Winter is an exciting time to travel home for the holidays. Cities and small towns garland themselves in lights for winter festivals. Ski resorts open for vacationers. And for many families and friends, the winter holidays are about reuniting to spend time together. You may meet up in your traditional hometown. Or you may bring home in your heart as you all come together for a destination Christmas.
Whether holiday travel is a family tradition for you, or you want to make the most of the world’s winter wonderlands, it’s time to prepare. Stormy weather can disrupt your travel plans. Holiday luggage is more at risk of getting lost or stolen. Homes left behind are vulnerable, too. Here are the best tips to know before you go when you travel home for the holidays.
Winter is an exciting time to travel home for the holidays. Cities and small towns garland themselves in lights for winter festivals. Ski resorts open for vacationers. And for many families and friends, the winter holidays are about reuniting to spend time together. You may meet up in your traditional hometown. Or you may bring home in your heart as you all come together for a destination Christmas.
Whether holiday travel is a family tradition for you, or you want to make the most of the world’s winter wonderlands, it’s time to prepare. Stormy weather can disrupt your travel plans. Holiday luggage is more at risk of getting lost or stolen. Homes left behind are vulnerable, too. Here are the best tips to know before you go when you travel home for the holidays.
Protect Holiday Flights with Winter Travel Insurance
From late November to early January, people traveling for holidays fill the airports. In the U.S, according to the TSA, Thanksgiving weekend in November and the days around Christmas are some of the busiest travel days of the entire year. November 2023 saw record numbers of Americans traveling within the U.S. for the busiest Thanksgiving travel weekend ever.
Find the Best Travel Insurance
- Compare multiple quotes and coverage options
- Work with an insurance expert at no additional cost
- Find the best plan for your needs and budget
Recent travel events show that winter travel insurance is more important than ever. Crowds on the move make travel more risky. One delayed flight can impact all the flights using the plane and airport access around it. Here’s an example of holiday travel delays. In December 2022, a major snowstorm in the U.S. was followed by airline technology glitches. As a result, more than 15,000 flights were canceled during the peak Christmas travel period.
Thousands of passengers suddenly needed to understand flight cancellations and negotiate compensation – while going through the stress of disrupted travel. In contrast, insured travelers had resources to cover flight changes and hotel stays, and backup compensation for canceled flights.
What if your trip is the one struck by winter travel delays? Good travel insurance can make it faster and cheaper to get on your holiday way. A comprehensive travel policy can give you support for lodging during delays, flight changes, and alternative transportation.
Does Travel Insurance Cover Storms?
Travel insurance can cover travel problems caused by winter storms, including delays and extended stays. With a few small steps, you can be sure that you have travel insurance for storm disruption. When you’re choosing a travel policy check it for the terms storm, bad weather, or inclement weather. You’ll see what’s covered around weather events. And for the most generous and helpful coverage, get a comprehensive travel insurance plan. Ask yourself how much you can afford to pay out of pocket for a delay and use that to choose your travel insurance deductible.
If you’re not sure, simply ask. It's easy to check with a travel insurer, or to work with a travel insurance broker, to get the winter travel insurance that’s just right for you.
Holiday Flight Tips
From our experienced international travelers, here are tips for the best holiday flights.
- Book flights that leave in the morning, or flights that are nonstop. This improves your chances of getting a flight delay resolved on the same day, so you can get where you’re going on time.
- For less crowded flights, book a midweek flight rather than a weekend flight.
- Traveling internationally? Give yourself an hour or two more than usual between connecting flights to help you make a connection despite delays.
- Install airline apps on your phone and activate their notifications and alerts so you can learn about changes or delays ASAP.
- Either carry copies of your insurance documents, or make sure they’re saved on your smartphone or tablet. This way, it’s easy to refer to them if you need to.
- Bring snacks, drinks and entertainment, especially if you’re traveling with children. Include some extras in case you need to wait through a delay.
Get our monthly newsletter filled with tips and information for people living, moving, and traveling outside of their home country.* *By submitting your email, you agree to receive monthly updates for expats, digital nomads, retirees, and more.
Smart Strategies for Holiday Luggage
Packing for the holidays is a challenge. If you’re heading somewhere cold, you need to bring warm clothes. You’re probably toting gifts for friends and family. Or you may have extra bags of gear for winter sports. Holiday luggage is valuable luggage – and that makes it more stressful if your bags are lost or stolen.
