Family Travel

by Terry Nussbaum,

The holidays are approaching, and for many families, so is the lovable hassle of getting the family ready to go out of town. As much as we love our families, it can be tempting to daydream about the days when all you had to do was grab a backpack, stuff some clothes in and run out the door to your next destination.

Get Your Home Ready

From the banks of the Rio Grande to the shores of New Jersey, home security is an integral part of getting your family ready for a vacation. We’ve all seen “Home Alone,” and, while the burglars antics are outlandish, their means of finding a house to rob aren’t. Burglars are notorious for casing houses, looking for lights that stay off, newspapers piling up, unshoveled sidewalks and other signs of absence. It is advised that you have a trusted friend or neighbor pick up your mail and ensure your yard work is taken care of. It is also very important to set your lights up on a timer so passersby are given the impression someone is home.

If you have a security system, be sure to give your information to a trusted friend in case the alarm is tripped. Perhaps the most-important home-preparation tactic is to not post information about your vacation on social media sites; you might as well take an ad out in the paper announcing an empty house for looting.

Pack Early, Pack Light

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to want to save your packing for the last minute, but this makes everything oh-so-much-harder in the long run. Making a list of everything you need beforehand is a real time-saver. Try and have everything except toiletries packed and ready to go at least  two days beforehand.

If at all possible, try not to check luggage — which can be impossible if you have little ones in tow — but remember lighter is always better. It can also save hours if you print out your boarding pass in advance, or use an app that lets your smart phone act as your boarding pass. If you forego wearing jewelry, belts or metal objects, you can go through the lines with much more ease. They now even have TSA-approved baggage that you don’t have to take laptops or electronic devices out of as they go through the scanner. Most people don’t realize this, but on busier days at the airport, there are often added security lines in non-obvious places; those can really help your time go quicker and smoother.

With millions of families traveling every holiday season, it seems like common sense that you’d want to be prepared, but it becomes all-to-easy to let the little things slip through the cracks. Taking a little extra time and preparation will save you time, money and a lot of hassle.

Terry Nussbaum Since she was a little girl, Terry has dreamed of being a published writer. She is thrilled that her dream is finally becoming a reality.