19 Holiday Travel Tips For The Anxious Traveler

Feeling stressed and anxious for hectic holiday travel? You’re not alone. This time of year is notoriously difficult travel-wise.

Crowds, delays, bad weather, and factors out of anybody’s control are all possibilities.

I am a frequent traveler, and admit that traveling during the holiday season can be very stressful even for regular travelers.

These are my top holiday travel tips for the anxious traveler.

Holiday Travel Tips: Planning & Day Of Travel

Book In Advance

The sheer number of people out and about during the holidays can be overwhelming.

Planning ahead and booking in advance will really come in handy this time of year.

Flights and hotels should be booked well in advance, as most already know.

But even things like airport parking can also be reserved ahead of time. This alleviates stress the day of your trip, and allows you to avoid frantically searching for parking.

Additionally, dinner reservations, show tickets, and any other entertainment should be booked ahead when possible.

Having everything reserved well in advance not only helps with anxiety, but also helps to formulate a clear trip itinerary.

Organize Your Booking Information

Keep your reservation and confirmation numbers all in one spot, plus the address for the hotel, and anything else you may need during your travel day.

Keeping all of this information in one spot, whether on a piece of paper or on your phone, will be extremely helpful in eliminating anxiety.

There’s no need to create extra stress by frantically trying to find your confirmation email with poor cell service.

Make A Detailed Plan – Those Going To The Airport  

One of the simplest things you can do to to avoid stress during holiday travel is to formulate a detailed plan.

As I mentioned above, booking everything in advance and putting together an itinerary is a no-brainer.

But to also write out a detailed plan for your travel day will be very helpful.

The time leading up to when you arrive at the airport should be very meticulously planned, especially if you have an early flight.

You need to know things like:

• The exact time you need to wake up. Factor in if you need a little extra time hit the snooze button, read for a bit, etc.
• How much time do you need to get ready and use the bathroom?
• How much time for coffee?
• How much time to eat?
• To get the kids ready?
• Did you finish packing? If not, what exactly needs to be done?
• Make a list of miscellaneous items which need to be packed in the morning, for example a phone charger, laptop, or toiletries.
• What is the exact time you need to leave for the airport? Factor in anything you need to do on the way to the airport, like get gas or stop at an ATM.

Once you have this figured out, write out a detailed schedule. I recommend actually writing this down, either in Notes on your phone or on a piece of paper.

Then figure out if anything on that list can be eliminated or rearranged.

Perhaps some things can be done in advance, like filling the car or buying a bottled coffee early in the week so you don’t have to brew a pot, and so on.

Last, add some extra time to this list. Give yourself an extra few minutes here and there for getting ready, getting the car loaded, or for unplanned traffic, etc.

I am a very regular traveler, and follow this routine on travel days. Without a schedule, the morning feels unnecessarily hectic.

Make A Detailed Plan – Those Doing A Road Trip

If doing a road trip during the holiday season, you also need a detailed plan.

The plan for those going to the airport, listed above, has lots of helpful tips for any type of travel, but there’s a bit more planning specific to road trippers.

You need to know things like:

• How long will it take to pack the car before leaving?
• Where do you plan to stop along the way for gas and bathroom breaks?
• Where to stop for food? And a second option in case that choice is backed up.
• Do you have car charging devices for your phone and/or GPS?
• Your preferred route and a back up route.
• Have you checked weather along your route?

My family does an 8 hour road trip every year for Thanksgiving, we’ve had to change routes, change lunch choices, add in extra stops.

When it comes to road trips on busy holiday weekends, expect the unexpected, have a backup plan or two.

Have A Plan For If Something Goes Wrong

Whether flying or driving this holiday season, you should have a plan for if something goes wrong.

Have water, snacks, any necessary medicine, and portable battery with you in case you encounter a large flight delay or flight cancellation. 

If you’re traveling with bad weather in the forecast, make sure to have essentials on you in case you’re now spending the night somewhere you didn’t plan.

Prep The House For When You Get Home

This is a big one for alleviating stress on your return trip.

Tidy the house before you leave. No need to deep clean, but nobody wants to arrive home to a giant mess.

Also, have a meal plan for when you get home. I always have a frozen pizza waiting for me so I can quickly make something yummy after a long trip.

Little things like this will keep you calmer on your way home, and help you ease back into reality.

Allow Plenty Of Time At The Airport

Anxious holiday travelers must budget plenty of time at the airport.

This will significantly reduce stress.

There will be long lines at security, at bag check, at Starbucks, this is inevitable during the holidays.

If you arrive early enough, this stress can be mitigated.

Arriving early all goes back to having a detailed plan for your travel day.

It’s difficult to arrive at the airport early when you have no idea how long it’ll take to get out of the house, or when you didn’t budget extra time for traffic, etc.

Know The TSA Rules

Another tip for those flying this holiday season, it’s important to know TSA rules.

The security line is already more stressful than it should be.

The last thing you need is to improperly pack your carry on items.

Review rules at TSA Travel Checklist, this goes over general TSA guidelines.

If you have questions regarding specific items, head on over to TSA: What Can I Bring?

Once you have everything properly packed, and you’re waiting in the security line, it’s time to be patient.

People around you may move slower than you want them to, you may choose the wrong line, the TSA person might question an item you believe is fine.

It happens, and it’s not a big deal.

Last, for those traveling internationally, be sure to look up the other country’s airport security rules. They may vary slightly from the United States TSA guidelines.

Send Gifts In Advance Or Purchase Small Gifts

For those flying, consider shipping large gifts in advance.

