If you receive an invitation or multiple invitations to visit with friends or family for the holidays, take a moment to think. Do you want to spend days with these people? This may sound rude, but it’s something you should think about.
If you feel everything will be fine, then go and have fun! If you’ll be hanging out with people who are iffy, I’d think hard about whether I’d want to go or not.
Tip #2–Where you are going to stay
Are you going to stay with family, friends, or would it be better to stay in a hotel?
Tip #3–Plan how to get there
Decide whether you’re going to drive or fly.
Don’t wait until the last minute; especially if you decide to fly. Tickets get higher during the holidays, especially the closer you get to the holiday. You may be able to snag some deals on the day of the holiday, but why leave it to chance?
Tip #4–Think about the costs of the trip
If you decide to drive, there are a few things you should think about. Like car maintenance. When was the last time your car had an oil change? If not done regularly, every 3 months or 3,000 miles, your engine can be severely damaged. Buying a new engine is not cheap!
Before going on the trip, make sure basic car maintenance (such as an oil change), properly inflated tires, at least 3/4 tank of gas (having a full tank is best)) is done.
If you decide to fly or take the train, think about the cost of round trip fare.
Tip #5–Pack accordingly
This is something for me because I’m a planner. I usually pick out what I’m going to wear, and pack accordingly.
Let’s take Thanksgiving for example. If I’m going to be somewhere on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I pack three outfits. One for Thursday, one for Friday, and a backup outfit. This outfit is usually business casual, just in case we go somewhere a little dressy.
I pack an extra pack of undies and socks. The shoes I take will be wrapped in plastic bags so that the stuff on their soles won’t get on my clothes.
Bonus Tip–Pack snacks for the trip
This is something I learned from my grandmother and mom. Anytime we went on a road trip, one of them would pack sandwiches, peanut butter crackers, and something to drink. I carry on that tradition. I pack sandwiches, chips, and something to drink. That way, it’s one less reason to stop and we aren’t too hungry when we arrive.
The takeaway
Whether you are going on a big or small trip, a few tips could make the trip easier.
Planning how you’re going, knowing the travel costs, and packing snacks could help make your holiday travel a fun experience.
