Travel Without Losing Your Mind {Free Packing Printable}

I was reading yesterday that AAA is predicting that for the first time on record, over 100 million Americans will be traveling this year over Christmas. That is nearly 1 out of every 3 people! That means the roads will be crowded, the airports will be crowded and everything will be busier than usual.

For many people, traveling is stressful on a normal day, but add in the holiday and all the extra people and you just may think you're going to lose your mind! 🙂 I'm here with some travel tips to insure that you arrive at your destination with your sanity intact.

Travel with Boredom Busters With the expected surge in people traveling over the next few weeks, there's a good chance you will have to wait in long lines at the airport and spend more time than you thought stuck in traffic. Rather than waiting impatiently and finding yourself frustrated, spend that time doing something you enjoy. My boredom buster of choice is audiobooks. While I love reading books, they're not always conducive to travel. I have found that I can drive, stand in an airport line, and drag my luggage throughout the airport without breaking stride or missing out on my book. I use a bluetooth headset paired with my iPhone and the Audible app. Many books are 8-12 hours long so they will keep you entertained for a long amount of time! I also download a few movies on the iPad so the kids can watch them even when they're not connected to wi-fi.
Allow Yourself Plenty of Time While you may be able to sail through airport security on most days in less than 10 minutes, this is not most days. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport if you're flying and plenty of time to get to your destination if you're driving.
Download the Apps You Need There are so many great apps that can reduce stress when you're traveling! Here are the apps you need to make sure you download before traveling.
1. A Weather App: You'll want to keep up with the latest weather information so you know what to expect.
2. Airline Apps: If you're flying, make sure you've downloaded your airlines app. It will inform you of gate changes, delays and cancellations.
3. Traffic Apps: If you're driving, you need an app that offers real-time traffic conditions and alternative routes. I like Waze, but I know there are other apps out there that are similar.
4. Navigation Apps: If you don't know where you're going, a navigation app can be a lifesaver. Make sure you have one in case you have to detour or find an alternative route.
5. An App for Booking Lodging: If you're loyal to a particular hotel chain, you can download their app. If you're looking for a good deal, I'm a big fan of the Hotwire app.
Expect to Pay More If you're making last minute travel arrangements, especially to popular vacation destinations, you're probably going to pay more. This is true for both hotels and airlines! One way to avoid this is to book your travel using travel rewards points. Most airline and hotel reward programs have blackout dates that typically don't allow you to book during the busiest travel times (which unfortunately includes Christmas). One of the best travel rewards programs I know of is Venture Card from Capital One. Capital One Venture Card is a credit card that enables consumers to travel their way, without being tied to a single airline and without the hassle of advance booking and inconvenient flight times. I love that Venture Card allows its users to use their rewards points on any travel-related expense which can save you a great deal of money. They let you use points on flights, hotels, cruises and even Uber rides (they're hip to the times like that).
Pack What You Need If you arrive at your destination without something essential, you will have to fight the pre-Christmas shoppers or the post-Christmas returners and I promise, you DO NOT WANT THAT! Seriously! Download my FREE Printable packing checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your trip. {And pay special attention to medications. My twins got sick on our very first Christmas vacation after they moved in with us. They came down with high fevers, sore throats, runny noses, and horrible coughs on Christmas day. And the closest pharmacy that was open was 30 minutes away. It was not a fun experience.}
Don't Forget Your Sense of Humor The most important thing you can take with you when you travel during the holidays is your sense of humor. There are probably going to be things that don't go your way or that frustrate you. Throwing a fit or getting mad will not do you one bit of good. A sense of humor and a good attitude can make all the difference in the world…for you and for those around you!