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Eight tips for holiday travel
By Diane Manson
It’s that magical time of year and one of the busiest times of year at Airports around the world. Here are a few tips and mindset practices to ensure your travel experience is as magical as the holiday season.
Plan Ahead Â
The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is just the ticket for smooth holiday travel. Review and print travel documents (no one ever plans on dropping and breaking their phone). Check your identification, “Is it valid?” Pre-pave the way by mentally walking yourself through your travel day.
Packing Gifts
If you’re travelling with gifts don’t wrap them. No matter how beautifully wrapped they are, security will want to have a peek to see what’s inside. If you’re travelling with food, be sure it is allowed into the country you’re travelling to. If you want to keep things super simple consider sending parcels ahead or giving gift cards.
Extra, Extra Time
(Yes, that’s a double extra). Consider taking the family dog to Auntie Betty’s the night before. Leave home early to allow for winter driving conditions. Allow additional time to park your vehicle and anticipate line-ups at both check-in and security.
Be Nice. Be Very Nice
Be sure travel brings out the best in you. Smile. Help someone with their bag. Besides, others are likely to follow your lead and children learn travel etiquette by example.
Be Considerate
Put yourself in the shoes of the airline check-in personnel and security staff. They’ve been working full tilt for days and even several weeks. They can only attend to one check-in party at a time and assuredly are doing the best they can. Their superpowers do not include controlling weather or fixing mechanical issues.
Be Organized at Security
Have your boarding pass handy, wear slip on shoes, belt off, wear as little metal as possible, be lap-top and device ready, place creams, liquids and gels in a single zip-lock bag.
Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
Why let a flight delay or a lack of chairs at the gate spoil your day? After all, “It is the holiday season.”
Start packing, minus the gift-wrap
Be sure to include a little forethought and good old-fashioned manners and the start to your holiday is sure to be relaxed and magical.
Photo submitted
Diane Manson is a Travel & Cruise Consultant in Kimberley. Diane and the Team of Travel Professionals at Mountain City Travel handcraft and curate travels experiences unique to each traveler
