It’s finally getting chilly down here in Miami and that means the holidays are here!
Can you tell I’m super excited? 😉
This is by far my absolute.favorite.time.of year.
Queue the Thanksgiving recipes, tree decorating, and playing Christmas music while drinking eggnog! Can you hear Jingle Bells playing in the background?
The holidays are such a fun time for us since family comes in, we get to cook and eat tons of great food, and best of all….drum roll please…our Christmas vacation!
Yes, this means that we’re some of the crazy people who brave the holiday crowds and travel to snowy, wintery destinations every year. This also means that we’ve racked up quite a few travel tips that are specific to this time of the year.
We’ve learned how to plan ahead (like last year on our Norway trip when we ended up without a rental car), how to pack appropriately (since we had to buy a ton of extra clothes in Copenhagen), and how to get around the airport without the chaos (since we ended up missing our flight back home from Paris).
As you can see, we’ve had our fair share of “learning experiences.”
So to avoid the crazy holiday travel chaos, we’re sharing our very best holiday travel tips that will have you rethinking how you travel this year. Whether you’re traveling home for the holidays of jet-setting of to your winter vacation, we’ve got you covered!
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But first - Reasons why we take vacation during the holidays:
1 – It’s the off-season.
Yes, the off-season. That magical time where many places have almost no-tourists and even fewer lines for popular attractions.
Keep in mind that while this is the off-season for a lot of destinations, it can actually be the busy season for others. So double check with a quick google search of (your destination + off-season).
2 – It’s cheaper.
While traveling in the US during the holidays tends to get pricey (especially right before and after Thanksgiving & Christmas) traveling to Europe becomes less expensive since most people visit in the spring and summer. And if you really look, you can even find some great domestic deals.
3 – To see snow!
As native Miami-ans, we don’t get the chance to see much snow during the year. So we jump at the chance to visit snowy places and really get that holiday feeling.
4 – Beach destinations are less crowded
So if you’re coming from up north and looking to escape the cold, you’ll probably get a deal on a beach vacation around this time of year.
Take advantage of the off-season people!
And if you’re worried about it being too cold for the beach, think about this…it’s currently November and it was 85 degrees outside today here in Miami.
Iced pumpkin-spiced latte anyone?
Miami in December means no crowds!
If You're Traveling Home for the Holidays
1) Travel on the actual holiday
Prices tend to be lower and the crowds are less on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Take advantage and book and early morning flight. That way you still get to your destination in time for the festivities!
2) Buy gifts online and ship them
It’s so much easier than lugging them through the airport and remembering to pack everything!
You can even buy things in person and ship them over (hello USPS flat rate boxes!) Just make sure that your family & friends don’t “accidentally” open the boxes before you get there!
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3) Leave gifts unwrapped when flying
If you do end up traveling with your gifts, do not wrap them!
You might think you’re being smart and getting a head start, but TSA has the right to unwrap gifts to inspect them. So unless you love wrapping gifts, don’t put yourself through the extra work!
4) Pack the pumpkin pie!
That’s right, you can actually take several food items with you through the airport.
So if you are worried about not having time to prepare your favorite holiday recipes when you get there, just make sure it’s TSA approved, and then bring it with you!
Packing and Transportation Tips
5) Pack extra light!
Getting through the airport crowds will be chaotic enough.
Pack light to avoid the extra hassle and make your travel time easier.
And if that sounds good, but you have no idea where to begin, we’ve written our 10 Steps to Packing Light with all our how-to’s for shedding the extra luggage weight! We’ve literally outlined exactly how to travel light every time, so go check it out!
6) Compare flight costs from regional airports
Since more people will be traveling during this time, it will be worth it to avoid the major hubs if you can.
A great bonus is that smaller regional airports usually have cheaper flights. The only downside to this is that there may be fewer flight times to choose from.
But hey, it’s worth a quick search!
7) Pack extra snacks
The holidays can be magical, but they don’t call it “holiday weight” for nothing!
Everywhere you look you’ll find Christmas cookies and sugar-filled snacks. Avoid the temptation by packing a few extra snacks – bonus points if they’re healthy!
Plus if your flight gets delayed (knock on wood) you won’t have to spend the extra cash when you get hangry 😉
8) Black Friday & Cyber Monday flight deals
That’s right, Black Friday and Cyber Monday flight deals are real.
So while everyone else is out shopping for a new flat-screen TV or another stereo system, you can be on the couch getting great bargains on flights! And if you’ve already planned ahead a little bit, you can get great prices on flights for the following year too!
We like Skyscanner to compare flight prices quickly since they do go fast!
9) Book early morning flights
Believe me when I say it hurts me to write that.
If you can’t tell, I’m definitely not a morning person and the thought of waking up before the sunrise gives me an instant headache.
But if you can manage it, booking an early morning flight (like 6 or 7 am) really does help to beat the crowd. Probably since no one wants to wake up at the frickin.crack.of.dawn.
But anyway, I digress…
10) Use social media for flight updates and issues
A lot of times airlines or airports will tweet out flight status updates, airport closures, etc before they even update the website.
