Holiday Travel Checklist
Table of Contents
Before you leave
Create an itinerary
Leave one with anyone who may need to know your plans, especially for anyone who provides you transportation to and from the airport.
Record important emergency numbers
Add them to your cell phone directory or type out a list and carry it with you: airline, hotel, and car rental number, and second choice options.
Pack smart
By limiting your checked luggage, you can avoid wasted time at the baggage claim or even possible loss of your luggage.
Music
Bring your own to help you relax during the trip and to cover engine noise or unpleasant cabin sounds.
Consider any children
If you are traveling with children be sure to have activity books, magazines, their favorite snacks and emergency child travel sickness medicine.
Cancel newspapers
Also put a hold on your mail at the post office if you have a mailbox and not a slot in the door. Unless you have someone watching your home, you do not want deliveries piling up.
Pet sitters
If you have pets, arrange for a neighbor's care or hire a pet sitter.
Plants
Have a service come and care for your growing things.
Important items
Passports
These should be taken care of early, not last minute, if needed.
Travelers' cheques
These should be divided and stored in several safe places if needed.
Book reservations
Secure your flight and hotel months ahead of your holiday travel.
Pre-pay
Some airlines offer $5 off baggage fees if you prepay on-line. Avoid too large or over-stuffed carry-on luggage.
Traveler's rights
Know what they are especially during busy travel times when overbooked flights are commonplace.
Check-in on-line
This procedure is quick and simple and can be done 24 hours ahead of our flight time.
Reserve airport parking
If you plan to leave your car at the airport, reserve a spot ahead if you can.
Familiarize yourself with your airport
For any delays, you may spend more time there than planned and knowledge of what services are offered could save you time.
Off to the airport
Do not rush
Allow plenty of time to get to the airport especially if your drive is a long one. If the weather is bad, or you expect heavy traffic, allow sufficient time for any delays.
Remember security
There is no way to rush through this stage so gauge your time accordingly.
Be prepared
Have your boarding pass and ID in hand, wear slip-on shoes, and wear no belts or heavy jewelry.
Upon arrival
Luggage.
Collect anything you checked and don't forget your carry-ons
Transportation
If you don't have a relative to get you, you should pick up your rental.
Double check return
Before you leave the airport, double check details of your return flight.
Porter
It is still customary to tip porters, so plan ahead and have some small currency.
Download or Print this Holiday Travel Checklist
Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.
Presented by:
Bianca Hendriks
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Details
Travel around national holidays can be tricky because everyone has the same idea to get-out-of-town. In order to avoid disappointment because you were unable to secure an airline ticket for your preferred dates, pre-planning months in advance is advised. This becomes even more important if you expect to use any frequent flier miles allowed during the dates you wish to travel. Be prepared for sticker shock with jacked up holiday prices at the airlines and hotels. By using the checklist below, you can become a savvy traveler who understands that pre-planning may guarantee headache free holiday travel.
Tips
Holiday travel is always busy, so know your second best flight option should yours be delayed or canceled at the last minute.
Travel outside of the U.S. requires a current passport and knowledge of required immunizations in order to enter the foreign country. Check your passport renewal date to be sure that it does not expire while you are away. If you plan your holiday travel around the busiest holidays of the year like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, unless you are planning to stay with family or friends, you better have your hotel reservations well in advance.
You can try to keep up with on-line holiday deals by subscribing to travel services websites. Be prepared to act quickly because bargains disappear in minutes.
Figuring out how to get your Christmas gifts to your destination also requires pre-planning. Many people ship their gifts ahead of time which works well, but this method requires early shopping and mailing. For smaller gifts, you can pack them in an extra piece of luggage. Just be aware that your airline may be charging extra for all checked luggage and they do have limits. This same bag can then be packed with the gifts you receive and plan to bring home.
Who it's for
This Holiday Travel Checklist is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.
- Avoid forgetting - keep all your Holiday Travel essentials in one place (external memory)
- Save time - start from a proven Holiday Travel structure instead of a blank page
- Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
- Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
- Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time
How to use it
How to use this Holiday Travel Checklist
- Save Holiday Travel Checklist to your free Checklist account so your progress is saved and synced across devices.
- Customize it in the app: remove anything that does not apply, then add your own details for Holiday Travel (dates, sizes, addresses, notes).
- If others are involved, invite them to collaborate and divide responsibilities.
- Work through the list: check items off as you go, and set reminders for time-sensitive steps.