Preparing for Holiday Travel

Are you one of the thousands of people who plan on traveling during the holidays? I do every year, and although I don't travel more than four hours away, I still have to prepare and ensure that I am ready for situations that arise when I'm traveling. Sometimes it can be tricky, but if you plan for your time away, it can go smoothly.

Our holidays typically consist of a travel period where we visit my Mom, my Dad, and then my in-laws. My Mom and Dad live four hours away from where we currently live, so planning to see them on the holidays usually involves some sort of schedule and ensuring that timing for dinners and gift exchanges are set up just right. Because my in-laws live less than five minutes away from us, we typically make them the last stop of the day, or set up another time with them so we are able to to enjoy time with my family, who we don't see often enough.

In order to thoroughly plan ahead, I find myself making lists. I make a list of things I need to do, and a list of things I need to pack. For example, I typically make all of the Thanksgiving desserts for my family. I make a list of desserts to make, then ensure I have the ingredients, and add the task to my to-do list. When I'm finished with the dessert, I then add it to my list of things to bring so I won't forget one of the best parts of the meal! If you've read some of my other articles, you're likely aware of my list-making obsession. If you try it, it really does help you stay organized.

Make sure you pack a bit more than just what you need. There are times when you travel when you may have to stay longer than expected due to car troubles, etc., and it's best to be prepared. Pack a few days in advance if you can, so you won't be in a rush and forget anything. I like to pack the car the night before the trip with everything that can be left in the car overnight, and this helps during the next morning's rush to begin the trip.

If you're bringing food, make sure you have boxes to put these items in. I often bring a cooler so things stay cool in the car. Package food items neatly and safely, so your hard work isn't undone when you arrive to your next destination. It's also a good idea to pack per place you're going. For example, if I'm bringing certain desserts to my Mom's dinner, I pack those in a separate box. For my Dad, I use a bag and label each so that I know what bags and boxes go to which house. This works for Christmas gifts as well, as everything is separated by name and destination.

Bring comfortable items for yourself, and give yourself options of outfits, etc. I never know what I'll want to wear for a nice dinner or even for opening Christmas gifts, so I pack a little more than I probably should. However, I have options that next day of what I'm comfortable wearing that day, and your level of comfort can make all the difference.

If you have extended family in other places that you can't visit during the holidays, give them a phone call during the day. My husband, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew all stay at my Mom's during the holidays, and when we're all together, we like to call our family in Ohio and South Carolina so we can pass the phone around and connect with our out-of-state family members all at once. It helps us feel that much more connected, and makes the holidays more festive and family-oriented.

Just thinking about the upcoming holidays makes me want to prepare and get all my lists written and ready to go, and hopefully, some of the tips I've written about can help you if you have to travel during the holidays.