So if you’re looking for real-time information, check social media first.
On the flip side of this is using social media for issues.
So instead of (or while) you’re waiting at the ticket counter to get something resolved, use Twitter to send a message to the actual company. They usually have a dedicated social media team and will be quick to respond to complaints, seeing as they don’t want the bad publicity.
11) Give yourself plenty of time
If you’re driving, the roads are sure to be crowded with people leaving or getting back home during the holidays.
So leave early, with at least a few hours to spare, and save yourself the panic of being late. Worst case scenario, you’ll be stuck in traffic but you won’t have to worry since you have plenty of time to spare.
Now, if you’re flying you’ll want to get there super early since the airports are sure to be crowded.
Just getting in line to check bags can take over an hour. And then security, and running across the airport to the gate, ugh. (Can you tell we’ve been there, done that? 😛 )
Save yourself the headache and get there a few hours early. And bring something to keep you entertained if you have spare time – maybe download a movie on your phone?
12) Check in online
Most airlines now will let you check in online up to a few hours before the flight.
This can save you major time when you get to the airport since you can skip the counter altogether.
So while this is true for the entire year, it’s especially valuable during the holidays since the airport check-in counters will be super busy (and not all airports have self check-in kiosks yet.)
And hey, if you’re not checking in luggage, you can go straight to security and even relax a bit before your flight!
13) Check the weather
I know this seems like an odd one, but hear me out.
On so many one of our trips, we forget to check the weather and think that we can just deal when we get there.
You know, Florida in winter will be hot, Montana in winter will be cold. That sort of thing.
But do yourself a favor and double, even triple, check right before you pack your bag.
Because even when you think you know for sure what the weather will be like, it can change. There have been years here in Miami where it’s 60 degrees for an entire week. And I’ve been in Maine during a winter where there was hardly any snow.
The absolute last thing you want is to get to your destination and find out you packed the wrong clothes. And having to buy new stuff when you get there is just not fun, believe me.
14) Layer up - with certain clothes
Those of you who live in colder climates, you might already know this one – but stay with me.
It’s one temperature outside, probably cold during this time of year. And then the airport is warmer. But then you get into the airplane and you’re suffocating. So you start taking off layers and then you have a pile of stuff on top of you.
Our tip: use clothes that can be put on/taken off easily. The last thing you want is having to squeeze out of 2 pull-over sweaters in that tiny airplane seat.
We recommend things like jackets (even better if it doesn’t have a front closure), scarves that can double as blankets, button up shirts, etc. Just as long as you’re not elbowing the person next to you while you take off a few layers.
And bonus points for remembering to take off your extra layers before you board the plane! A few minutes of being cold is so worth being able to put your stuff in the overhead bins (instead of having a pile on your lap.)
15) Write down or print out your travel itinerary
Let me give you an equation here.
Holidays = More people in the airport = Weaker wifi signal = Unable to load your travel docs
Unfortunately this has happened to us. For real.
We got to the self check-in kiosk but had no signal from our phones. No problem, I thought. I’ll just log onto the wifi and grab my confirmation number.
Nope. Unable to load.
And so we had to stand in the ridiculously long line to check in for our flight. Moral of the story: write down your travel information!!
16) Opt out of the flight
Sometimes on overbooked flights the flight attendant will announce that they’re looking for volunteers to get off the flight and wait for the next one.
In exchange they offer you free upgrades or a cash voucher for future flights.
This is a great opportunity if you’re not in a hurry.
Just make sure they you’re getting something valuable in return before you agree to give up your seat.
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17) Make your bag stand out
Most luggage is some neutral color like black. Now, I’m definitely a fan of neutral colors, but try to get a bad that stands out from the crowd.
During the holidays people are in a rush more than normal. Which can lead to people taking the wrong bag by mistake. And trying to get your bag back can be a nightmare. So make sure your bag is unique in some way.
We would also recommend making your bag unique in a permanent way. Tying a red ribbon around yours is probably not the best idea and I’ll tell you why.
During the holidays a lot of people travel with gifts. So someone could walk in and easily grab a bag off the carousel hoping to get some free holiday merchandise. If your bag has a ribbon on it, they can easily remove it and voila, your bag is no longer unique.
But, let’s say your bag is rainbow colored with little purple puppies on it, a thief will probably stay away since you’ll be able to scan the crowd and identify your bag easily.
18) Use a roller bag
Even if you do get there on time and have all your travel documents printed out, you might still end up running across the airport to catch you flight.
You just never know during the holidays.
Which would you rather have? A 25 lb duffel bag or a bag that rolls as fast as you can run?
I still shake my head at that one time we ran across the entire airport and the strap on my duffel bag broke. Trust me, just get a roller bag and save yourself the hassle.
19) Take non-stop flights
We love non-stop flights because they’re so convenient. One of my pet-peeves is having to connect between flights and I always look for non-stop every time we travel.
But there’s an added benefit: more connections between flights = higher possibility of luggage being lost
And if you think this won’t happen to you, think again.
