Holiday Travel Tips I Swear By
Thereโs nothing quite like the holiday travel season: crowded airports, delayed flights, and the inevitable moment when youโve left something essential at home. Whether youโre heading home to see family or sneaking away for a cozy winter getaway, traveling during the holiday season can be a lot.
Over the years, Iโve learned a few tried-and-true tricks to make it less stressful and dare I say.. more enjoyable. In this post, Iโm sharing my go-to holiday travel tips and the travel must-haves I swear by so you can pack like a pro.
Holiday Travel Tips I Swear By
Take Deep Breaths & Practice Kindness
Holiday travel can bring out the best and worst in people: crowded gates, delays, long security linesโฆ It’s a recipe for frayed nerves. But hereโs the thing: everyoneโs in the same boat trying to get somewhere special. A little patience and kindness can make the whole experience so much easier, not just for others, but for you too.
When things start to feel overwhelming, I like to pause, take a few slow deep breaths, and remind myself that the little hiccups wonโt matter once Iโm where Iโm going. Smile at the frazzled gate agent. Let the person with a screaming toddler go ahead of you. Offer a kind word instead of a sigh.
You canโt control travel chaos, but you can control your energy, and sometimes, thatโs enough to turn a stressful travel day into just a mildly messy (and maybe even funny) story later. Ultimately it isnโt that serious!
Have a Go-To Travel Outfit
When it comes to holiday travel, I firmly believe your outfit can make or break your travel day mood. My personal rule? Comfort first, but make it cute. I usually reach for a matching sweat set, comfy sneakers, and cozy socks.
My entire travel outfit is from Walmart and is under $35! Being comfy and chic doesnโt need to cost a fortune!
And hereโs my biggest travel outfit tip: layering is your best friend. Planes love to keep us guessing โ one minute itโs a freezer, the next itโs a tropical getaway. I like to wear a lightweight tee under my sweatshirt so I can easily adjust as needed and stay comfortable from takeoff to touchy. Bonus points if you get to toss your sweater around shoulders!
Pack Like a Pro
Holiday travel is chaotic enough, your suitcase shouldnโt add to the drama. These packing cubes are the unsung heroes of stress-free travel. They keep everything organized, easy to find, and make fitting one more sweater miraculously possible. I like to roll my clothes inside the cubes (instead of folding) to save space and minimize wrinkles. Trust me, itโs a game changer.
What I really love about this set is that it doesnโt just stop at packing cubes. It actually comes with everything you need to stay organized on the go โ including a handy makeup bag (which Iโve fully converted into my everyday travel beauty bag) and a laundry bag to keep your clean and worn clothes separate. Itโs basically a mini travel system in one.
And the best part? This 8-piece set from Walmart is just $15. It has cubes and organizers for clothes, toiletries, shoes, and even your tech items. The luggage itself is under $60, which makes it such a smart, budget-friendly travel find.
I also keep a small pouch with my in-flight essentials (lip balm, hand sanitizer, eye masks, headphones, etc.) tucked in the bag that goes under my seat. That way, I donโt have to reach up into the overhead bin every time I need something mid-flight.
I like to use a travel duffle/weekender bag as my personal item. It gives you way more storage without technically being an extra carry-on! If youโre checking a bag, always pack an extra outfit in your carry-on. Luggage delays happen and thereโs nothing better than knowing you’re covered if your suitcase decides to take its own vacation.
Packing Must-Haves:
Prep Ahead
The best way to make holiday travel less chaotic? Set yourself up before you even leave the house. A little prep goes a long way. I like to book transportation to the airport in advance, download my boarding passes to my phone, and keep my ID or passport in an easy-to-reach pocket so Iโm not doing the frantic โwhere is it?!โ shuffle in the security line.
If you travel even semi-regularly, signing up for TSA PreCheck is a total game changer. Itโs under $100, lasts for five years, and gives you access to a dedicated (usually much shorter) security line. Iโve yet to get Clear but have also heard itโs very helpful and worth it!
Plus, you get to keep your shoes on and your liquids (I use this travel set for my toiletries) and laptop tucked neatly in your bag.
And because in-flight comfort matters, I always pack noise-canceling headphones, a travel pillow, and plenty of snacks.
Leave Gifts Unwrapped or Ship Them Instead
If youโre flying this holiday season, do yourself a huge favor and skip wrapping your gifts until you get to your destination. TSA may have to unwrap anything going through security, and nothing kills the holiday magic faster than watching your perfectly wrapped present get sliced open at the checkpoint.
A smarter move? Pack your gifts safely in your checked luggage, or better yet, ship them ahead of time so you donโt have to deal with the extra weight (or the stress). Not only will this save you space in your carry-on, but it also means one less thing to worry about when youโre juggling suitcases, snacks, and boarding passes.
Have Podcasts and Playlists Queued Up
Thereโs nothing worse than being mid-flight, ready to vibe, and realizingโฆ you forgot to download anything. Donโt let airplane Wi-Fi (or lack thereof) crush your in-flight entertainment dreams. Before I head to the airport, I make sure Iโve got a few podcast episodes and a couple of playlists downloaded and ready to go in case thereโs no wifi.
Whether itโs a holiday playlist that gets you in the festive mood, your favorite comfort podcast, or an audiobook youโve been meaning to finish, having your lineup ready makes the travel time fly by.
Donโt Panic if Your Flight is Delayed or Cancelled
Itโs the holidays, which basically means flight delays and cancellations are part of the festive fun (yay?). While itโs never ideal, staying calm and having a game plan can make a huge difference. First things first: donโt panic. Take a deep breath, grab a coffee, and channel your inner โseasoned travelerโ energy.
If your flight is delayed or canceled, immediately check the airlineโs app or website for rebooking options, sometimes you can snag a new seat faster online than by waiting in a mile-long line. If that doesnโt work, get in line and call the airline while you wait. Two chances are better than one.
Itโs also smart to keep a small โjust in caseโ kit in your carry-on. Think chargers, snacks, a cozy layer, and maybe a mini skincare momentโbecause you never know how long youโll be hanging out at the gate.
And thatโs it! My tried-and-true holiday travel tips that have saved me from many chaotic airport moments. Whether youโre heading home to see family or jetting off somewhere new, a little prep (and a lot of cozy layers) can make all the difference. So take a deep breath, queue up your favorite playlist, and know that even if things donโt go perfectly, youโve got this.
Wishing you smooth flights, on-time arrivals, and plenty of festive moments at your destination. Safe travels and happy holidays!
