Ms. Mae Travels

I can’t believe it’s nearly Christmas again.  This is the time of the year when our traveling focuses around family.  We travel to see family or we travel with our family.

Traveling Home

Our family has never done a major trip around the holidays.  We plan our celebration around home and bringing family together.

Two of our daughters live over a six-hour drive from our home. They could fly, but they both have dogs which would make the flight more complicated.  Each year we check and re-check the weather, hoping they will not have problems on their drive.  Thankfully, over the years, they have rarely had a problem – this year looks good, too.

Always allow extra time when traveling around the holidays – both for packing the car and for the drive.  Packing the car takes extra time, since you probably have presents, food, and extra clothes.  The drive can also take longer because there will undoubtedly be more traffic on the road than usual.

The main thing is to travel safely so you can all enjoy the holidays together.

Traveling Away

In the past, we’ve considered traveling over the holidays. There are several things to think about for a holiday trip.

The most important part of a holiday trip away is planning.  If you will be flying, your plane tickets should be bought as soon as possible.  It can be difficult to find a bargain.  If you wait too long to purchase your tickets, you may find that your only option is to fly on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day – when no one else wants to fly.

Lodging should also be booked early.  The best places will fill up quickly so if you don’t book early, you will not have the best choice.

When the departure day comes, be sure to allow extra time to get to the airport and to get through security at the airport.  Many people travel around the holidays, so airports can be busier than normal.

Signing up for TSA Pre-check and Global Entry can speed up your trip though the airport, but these programs have to be applied for months in advance.  If you travel often, make yourself a New Year’s resolution to sign up for one or both of these programs.

Packing Tips

If you are going from a cold climate to a warm climate, remember to pack something that you can wear to and from the airport.  Layering is a great option because it won’t add a lot of bulk to your luggage.

Be sure to bring along any prescription medicines you will need while you are away.  This is especially important if you travel to a foreign country where you may not be able to get the same formulation your body is used to.  Also, bring along any over the counter meds you might need.  Digestive aids and anti-itch creams can be especially handy.

Upon Arrival

If you are traveling to a country where the climate is different than where you live, prepare yourself for the change.  If you plan to spend time in the sun, be sure to wear sunscreen – especially if you have been spending most of the time indoors.

If you plan to do a lot more walking on your vacation than you do at home, do some extra walking ahead of time to prepare your legs.  Plan lighter activities the first day or two while your body adjusts to the new temperature and climate.

Celebrate

Have a great time whether you travel to be with family or travel somewhere with your family.  The holidays are best spent with those we love.

Allow some time to worship over the holidays.  If you are away from home, you can worship with the locals or privately with your family. Remember the reason that we celebrate!