Christmas is meant to be a tranquil season. An occasion to eat, drink, and be joyful, or to unwind and sit back by the fire (after all, it is a holiday). But Christmas may be a stressful time of year for many of us, especially for those who travel during the bustling holiday season. Selective Travel Management has you covered with 5 top ideas for travel this Yuletide season, whether you are ho, ho, ho, home for the holidays or celebrating in a faraway location.
Plan in Advance
It is best to plan your trip in advance, just like you would any other time you travel. It might be simple to overlook the essentials for travel during the holidays because of the additional stresses, such as remembering to order the turkey or attempting to remember the name of the pricey perfume your partner requested. Make a list of everything you need to pack a few weeks before your vacation to avoid this from happening. Before making trip plans, make sure your passport is still valid and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance. Purchase a folder to store all of your travel papers, including your passport, visa, boarding pass, and hotel information.
Leave Early
Christmas is the second busiest travel season of the year (after summer), so it’s best to leave early to give extra time for any unforeseen roadblocks. Be prepared to travel for longer than normal since there may be greater traffic and busier airports. Given that Christmas happens during the winter, be prepared for inclement weather to have a detrimental influence on your trip. All types of travel can be delayed by snow, ice, rain, and storms, so be sure to check the status of your flights and trains before you leave and be ready for cancellations (including a back-up plan). Make sure to drive cautiously and only when required if the roads are ice. If your automobile breaks down or is in an accident, you should have an emergency pack.
Shop Like Santa
If you’re in Hamburg, Venice, Vienna, or Copenhagen in December, there’s certain to be a collection of stalls selling handcrafted goods and culinary presents. Christmas markets are a delightfully festive characteristic of many European towns. In a lovely open-air market, Christmas shopping is a delight rather than a bother, especially when there is enough of mulled wine to ward off the chill. If you’re going to a city known for its shopping, like New York, keep an eye out for deals during pre-Christmas discounts.
Pack Gifts With Care
When travelling with gifts, be aware of the import and customs laws of the destination country, and be careful not to bring more than your allotted amount if you are travelling outside of the EU. Don’t wrap gifts before packing them because customs officials might want to check your luggage. To keep your gift from being damaged before it is placed under the tree, wrap bottles and other breakable items in one or two jumpers.
Go Where the Snow Is
If you’re planning a ski trip in December, check out Snow Forecast to find out where the finest paste action is this holiday season. Christmas Day on the slopes is a real treat for snow fans. Right now, it seems like Val disserve and Zermatt would be good choices. Don’t forget to pack your Santa-themed ski cap! Book cheap Christmas flights now.