Christmas Travel Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Trips

Christmas Travel Tips – The Christmas season is traditionally viewed as a tranquil period, characterized by feasting, drinking, and enjoying the company of loved ones while lounging by the fire.

However, for numerous individuals, particularly those who are travelling during the frenzied festive period, Christmas can be a source of anxiety. 

Whether you are journeying back to your hometown for the holidays or commemorating the occasion in a foreign country, Selective Travel Management has compiled a list of five valuable travel tips to assist you this Yuletide season.

Christmas Travel Tips for 2023

Plan in Advance

When travelling during the Christmas period, it is essential to plan your trip ahead, just as you would during any other time of the year. With additional pressures such as remembering to order the holiday feast or recalling your partner’s costly perfume, it is easy to overlook important travel essentials. 

To prevent such oversights, it is advisable to create a checklist of all the necessary items that you will need to pack, several weeks before your departure (avoid leaving packing until the last minute).

Verify that your passport is valid before booking your travel, and don’t forget to obtain travel insurance coverage. It is helpful to purchase a folder to store all of your travel documents, including your passport, visa, boarding pass, and hotel reservation.

Alternatively, you can go paperless and store your travel documents on your mobile device, and check-in for your flight online, saving you time at the airport. 

However, it is recommended to have a physical backup of your documents in case of phone battery failure or technological glitches.

Christmas Travel Tips – Leave Early

Since Christmas is the second busiest travel period of the year (after summer), it is advisable to leave early and allocate extra time for any unforeseen events that may occur during your journey. 

The volume of traffic on the roads may be greater than usual, and airports can be extremely busy, so anticipate spending more time travelling than you typically would.

Given that Christmas takes place during the winter months, adverse weather conditions such as snow, ice, rain, and storms could impact your travel plans adversely. 

Therefore, it is critical to verify the status of your flight or rail service before departing and have a contingency plan in place in case of cancellations.

When driving, make sure to proceed cautiously if the roads are icy, and only drive if necessary. You should also have an emergency car kit on hand in case of a breakdown or accident.

 Avoid Peak Travel Dates

Avoid Christmas travel during busy times. To optimize time at home or on vacation, plan travel dates that don’t overlap with others’. Most people have limited time off owing to job responsibilities.

Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the cheapest days to fly. If you have extra time, try traveling sooner or later. Plan your road trip around the busiest weekend before Christmas. 

Pack Wisely and Lightly

Although it would be wonderful to have a moment akin to Santa’s arrival, bearing gifts for all your loved ones, it’s important to keep in mind that exceeding the baggage limit will result in extra fees. 

Start by packing your essentials first and then weigh your suitcase. If you have additional space, you could purchase some small gifts for your family and friends.

Alternatively, order the gifts online and have them delivered to your home address. If you’re traveling for Christmas and want to bring gifts for the children, limit yourself to the most crucial ones and consider booking an additional suitcase.

Do not wrap the presents before arriving at the airport since security may want to inspect your bag, rendering all of your planning and preparation futile. 

Furthermore, if you’re bringing food or taking it home with you, make sure to verify the regulations for both the airline and the destination country since it may be confiscated.