Offer easier holiday travel
Planning ahead can alleviate some of the stress the busy holiday season can bring.
Start at your comfort level when it comes to relaxing, whether it’s a car or airplane ride. Napping is inevitable, so pack toasty, small fleece blankets and neck pillows to feel refreshed. At www.travelsmith.
com, travelers can find an array of accessories from an EZ Inflate
Neck Travel Pillow for relaxing, to compression socks, and even a 40
Blinks Eye Mask to block out light. Every traveler today can be prepared for making the most of their electronics with portable batteries, tablets and laptops for entertainment and reading. New gadgets can include goodies to make your life easier, according to www.inc. com.
Some of its suggestions include the Nokia Treasure Tag that uses Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone, a NomadKey that works as a keychain for your car or laptop and can charge your phone while it’s plugged into the other end, and also the Plantronics
BackBeat PRO headphones, which are noise-cancelling with Bluetooth or standard 3.5mm audio cable capability.
Traveling with children is a whole other ball game, and parents know that. Keeping small hands busy and tummies full are the goals. For plane rides, www.par
ents.com has several tips to keeps things moving smoothly.
If driving, staying alert and stress-free are at the top of the list for an optimum holiday trip.
When flying book an early flight, which can tend to be less crowded. Napping is almost a given on early hour trips like these. Other recommendations for easy flight travel for children include dressing in layers for comfort, bypassing laced shoes for slip-ons, placing children in seats away from the aisles and switching to a smaller stroller. Consider packing “big surprises” for the trip, which could be small toys or treats to engage the child.
The FAA Packing List has its own recommendations for toddlers to small children. These include smartphones/tablets that kids can share with a headphone splitter, kid-size headphones, snacks, and art supplies such as crayons and paper/coloring books. Don’t forget the cleaning items when kids get sticky and messy such as hand sanitizer, wipes and extra pull-ups/ diapers.
If driving, staying alert and stress-free are at the top of the list for an optimum holiday trip.
Get an app such as WAZE to learn alternate routes and plan for stops along the way to refresh your eyes and feed your brain. Downloading and listening to podcasts can be a way to stay alert and engaged in the car on a trip — and a way to learn new things.
Tapping into real food along the way ensures nutrients are fueling your body well instead of preparing for a sugar crash.
Also be prepared for cold and warm passengers with blankets or hand-held fans. If you’re the driver, be relaxed with loose pants and baggy shirts for maximum comfort. Most importantly, don’t drive drowsy so be alert to pass on the wheel for safe travels.