Christmas is a pretty cool time for families — there’s nothing better than snuggling up with your partner and watching your kids revel in the festive fun. But millions of Americans also travel during the holiday, so they can share the yuletide vibes with parents, siblings or cousins elsewhere in the US or even abroad.
It’s great once you get there, but the lead up to a family trip can get everyone a bit antsy.
Meal coupons
Wherever you’re heading for the festivities, grabbing a great meal before you travel helps maintain harmony. Search for local cuisine deals on Groupon.com to grab a bargain for the whole family.
Coach travel
If no one in your party’s prone to travel sickness, coach travel can still be convenient for journeys to visit relatives in the next state or a city a few hours away. And if you book online at greyhound.com, you’ll get the best fares and build up discount points as you travel.
Kids Luggage
One easy way to get young kids enthused about a festive road, rail or air trip is to buy them their very own luggage. Walmart has a wide choice of branded luggage featuring Disney and Marvel characters that’s durable and looks fab.
Books
In the digital age, suggesting that a book can entertain kids during a flight seems old fashioned. But titles like ‘100 Things to do on a Plane’ and ‘i-SPY At the airport’ are surprisingly enjoyable and cost a lot less than hand-held gaming consoles.
Parking
If you’re driving to the departure hub in your own vehicle, you can ensure that it stays safe and secure when you book airport parking on Looking4.com. You’ll find a park and fly and valet deals across the country, from Seattle to Orlando.
Charging devices
If you want to create the perfect conditions for holiday tantrums, set off on your vacay without chargers for kids’ phones and other electronic devices. Avoid this troublesome scenario by investing in a charging station for multiple devices from Amazon.com.
Mindfulness
If pre-flight anxiety has got you close to tearing your hair out, plugging into a mindfulness app like Calm can restore your sense of serenity. And if it doesn’t work immediately, at least it’ll drown out moans and groans for a few minutes.
Spotify
If your family is into getting down to groovy tunes, make a festive Spotify playlist together to keep everyone in the right spirit for a fun family trip. If you’re all singing along all the way to your destination, you’re off to a harmonious start.
Pick your favorites from our eight hassle-free travel hacks to create your own selection box of calming Christmas tactics — there are several to suit every family.