The most likely event that would separate you from your luggage is a flight delay, when you and your bags don’t end up in the same place at the same time. Travel insurance can cover delayed luggage with an emergency baggage payment, so you can buy necessities. It can also reimburse you for permanently lost luggage.
The best way to ensure that you and your luggage arrive together is to stay with your luggage. On a train or plane, bring small bags that can join you at your seat. Consider going carry-on only for flights with compact clothing and gifts. You can even reduce bulk in your luggage by shipping gifts to a family destination in advance. If that’s not an option, bring the most valuable items with you.
Will Your Suitcases Get Stolen?
Luggage thefts happen more often around the holidays. Travelers often complain that gifts are targeted. Some travelers go to iconic cities or hometown boutiques to enjoy in-person shopping. After that, a successful shopping haul increases the value of what’s in your bags. Your luggage is more at risk right when you have more to lose.
A comprehensive travel insurance plan gives you higher coverage for your luggage value. You can also get travel cover for specific high-cost items, like jewelry or items you’re bringing as gifts. If this is important, ask about it when you book your travel insurance.
Also Read: Holiday Travel Insurance and Tips
Safe Traveling with Gifts
- Driving? Put wrapped gifts in plain bags or in the trunk of your vehicle. This way, when you park to take a break, your prepared presents are more secure.
- Flying or taking the train? Keep valuable or fragile gifts with you at all times in your carry-on bags, especially jewelry and technology.
- Ordering gifts online? Consider having them shipped to your holiday destination, with wrapping and a gift receipt. This gets gifts to your family in the holiday spirit without luggage worries for you.
Can You Bring Wrapped Gifts on a Plane?
Wait until you arrive to wrap gifts, especially if you’re traveling internationally with gifts on an airplane. Customs needs to know what’s in your baggage. They will open up wrapped packages to inspect them. If you’re traveling within the U.S., the TSA has the right to unwrap packages, too. And all items you bring on the plane as gifts need to be allowed on the plane: check with the TSA to see what you can bring in-flight.
Winter Packing Tips
Get inspiration with these tips for packing light and safe travel.
- Lighten up your winter clothing – and luggage – with warm, thin layers: merino wool, Polarfleece and polypro fabrics, and insulating underlayers.
- To keep winter suitcases light, wear your coat and your heaviest garments while you travel.
- For checked luggage, photograph any transporter-issued luggage tags as backup.
- Consider investing in Apple AirTags or Android Tiles to track your bags.
Prepare Your Home Before You Go
After the global events that kept you from traveling around 2020, this may be your first time away in a while. Set up the home services you’ll need, from your favorite trusted providers. Holiday travel doesn’t just mean busy airports. It’s the busiest time of year for pet sitters, home security services, and snow plow teams too.
Home Preparation Tips
- Book the home care you’ll need as soon as possible. October and November are not too early to book pet care, kennel time, or other home support for December and January.
- Boost home security by setting up some lights in your abode on timers to give the impression that somebody is there.
- Don’t leave mail or packages for porch pirates to steal. Pause online deliveries for a period that includes your time away.
Home from Overseas? Reverse Culture Shock Is Waiting
When you come home for the holidays from abroad, your family reunion is truly special. It is also more expensive, with more logistics and worries about delays. You can feel under pressure to have the best holiday ever while you deal with jet lag and reverse culture shock.
What is reverse culture shock? It is the emotional and psychological effects of returning to your country of origin after you have adapted to life in another culture. You’ve grown and changed, and sometimes returning to your old country feels confining or uncomfortable. You may feel like ‘’coming home” should be better or easier.
Reverse culture shock is especially hard when you travel for the holidays. You may be expected to fling yourself into reunions and holiday activities right away. Try to have some restful time to process both jet lag and how you feel. Keep in mind that you are a guest and bring your best holiday manners to smooth things over. Craig Storti’s book The Art of Coming Home is an excellent resource to deal with the challenges of reverse culture shock.
Bundle Up with Hats, Scarves, and Insurance
Follow these tips for travelers and you’ll be empowered to travel home for the holidays with fewer challenges. With good planning, and insurance for your travel and luggage, you’ll protect yourself and your family on your shared adventures over the holidays and in the New Year.
Find the Best Travel Insurance
- Compare multiple quotes and coverage options
- Work with an insurance expert at no additional cost
- Find the best plan for your needs and budget
Related Articles:
