Holiday travel has a reputation for chaos – and honestly, that reputation is earned. Airports are crowded, flights are expensive, and everyone seems to be running on 15% battery. But it doesn’t have to feel like one long endurance test. With a bit of planning, a little patience, and the right mindset, traveling during the holidays can be surprisingly enjoyable. Here’s a Revealed-style holiday travel survival guide to help you survive – and even enjoy – holiday travel without losing your mind.
Your Holiday Travel Survival Guide
1. Book Flights Early, Then Arrive Early
Flights during the holiday season fill up faster than you’d expect, especially routes to Hawaiʻi and Vegas. Booking early isn’t just about saving money – it’s about peace of mind. Pick times that give you wiggle room, and when the day comes, get to the airport early. TSA lines during the holidays can feel like amusement park rides, only without the fun, and the last thing you want is to sprint through security in a frenzy while juggling a coffee, a laptop, and three carry-ons.
2. Pack Light – Seriously Light
The best advice for holiday travel? Pack light. If you’re headed to Hawaiʻi, you won’t need much more than shorts, tees, a swimsuit, and slippers (flip flops to you mainlanders)– yes, slippers are basically mandatory. Vegas is slightly more fashion-forward, but even then, you don’t need four sequined outfits unless you plan to actually attend four sequined parties. Light packing saves time, reduces stress, and makes it way easier to pivot when plans shift (because plans will shift).
3. Reserve Everything You Can
Holiday travel is not the time for spontaneity. Rental cars in Hawaiʻi book fast, restaurants in Vegas fill up weeks in advance, and national parks often have limited winter access. Secure your must-dos ahead of time, even if it feels overkill. Trust me: you’ll thank yourself when you’re not left wandering the Strip at 8 p.m. looking for a table or stuck in a long shuttle line at a busy park.
4. Avoid Over-scheduling Your Days
There’s a natural tendency to cram everything into every available hour on holiday trips. Resist it. Pick one main activity per day and leave space for wandering, people-watching, or just sitting on a beach with a cup of Kona coffee while the sun sets. Those unplanned moments often become the memories you actually talk about later – not the fifth museum of the day or the fourth overpriced sightseeing tour.
5. Build in Flexibility
One of our top holiday travel survival guide tips is to be flexible. Weather in Hawaiʻi changes fast, traffic in Vegas can be unexpectedly brutal, and national parks sometimes close trails due to winter conditions. Keeping your itinerary flexible turns potential “disasters” into minor detours. Think of flexibility as a survival tool: it saves your stress levels, preserves your sanity, and lets you enjoy the unexpected, which is often the best part of any trip.
6. Don’t Neglect the Basics
Hydration, sleep, and snacks might sound trivial, but they matter more than you think. Hungry travelers make bad decisions, and tired travelers make no decisions. Keep water handy – especially in Vegas, where the desert air dries you out faster than you realize – and pack snacks that aren’t just candy bars unless your goal is to test your patience and your blood sugar simultaneously.
7. Keep Perspective: You’re on Vacation
Remember, holiday travel is a privilege. The fact that you’re getting to spend your December in Hawaiʻi, Vegas, or one of the country’s most beautiful national parks is worth celebrating. Slow down, take a deep breath, and soak it all in. Even the hectic moments – delayed flights, crowded streets, overbooked tours – can become stories you’ll tell for years.
With the right preparation and a little patience, holiday travel doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be exciting, memorable, and yes, even relaxing. And when you finally arrive – whether it’s on a warm Hawaiian beach, under the neon glow of Vegas, or in the crisp quiet of a national park – you’ll be glad you made the trip. This year, make your holiday travel less “survival mode” and more “adventure mode.”
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