Tips for stress-free holiday travel

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One of the best parts of the holiday season is connecting with friends and family. But traveling during the holidays can be a real hassle.

Whether you're taking an afternoon drive or flying across the country, there are plenty of ways to make the trip less stressful.

Many of these tips will also save you money and are easier on the planet.

• Pack light so you don’t have to pay for or deal with the hassle of checked luggage. You won’t have to arrive at the airport as early, wait around after your flight gets in, or worry about lost bags.
  
  It also cuts down on fuel use because the more weight a plane, train, car, or bus carries, the more fuel it uses. So if you’re driving, that translates into spending less time and money at the gas pump. OneBag offers many creative tips for lightening your load.


• Take public transportation to the airport. It’s less expensive than taking a car service or paying for parking. Airport parking lots can fill up quickly during peak holiday travel times, and it can be a real nightmare to deal with full lots.


• Bring your own healthy snacks. You’ll avoid waiting on long lines or paying top dollar for sub-par food at the airport.


• Carry your own water bottle. If the airport has water fountains, it will save you the cost of having to buy overpriced bottled water, which can quickly add up, especially if you’re travelling with a family of four. If you can't find those fountains, you can still ask the flight attendant to fill up your bottle so you don’t have to keep asking for water.


• Carpool with friends or family members who are going to the same destination. It’s more fun than travelling alone and having company will help alleviate stress when you hit the inevitable holiday traffic. Planning your trip ahead of time and taking the shortest route possible will also help save you time, money, and the hassle of getting lost.


• Stay home and use free or inexpensive technology, such as Skype, to connect to far-flung relatives.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.

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