Tips For A Successful Road Travel This Christmas

By Rebecca

18 November 2019

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There's nothing very jolly about sitting in traffic on the highway out of the city when you should have been swimming in the pool or chilling at the beach hours ago. However, this is what often happens in the peak Christmas travel season, when everyone hits the roads and everyone is on high tempers and they start to fray.  Traveling over the holidays can be busy, expensive and stressful, but it should not be all that bad.

Here are our top tips for keeping your cool this Christmas travel season.

1.  Be Prepared. Accept. Embrace

It is better to go into the holiday travel season with the understanding that it is going to be chaotic and possibly filled with problems. Acceptance of this fact puts you in a much better position to handle the traffic and the delays. You are already prepared for it. And you might get a nice surprise and not have the worst-case scenario.

Use the traffic as an opportunity to catch up with your travel buddies or swap stories with the strangers around you which will help them to feel at ease at the same time.

2. Avoid peak periods

Peak periods could range from December 20 - 30. The trick, therefore, is to choose the time you travel, avoiding the really busy peak times.

It is safer to travel as early as possible. If you are traveling from Lagos and commuting via public transport companies, endeavor to catch up with the first bus which leaves at about 6 am.

3. Load up

Make sure you leave some space for an emergency kit or a least a torchlight, food and drink, phone charger, spare clothes, and blankets.

4. Listen to, or play soothing Music

Pick a song that calms and soothes your nerves in times of stress or difficulties. You might want to update your playlist before setting out on your journey.

Make sure you diversify the genre as there is no telling what mood you or your loved ones will be in when the traffic sets in. You might find out that singing along to loud banging music might work better for the stress than slow music. Singing does not only get your mind off the traffic, but it also changes your breathing pattern, which in turn lowers stress levels by slowing the heart rate and calming the nervous system.

5. Keep your cool

Even when things go wrong, don't lose your temper. Drivers and other people on the road should not have power over your well-being, so pick your battles wisely. You do not want to get held up in an unnecessary argument when you should be covering grounds.

6. Have phone numbers for everything

Chances are you might get stuck, lose your phone or get robbed. So, write down numbers that are important to you. Especially those of your friends at your destination and of close family numbers. You can even decide to get numbers for mechanics when you are driving, they might be helpful for referrals during your trip.

7. Bring Some Creature Comforts

Stay warm on a chilly holiday drive by packing your own cozy pashmina, fleece, or travel blanket.

For longer trips, consider bringing items such as earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, and an eye mask in case you decide to sleep (this can only be possible if you are not the one driving though).

8. Pack light and smart

It's hard to pack light and smart at Christmas but it does make life easier, as well as help you avoid excess baggage charges. If arriving at your destination well before Christmas Day, consider doing at least some of your shopping when you get there, as you do not want to be caught stranded with too many bags.

9. Bring Provisions

Take snacks, games, books, magazines, portable music or DVD players and other diversions to pass the time if you are stuck in traffic. This is more vital if you're traveling with kids.

10. Turn Your Phone Into a Travel Tool

Sign up with travel guides on your phone, or load your smartphone with mobile travel alert apps and ensure you use your GPS especially for roads you are not familiar with. Before leaving home, make sure your phone is fully charged and you carry along a power bank that is fully functional and charged as you would not want to bother those back at home when they can't reach you.

10. Think Twice About Holiday Gifts

If you do take gifts along, make them small and packable, and don't wrap them beforehand. You do not want to be delayed during road checks because you have a package they insist on checking out before they allow you to proceed on your journey. 

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