6 Easy Ways To Get More Out of Your Holiday Travel Plans
Last year right before Thanksgiving, I shared suggestions for making the most of your Thanksgiving holiday travel. As I re-read that article last week, I started thinking about ways this advice could be expanded to cover all of your winter holiday travel.
Think about when you’re traveling just for pleasure. You probably take your time, take detours just to see what’s around that corner, check out travel blogs to see what people suggest eating and doing while in town, visit museums, ask locals for suggestions, and eat more dessert. In short, when you travel, you are probably more open to new experiences.
New experiences, while traveling, stimulate you and get you out of your comfort zone. But you don’t need to take a big vacation to get these feelings. Ask yourself what you like to do while traveling and then look for ways to build similar experiences into your holiday -- whether you’re staying home, traveling across town to your mom’s, or going to your sister’s in Alabama.
Wherever you end up this holiday season, these tips are bound to help you make the most of your holiday travel.
Make The Drive Part of The Fun
Don’t wait to start your travel adventures until you’ve reached your destination. Turn the drive into a good old-fashioned road trip. Leave yourself a couple extra hours, so you don’t have to worry about traffic, Google some old car games, make a fun playlist, download some episodes of your favorite podcast, and have fun with it! Stop for lunch someplace new, take a detour along the scenic route, or finally go and check out Carhenge!
Identify Why You Travel
Some people like to travel so they can get away and relax. Other people travel because they want an adventure. Others hope to learn or experience something new. And many want some combination of all of this. If you know why you travel, it’s easier to tailor experiences for yourself that scratch that itch for travel.
If what you love about travel is the opportunity to relax by getting away from the distractions in your home, then consider adding an extra night to your holiday drive by stopping one night at a cute bed and breakfast. Give yourself a few hours to explore the town, then cozy up by the fire with a book. You’ll find you’re much more zen by the time you reach your destination the next day.
If adventure is what you love about travel, look for activities that fit the bill along your route or near your destination. State and national park hiking trails are a great option, as are paddleboarding (if you’re headed somewhere warm), skiing, aerial tours, concerts, zip-lines, laser tag, and escape rooms.
Even if you’re spending the holidays some place you’ve already been hundreds of times, there are always new experiences to be had. If new experiences and/or learning something new is what you’re after, check out Airbnb Experiences, look for museums in the area, festivals, cooking classes, national parks, even Facebook events.
Shop Small
Whether you need to pick up last minute gifts or have some gifted money burning a hole in your pocket, adopt the spirit of a traveler and head to some local, small businesses. Now instead of it feeling like errands in big box stores, you can be stimulated by a new experience and feel good about spending the money because you are helping to support the local economy.
Go Ahead and Enjoy The Treats
When I travel, I am always tempted by local bakeries and chocolate shops. I love admiring all the beautiful, mouth-watering creations. Because I am usually traveling alone, I don’t have a good excuse to try more than one or two. But traveling to visit friends and family during the holidays is the perfect excuse to pick up a big variety box. Bring them to your aunt’s holiday gathering and be the hit of the party.
Photo Courtesy of Bunnycakes
Eat Local
At some point you are going to find yourself going out to eat, whether it’s during your road trip or when meeting up with family and friends for lunch or dinner. Don’t be tempted to just pick up something quick and easy that you already know. Instead consider eating someplace local that you haven’t been before and can’t have at home.
Adopt The Spirit of a Traveler, Even After You Get Home
In one of my favorite travel memoirs, What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding*, author and screenwriter Kristin Newman writes about how down she gets after returning home from travel. In order to try and trick her mind, she started sitting and writing in hotel lobbies near her home. The energy of others traveling lifted her spirits and creativity (*Note: this is an Amazon Affiliate link).
I’m not suggesting you hang around in hotel lobbies, unless you think that’s your thing, but I am suggesting you adopt the spirit of a traveler all the time.
I hope these tips have inspired you to get creative with your holiday travel plans. Whatever you decide to do, remember to have fun with it and not put too much pressure on yourself, your friends and family, or the plans.
What do you think?
Are you traveling this winter?
Do you think these tips will help you to make the most of your experience?
Have a suggestion?
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
