Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for travel, and whether you’re planning to visit friends and family or looking forward to a sunny Christmas on the beach, travelling this time of year can be stressful. After all, it’s not called the silly season for nothing.
From seemingly endless queues and weather delays to the pain of travelling the morning after the office party, there can be lots of obstacles to overcome during a festive journey. Add to that the immense pressure to get from A to B in time for the big day and the whole enterprise can sap your festive cheer faster than an undercooked turkey.
So, with this in mind, here are our top tips to surviving Christmas travel. And remember, if you’re prepared for the worst, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Keep checking the weather
The weather is, unfortunately, beyond our control but checking the forecast regularly in the run-up to departure can help you plan around any potential hiccups. Check the weather at both your departure and and arrival destinations, and to make things even easier, download a reliable weather app such as BBC Weather or Met Office Weather.
Check train and public transport schedules
You might have made your intended journey a dozen times before, but don’t take public transport connections for granted. There are all sorts of reasons why a service might be disrupted, from repairs to staffing issues, so check ahead.
For example, look ahead if you’re planing on using the The Gatwick Express, which will be operating a limited schedule over the Christmas period due to maintenance works.
Allow extra time for terrible traffic (and airport queues)
If you can factor extra time into your travel plans, it might be wise to do so – you don’t want heavy traffic or never-ending queues to scupper your plans. If possible, avoid rush hour at all costs, even if it means arriving at your departure point early. You’ll thank yourself. And if you’re travelling in the UK, Traffic England and the AA’s traffic news section are useful resources for finding out about accidents and traffic jams.
Think twice before travelling with food
You might have spent hours baking personalised gingerbread biscuits for each member of your family, but before you carefully pack them in your hand luggage, check if they’ll make it through security. If you don’t want your gifts to be confiscated, check what you can bring on the plane and into the country you’re travelling to.
Hold off on the wrapping
Wait until you arrive at your destination before wrapping your presents. The simple reason for this is in case your bag gets searched by security and staff will be professionally obligated to undo all of your good work.
Book extras in advance
Not only will you save money by booking extras like car hire, airport parking and transfers in advance, but you’ll save time by not having to queue at ticket machines and transfer desks. Plus, the cost of something like airport parking can be eye-watering, and you don’t want an expenditure like that putting a downer on your journey.
