Believe it or not, the holiday season is just around the corner. If you are like the thousands of other Americans who will be traveling during the holidays, you probably understand how stressful it can be. Crowded airports, flight delays, and lost baggage can make any holiday trip a nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be this way! There are some things that you can do to make traveling during the holidays go as smoothly as possible.
Ready to learn more? Here are 8 travel tips to keep in mind during the 2022 holiday season:
1. Make Your Travel Plans ASAP
The earlier that you can book your travel plans, the better. Flights, hotels, and rental cars fill up fast during the holidays, and you may miss out on getting what you want if you don’t book early. Once you know where you’re heading, make plans, and book your tickets and accommodations.
2. Get to the Airport Early
Though we always recommend getting to the airport early, we highly recommend it when traveling during the holidays. Airports will be busier than usual, and there’s a good chance that it will take longer to get through TSA. If you’re traveling internationally, get to the airport at least 3 hours ahead of time and 2 hours ahead of time if you’re flying domestically.
3. Choose an Airport That’s Less Busy
Try and book your flight at an airport that tends to be less busy. Not only will you be able to get through TSA more quickly, but you won’t have to deal with the hassle of an overcrowded airport. Trust us, you’ll be happy you did!
4. Use a Carry-On Bag
When possible, pack your clothing in a carry-on bag rather than in luggage you have to check in. Checking in your luggage can potentially cause a headache for you, especially if it happens to get lost in transit. Your carry-on bag will be with you the whole time, and you have a significantly lesser chance of something happening to it during your flight.
5. Ship Any Gifts
One of the most fun parts of the holiday season is exchanging gifts with your family and friends. But it can be challenging to bring these gifts along with you on your flight. Instead, save yourself the hassle and ship your gifts to your destination ahead of time, or purchase them online and send them to your destination.
6. Be Patient
Traveling during the holiday season can 100% test your patience. Everything is more crowded, there could be delays, and there’s a good chance that something may not go according to plan. Instead of getting upset, try your best to get into the holiday spirit and be as patient as possible.
7. Go With the Flow
When in doubt, go with the flow. You’re traveling to see your loved ones, and that’s something so incredibly special. If things go wrong, try your best to stay positive, and remember that everything will turn out okay.
Traveling during the holidays should be anything but stressful. Our hope is that these tips will make your experience this year go as easy as possible.Â
If you’re flying internationally this holiday season and need a passport or visa, we can help! You can get the application process started on the Swift website. If you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to contact us. No matter where you plan on going, we’ll get you there!
