The Secret to Stress-Free Thanksgiving Travel: 10 Smart Strategies

(Plus a bonus tip!)

The holiday season is here at last—and so are the busiest travel days of the year. Whether you’re jetting off for a fabulous Friendsgiving getaway or heading home for the holidays, the odds of encountering a travel hiccup (or two!) are high. Stay cool; we’ve got you covered! These stress-free Thanksgiving travel tips will keep you calm and collected, even when travel plans get off-track.

Packing your bags for a Thanksgiving trip? Check out these sanity-saving tips before you head to the airport!

• Download Travel Apps

  Informed = calm!

  Set yourself up for stress-free Thanksgiving travel by downloading travel apps before you head to the airport. Airline-specific apps or general tools such as Hopper or FlightAware will keep you updated on delays, gate changes, and more. Many apps also offer rebooking options, making it easier to handle unexpected disruptions to your travel plans.

• Consider Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is your secret weapon for stress-free Thanksgiving travel!
  From illnesses to lost luggage, holiday travel is marked by “expect the unexpected.” A strong travel insurance policy can give you peace of mind—and reduce expenses—when travel plans go awry.

• Book an Airport Hotel

  Early flight? Skip the pre-dawn rush to the airport by staying at the airport hotel the night before.

  Many airports have convenient hotels just steps from the terminal—don’t worry, you guys, they’re soundproof! You’ll avoid commuter traffic, sleep in a little later, and wake up ready to fly. You might even have time for a pre-flight breakfast!

• Check In Online

  Trust us on this one: fewer lines mean less stress.

  Save precious time at the airport by checking in online and downloading a mobile boarding pass to your phone. It’s one less line to stand

• Plan for TSA Wait Times

  Running through the airport, barely dodding travelers, and making it onto your plane juuuuust before the doors close? Let’s leave that to the movies, please!

  One of the keys to stress-free Thanksgiving travel is accepting that the airport will be busy—and working around it. TSA wait times will be longer than usual, so give yourself plenty of time to get through security.

  Pro Tip: Slip-on shoes make security checks a breeze, and socks are a must. No one wants to walk barefoot on airport floors!

• Pack Portable Chargers

  Have we mentioned the possibility of travel delays yet? There’s nothing worse than waiting for your flight and watching your battery slowly draining, without an outlet in sight.

  Traveling is way less stressful when your phone is fully charged for travel updates—and entertainment. Keep your devices powered with a portable charger.

• Stash Snacks

  Here’s a little secret for stress-free Thanksgiving travel: don’t let yourself get hangry.

  Airports and airplanes aren’t exactly known for healthy—and affordable—food options. Instead of overpaying in the gift shop, pack your own snacks at home. Think trail mix, fruit, or granola bars to stay fueled and stress-free.

  Bonus: it’s one less line to stand in!

• B.Y.O.E. (Bring Your Own Entertainment)

  Airport and airplane WiFi can be unreliable, especially when the rest of the crowd is trying to connect, too.

  Download movies, shows, and playlists to your phone or laptop ahead of time, so you can enjoy them offline. Or go old-school and bring a juicy novel or adult coloring book to keep you entertained. You’ll be glad you planned ahead during long waits or flights with limited in-flight entertainment.

• Keep the Kids Busy

  Kids get stressed out from holiday travel too! Waiting in lines, skipping nap times, not being able to roam around: it all adds up to cranky little ones.

• To keep kids happy and make travel easier for all of you, come prepared with plenty of distractions. Bring favorite snacks, coloring books, stuffed animals…you get the idea! For older kids, pack travel-sized board games or a deck of cards.
• And if all else fails, make sure you have a kid-friendly movie downloaded and ready to go!

• Keep Your Sense of Humor

  Above all else, remember to keep your sense of humor. Because even the best travel plans can go awry. Staying flexible, calm, and positive can go a long way in making your travel day stress-free.

Ready for your Thanksgiving trip? Keep these tips in mind to make your travels smooth and enjoyable!

And we have a bonus tip for stress-free Thanksgiving travel. Ship your stuff to your final destination with LugLess. No hassles at the airport; one less worry while you’re traveling. This way, you can focus on what really matters this season: pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or—why not—both?