1. Book Travel Early

2. Secure Your Home

Protect your home during the holidays. Burglars love the holidays because homes are less secure and people are gone. To avoid break-ins, purchase a home monitoring system, have a friend stop by to check for package deliveries, install an outdoor motion sensor light, and disconnect your garage door. It’s also best to avoid posting the specific days/times you’re gone for the holidays on social media. For more tips on securing your home, check out our blog 7 Ways to Protect Your Home While on Vacation.

3. Ship Presents

Ship presents ahead of time instead of dealing with pricey baggage fees. Purchase gifts online and have them shipped to your holiday destination. If you’ve purchased presents in-store go to your local USPS, UPS, and FedEx stores to find the best shipping rate. A good rule of thumb is to ship these far in advance because it gets pricey when you’re looking for two-day shipping. Always add a tracking number to your package and keep the receipt.

4. Notify Your Credit Card Company

Call your credit card company and let them know when your holiday travel will start and end. Some companies will deny a charge if it’s made in an unusual location. If you have a debit or credit card with Launch, you can add travel notices to your registered card in your digital banking app. 

5. Leave Presents Unwrapped

According to TSA guidelines, if your wrapped gift triggers an alarm during security screening, the TSA agents may need to unwrap it to inspect the contents. This can lead to unwanted delays and, of course, leave your gift looking less than perfect. To avoid this hassle, TSA recommends using gift boxes or gift bags instead. These can easily be opened for inspection without damaging the surprise inside. Plus, you can always wrap the gift later once you’ve cleared security, ensuring both a smooth travel experience and a beautifully presented gift.

6. Tag Your Bags

Tag and lock your luggage to avoid lost baggage. Add color such as a ribbon or belt to your luggage, pack your flight itinerary & contact info inside, and snap a photo of your bag. Use this photo to show airport personnel what your bag looks like. Take photos of the contents inside because the airline will ask for a list of luggage contents and monetary value if your luggage is lost. If you can’t find your bag, head over the the airline’s lost baggage counter and file a claim. To avoid additional stress from a lost bag, pack the most important items in your carry-on bag.

7. Stay Close

Consider staying at a hotel the night before your flight to avoid the hassle and expense of airport parking. Many hotels offer convenient park-and-fly packages, allowing you to leave your car at the hotel for the duration of your trip, sometimes even for free. This option not only saves you the cost of airport parking but also ensures a smoother, more relaxed travel experience. Staying nearby means you can head to the airport early, bypassing the stress of last-minute traffic and the rush of getting to your gate on time. Plus, you’ll get a good night’s rest before your flight. Just be sure to call ahead and confirm with the hotel about parking availability and any associated fees, as policies can vary from place to place.