Excessive, overweight luggage does nothing to help an anxious traveler.

Ship gifts in advance, or purchase very small gifts which are easy to transport.

Get A Good Night Rest Before Traveling & Avoid Alcohol

A good night rest before traveling is very advantageous, but it can be difficult for anxious travelers.

The night before travel, create an evening as relaxing as you possibly can.

Try to avoid last minute packing and planning, this keeps your mind running and it will therefore take longer to wind down.

For some, poor sleep before travel is inevitable. At the very least, get in bed and allow your body to relax. Avoid your phone, drinking, and other distractions.

This brings me to the next point, don’t drink alcohol the day of travel or night before.

While having a drink may temporarily reduce anxiety, it does not at all help in the long run.

A clear mind (and no hangover) is essential for anxious travelers.

If you wish, enjoy a cold one or a cocktail after you’ve arrived at your destination.

Meditation & Visualizations

Meditation and visualization can be a helpful way to reduce the anxiety around holiday travel.

There are tons of free guided meditations on YouTube, simply search “meditation for anxiety” and choose a video that works for you.

There are also countless books available on the topic, if that’s your preferred medium.

Either option will help calm the body and mind, reducing anxiety.

Positive visualization is also a helpful tool for anxious travelers.

The night before traveling I run through how my ideal travel day will look, down to very specific details. I imagine waking up feeling refreshed, arriving to the airport on time, and so on.

But I only visualize positive things. If you have a tendency to terror-scroll through your mind and imagine the worst, skip this one and stick to guided meditation.

Bring Snacks & Water

Whether driving or flying, bring plenty of snacks and water.

A hangry traveler is the worst kind of traveler.

You can, of course, buy these things at the airport or on the road. But you can also pack your own, which I find less stressful.

Bringing your own food and water allows you to control exactly what you’re eating, and allows you to avoid lines.

I typically travel with a reusable water bottle, snacks, and lunch.

And yes, you can bring all these things to the airport.

Your water bottle needs to be empty when bringing it through security, and food should be taken out of your bag to avoid extra screening.

Read up on exact food guidelines here: TSA: What Food Can You Bring?

Bring Entertainment

A great way to combat a stressful travel day is to keep yourself entertained.

Download shows, movies, books, or music to your phone before beginning your travel day.

Downloading your entertainment in advance allows you to enjoy it even when you don’t have service, or Wi-Fi is spotty.

Those with streaming services can download movies and shows via the streaming app.

E-books and audiobooks can be downloaded for free with the Libby app and a library card. Hoopla is also a great library app with free movies, TV shows, music, magazines, and books.

Of course, you can also download music and podcasts via your preferred streaming service.

Those driving can enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Bring A Portable Charger

If you plan to use your phone for entertainment, also plan for that phone to die at some point.

Those in the car simply need a charger compatible with their vehicle.

Those going to the airport, you can expect outlets at most airports these days. However, I’d bring a portable battery instead.

Finding an outlet isn’t always reliable, or convenient, especially when the airport is really busy.

This is the portable battery I use, which holds a charge for multiple days, it’s seriously amazing: 26800mAh Portable Charger.

There’s also less expensive options, just don’t plan for the battery to last as long: 10,000mAh Portable Power Bank.

Travel Insurance

For some, travel insurance may be necessary for peace of mind.

Insure My Trip is a good website for comparing travel insurance companies and coverage options: Insure My Trip.

Do be very careful about the coverage you select and using a reputable company.

Last, some credit cards include travel insurance. In my opinion, this is the way to go for domestic travel.

Just be sure to read the fine print and make sure you are using the card correctly.

Tips For Traveling During The Holidays: Mindset & Acceptance

Accept The Crowds

Traveling during the holidays is crowded and hectic.

There are ways to mitigate the crowds, but no way to completely avoid them.

The sooner you accept this, the better.

Accept That Some Things Will Go Wrong

Flight delays, flight cancellations, accidents, traffic… It all happens. 

No matter how perfect your plan is, it may go awry at some point.  

It’s annoying, but you have to accept the inconvenient reality. 

Getting riled up will fix nothing. 

Take a deep breath and binge watch whatever you downloaded to your phone. This won’t fix anything either, but at least you’ll be semi-relaxed. 

Don’t Complain

When something goes wrong, the last thing you need to do is complain.

It’s annoying for your travel companions, for the customer service person, and for yourself.

Privately write down what’s annoying you if you need to get it off your chest, but don’t bring down those around you.

Be Kind

Being nice to people around you is a no-brainer for 98% of us. Most people aren’t intentionally rude.

However, it’s important to be aware of how you may be unintentionally rude during stressful situations.

Your feelings of frustration and anxiety are probably valid, but it’s important to not take that out on those around you.

As somebody who worked in a customer service-related field for over 10 years, I can promise you, kindness will work in your favor.

If you’re stressed and anxious, the person you’re talking to probably is as well. Handling the situation calmly will benefit all parties.

Plus, snapping at someone when you’re frustrated leaves you with an icky feeling, and you don’t want that following you into a much-deserved vacation.

Traveling during the holidays can be very stressful, especially for anxious travelers. But there are ways to combat this and lessen the stress.

I hope you’ve found this helpful in planning your trip, and remember, everything is going to be okay.

Additional Travel Tips & Holiday Guides:

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• How I Quit My Job And Traveled For A Year
• Top Christmas Destinations In The US
• National Park Lover Gift Ideas
• Content Creator Gift Ideas
• Travel Blogger Gift Ideas