Driving:
"No travel day leading up to the holiday is going to be a breeze, but if you can, start driving Tuesday rather than Wednesday. Yes, it’s still the second-worst travel day of the week, but according to Google Maps searches, for the last three years Wednesday has been the worst travel day." While this quote is related to travel during Thanksgiving week, it very well applies for the Christmas week as well.
So if you're driving on Wednesday, try to avoid the afternoon. If that's the soonest you'd be able to get away, consider instead leaving early Thursday (Christmas Day), when the roads are more likely to be clear.
To find the cheapest gas along your route, my favorite app is GasBuddy, which will show you prices near your location.
How To: Use Google Maps Offline When Traveling
Best and Worst Days to Drive Over the Christmas Holidays
Flying:
Luggage fees for a family add up fast. Do you have to check bags or can you pack each person a carry-on? Packing light is not impossible and will save you huge amount of time at the airport. You will be able to bypass dragging your luggage to the counter and waiting to check in your luggage. You will also be able to skip another line and walk right past the luggage carousel once you land. and more importantly avoid possibility your luggage ending up elsewhere.
If you do have to have a large suit case, make sure to weigh it before heading out
Stock up on the latest travel apps before you leave home. Flight Status gives you real-time updates on delays, baggage numbers and more, and GateGuru gives you approximate times you’ll spend in security. Heading out on the road? Find the cheapest gas and cleanest bathrooms on the road with GasBuddy and SitOrSquat.
9 Sanity Saving Holiday Airport Security Tips
Entertainment:
Don’t count on the in-flight movie. Bring your own entertainment via pre-loaded smartphone or tablet. This way you will have hours of entertainment for the travelling kid and hopefully not too weary, traveling parent.
Per Mashable survey, a whopping 92% of respondents said they bring their mobile phone on trips, and 48% said they bring a tablet.
Be sure to charge the devices you're taking with you the night before you leave home (Charge Your Gadget Before You Travel, Or Else). And if you don't already have one, consider getting a portable charger like a Mophie power pack, and if you do have one make sure it is charged and ready to go, too.
Need To Know for Holiday Travel:
European countries are now working to install Passenger Name Record system. This system matches up passenger manifest with a number of criminal and terrorist databases to determine if potential or known terrorists are on the flight
No more free unvetted passport entry at European borders for EU passport holders.
12 Holiday Movies For Families Who Travel
Related Content:
Best Gadgets for Watching Movies While Traveling
How to Get Your Phone and Tablet Travel Ready
Sound-off: How do you get ready for the holiday travel? Let us know below
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