a headache. Holiday travel is one of the biggest high traffic days, for airports and highways. For major cities, they take days to prepare for the higher volume of people navigating.
So you should prepare yourself as well! Don't end up stressing out and finding yourself at a dismay during the Holiday season.
Pack early: If you are super excited for your trip, you have probably already done this. But seriously, don't leave anything for the last minute. Pack your carry on, your travel bag and a bag with all your important documents. In your carry on, make sure to throw in snacks in case you get delayed because you will get hungry.
Travel sized over the counter medication: They don't make them travel sized for nothing! Invest in travel sized Tylenol or Advil for oncoming headaches during your trip. Especially when you're traveling in a rush during the holidays and flu season, you might catch something.
Expect the worst, be on time: Most likely, there will be delays. If there is inclement weather, EXPECT delays. Don't underestimate anything; get to your station/airport extra early just in case. Even if you end up not experiencing delays and spend more time waiting, you won't regret it. You never know when the worst can happen. Every year, my sister leaves her house extra early to come into New York City for Christmas. Even though every year, she ends up hitting no traffic and finding parking very quickly, she doesn't risk it.
Be kind and friendly: We understand you might be stressed out if you're trying to get somewhere on time, but don't take it out on others. It is the Holiday season afterall. Everyone is trying to be with their family and think about the transportation workers stuck trying to help you when they can be at home having a nice dinner. Take a deep breath, go to the bathroom and try not to freak out. It isn't worth it anyway. You'll eventually end up at your destination. And if you don't, most likely, the airline/transportation hub will make up for it somehow. Remember, friendly people who smile get free stuff!
How do you handle stress when you're traveling during the holidays? Have you experienced delays or have any horror stories during Christmas?
Comments (2)
I'm going to travel from Atlanta to Kuala Lumpur and back during the holiday rush. It's going to be crazy, but I'm prepared. I packed already, and I'll make sure to be at the airport with plenty of time to spare.
I don't really have any horror stories from holiday travel, but at other times I've had connecting flights delayed or cancelled in the middle of my trip, leaving me stranded in an airport on standby for hours and days. I've missed connecting flights due to delays on my first leg and had the same result. I've had an airline lose my luggage. I've learned to pack light enough to carry everything I need with me and not check any bags.
yes i have such experience and i have missed my college tour bus and it was very hard for me get to them back. it is not about reaching if we miss we would be missing the total enjoyment of the holiday. really great post. hope to follow up your tips before preparing for the holiday.
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seafishingtackle