travel on christmas day: Tips for Safe and easy christmas day travel
I love to travel on Christmas Day because it’s not as busy and tends to be a little cheaper. It also really puts me in the holiday spirit. Here are my top tips for safe and easier travel on Christmas Day!
1. Enjoy a Cheaper Ticket and Shorter Lines.
Booking travel on Christmas Day generally means a cheaper ticket and shorter lines, so ENJOY!
2. Restaurants and Shops May Be Closed.
Large airports in the United States will generally have a few stores and restaurants open for travelers on Christmas day, but if you have a favorite restaurant or lounge, you may want to check ahead to see if it’s open. Depending on your destination, restaurants and stores may be fully closed when you arrive (especially if you’re heading to Central or South America or a smaller town or island), so asking your hotel or Airbnb hosts for information ahead of time will help you plan for your arrival (and not starve until the morning of 12/26). I flew to Utila, Hondura on Christmas Eve and had to hustle quickly to get enough snack food to survive Christmas Day.
3. Get in the Holiday Spirit.
I find that most people working on Christmas Day are generally in the holiday spirit, so have fun and be festive!
4. Pack Presents in a Duffle.
If you’re bringing gifts that aren’t breakable, pack them in a duffle bag (or pack the gifts in a suitcase and your clothes in the duffle bag). If you end up needing the extra space to fly the presents you received home, you will have the space you need, but if you receive cash or gift cards, you can fold up the duffle and pack it in your suitcase, saving on luggage fees.
5. Check the Weather.
As with all winter travel, check the weather ahead of time and make sure to pack a change of clothes, important (and portable) gifts, and essentials in your carry on. Nothing makes travel on Christmas Day more disappointing than lost luggage AND not having essentials in your carry on.
6. Download the Airline App to Your Phone.
Many airlines communicate the quickest through push notifications on your phone if you have the airline’s app downloaded/installed on your phone and you’ve logged in. This will help streamline your travel on Christmas Day and you’ll be up to date on any changes.
I hope you enjoy your travel on Christmas Day! It’s one of my favorite days to fly because I can avoid some family drama and I definitely feel like I’m in holiday mode.
