The holidays are upon us, and if you're going to spend them with faraway family and friends, you're probably going to be dealing with the stress that is traveling. Here are some of our best tips for making travel as pain-free as possible.
Photo remixed from an original by Ingy the Wingy.
Buying Plane Tickets
Assuming that flying is the more economical option for your travel, you'll want to make sure you've booked those tickets a good eight weeks in advance for the best prices?and on a Tuesday afternoon, if you can help it. If you're flying internationally, you might find better deals on the foreign version of that airline's web site. If not, using one of our favorite travel booking sites is the best way to get inexpensive tickets, and with a few travel ninja skills, you should be able to get some shockingly low-cost tickets.
As you're buying your tickets, make sure you're not only getting the best price possible, but setting yourself up for a good flight. Use a service like ExpertFlyer to get the best seats or to get on a sold out flight, and make sure your plane has Wi-Fi if you want internet access in the air. Avoid airlines that offer elite status for better seats, and if you're a little short on miles, you can buy and sell them directly from the airline to get a nice upgrade or two. Having the perfect rewards card for traveling helps, too.
Packing
Baggage fees are at an all-time high, so you want to do everything in your power to make it on just your carry-ons. We've featured a lot of packing methods over the years, but you can't go wrong with the bundle method?it'll save you space without getting unsightly wrinkles in your clothes. Make sure you know how to fold those more awkward clothes, like suit coats, too.
Start with a good packing list, and don't forget to include some of the more unusual (but incredibly useful) things. As far as what to pack in packing cubes will help you pack super efficiently, and product packaging makes a dandy travel case for your gadgets. Your toiletries bag is a no-brainer, but to make your life easier, establish a permanent one you only use for travel and just throw it in your bag when you go?that way you don't leave anything behind.
Surviving On Travel Day
When it's time to actually head out, make sure your home is well-protected and you get to the airport on time. Keep a close eye on your itinerary with a service like Tripit, and if your flight gets cancelled, you can rebook it more easily if you don't follow the airline's instructions. If you're going to the airport with family, you can actually walk them to the gate if you ask, too.
Once you're on the plane, you can use some evil schemes to make sure your flight is perfect, including (but not limited to) getting Wi-Fi without paying for it and even flying first class without paying extra. Of course, you could always just buy a one-day lounge pass to get better service, too?you know, if you aren't evil.
We've featured tons of travel tips over the year (not to mention devoted an entire episode of the show to it), so for more tips, be sure to check out our #travel tag before you leave. And, as always, share your favorite tips with us in the comments below.
You can contact Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
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