We once had a connecting flight in December – we were heading on a dog-sledding trip to Maine. We’ll somewhere around Philly, our luggage got lost and we had no clothes for 3 days. We literally had to wear our Miami clothes (in the dead of winter.)
So definitely take non-stop if possible. But if you can’t….
20) Pack a change of clothes
Pack of change of clothes in your handbag, backpack, or whatever bag you’re not checking in. Something you wouldn’t mind wearing for a bit if you had to – like if your bag got lost, for example.
I usually opt for something small, like a pair of warm leggings, a long sleeve shirt, and an extra change of undergarments.
21) Pack some fuzzy socks
One thing I always have in my backpack is a pair of (fuzzy) socks.
I hate being uncomfortable on flights – especially long flights. So after takeoff, we kick off our shoes, put on our fuzzy socks, and try to relax for a little while. Bonus if you bring some mini-essential oils with you. You know – just in case the guy in the next row brings a tuna fish sandwich and some hard-boiled eggs.
22) Have your camera out
Want a beautiful and unique photo? There’s nothing like seeing the city covered in snow from the plane! We love having the camera somewhere easily accessible so we can get those picture prefect travel memories.
Note: also great for baby’s first plane ride, shots of hubby asleep with his mouth open, and any other photos that will make you smile later on 😉
23) Check the weight restrictions
We travel often. So I thought we were okay on the luggage weight during our last trip. But just for some reason (call it a hunch) I decided to check on the airline website once more.
Turns out they decreased the amount of weight allowed for carry-ons since the last time we flew – about 2 months before. At the last minute we ended up re-packing everything (**facepalm**) But thank goodness we did, because when we went to check in, the people next to us had to pay $100 extra for just a few lbs over the weight limit.
Always double check!
24) Leave on Christmas night
Year after year, we find the best flight deals on December 25th at night. At first,w e didn’t want to fly on Christmas, but then we realized that we do all the fun stuff during the day anyway.
From then on, we’ve always left for our vacation on the day-of and save a ton every year!
25) Stay warm
I don’t know about you, but I’m always always cold.
So I make sure to have some hand/toe warmers in my bag. We buy them in bulk online so they’re cheaper. These ones are the ones we always use since they stay warmer longer, in my experience.
Or, if you’re really interested in staying warm try these:
26) Leave your lights on
When we travel, we always leave a few lights on in the house to make it seem like someone is home.
This is especially true during this time of year, when there’s a lot of presents and gifts home alone. We leave the outdoor Christmas lights on, the back patio light, and usually a lamp or two.
27) Bring some entertainment
During the holidays, flight delays are a common thing. I know we’ve had plenty. The first time or two, we were unprepared. But now we always bring a book, an extra downloaded movie, or a set of cards.
And don’t forget a toy for the kids too – keeping them busy will prevent a lot of headaches!
28) Don't pay for parking!
Traveling is expensive, and depending on where you are parking can be crazy expensive. We hate parking at the airport for a few reasons.
- The cost – could be hundreds
- The risk of leaving your car in a garage for an extended period of time
- Having the battery drained if you leave your lights on by accident
- Takes a while to find parking if the airport is busy (and we actually missed a flight once!)
So we always either 1) take an Uber or 2) have a friend drop us off/pick us up. Not only does this save us the money, but it’s less hassle too – especially during this time of year. So just offer to chip in for gas, and call in that favor from a friend!
29) Get the car checked
If you’re driving a long distance for your holiday travel, be sure to do any needed maintenance on the car before you leave.
In reality we all know we should do this, but during the holidays it can be really hard to find a good mechanic that’s open if something does go wrong.
And you might even end up paying holiday rates for emergency service.
So get the car ready at least a week or two before your trip. This way it’s crossed off your to-do list, and you don’t end up paying extra for holiday hours.
30) Stay alert
Of course you should always be alert when traveling, but during this season there’s so many more people traveling than during the rest of the year. And it can be easy to forget to stay alert if your excited for your (much needed) vacation and/or trying to make your way through the chaos and holiday crowds.
Here are a few of the things we do to make sure we have a great time:
- Always watch your bag! It’s crazy how many bags go missing in crowded places
- Put away your wallet/ID/keys in the same place every time. This reduces chances of misplacing them and it only takes an additional minute
- Know what your travel partners (kids, husband, parents, etc) are wearing. That way you can scan the crowd if you need to find them
- Have some phone numbers written down (or mesmerized) – just in case your phone goes missing and you need to communicate with family/friends
- Report things that seem weird. Even if it turns out to be nothing, it’s better to alert authorities than to stay quiet. (ie. bags without an owner, people acting strange in public, etc)
Wow – that was a lot!
All the tips we’ve picked up over the years have helped up have smooth holiday travel experiences – ‘ya know, after we learned a few lessons 😉
But now you can learn from our mistakes and enjoy traveling this season.
And don’t forget to subscribe for access to our free travel resource library! It will help you plan your holiday trip like a pro and it only takes 5 seconds!
Happy travels!
– Veronica
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