Reducing Travel Stress Over Thanksgiving

According to the Orlando Sentinel, 48.7 million American's were expected to travel more than 50 miles for Thanksgiving in 2016. This year an estimated 50.9 million Americans will travel. With an extra 3 million individuals joining you on the road, in airports, train stations, and bus stations, we thought you might be able to use a few tips for reducing stress while traveling.

If you're traveling by car, pack the car the night before you leave. This will not only give you the opportunity to pop out of bed and get on the road, it will also give you some time to think about things you might've forgotten to back before it's too late.

If you're traveling with children in the car, have a bag of snacks, spill proof drink cups, car-friendly activities and a fully charged tablet for entertainment. If everyone needs a bathroom break, check out the free USA Rest Stops app.

If you're traveling by air, pack your carry on liquids in a quart sized Ziploc bag before arriving at the airport and pack the bag so that it's easily accessible. The Gate Guru app will estimate how long you might wait in security.

Expect delays. Whether you're stuck in gridlocked traffic or catching a later flight, you'll likely experience less stress if you expect this inconvenience. If you're stressed, try using an app such as Calm.com to breathe your troubles away.

Last but not least, remember that your fellow travelers are likely experiencing the same inconveniences and stressors that you are; please be kind to one another.

Wishing you safe travels and a Happy Thanksgiving!