“There’s no place like home for the holidays” but if you are a college student like me, sometimes going home can become more about the journey than the destination. And if that journey involves an extended amount of time in the car, I see you. This past October, I drove myself home and back for the first time with friends, and will be accomplishing the same feat by myself this Thanksgiving. Here is what I have learned to keep you sane during the busiest time of the year on the road :
Plan Early
Whether you are buying a plane ticket, an Amtrak ticket, or a seat in someone’s car, you should figure that out as soon as possible. Traveling is expensive, and at a time of the year like Thanksgiving, prices shoot even farther up. So make your plans, and stick to them.
I am driving home this year for Thanksgiving, and I know that traffic on Wednesday will be heavy. So I am taking my trip on Tuesday, and leaving early in the morning. Will that morning be hard? Of course, but it is always worth it to get up early and avoid afternoon rush hour, especially if that rush is anywhere near NYC.
Have a Buddy
Traveling anywhere is always more fun (and can be cheaper) with a buddy! That Uber that costs $40 is now $20 because you split it with a friend. And this rule applies to gas money too! If you are traveling by car, you have someone’s ear to talk off through your journey. If you are on a train you now know your seatmate! My trip home for fall break was so much more enjoyable because I did it with my friends. We made an eight hour playlist of everything, from Taylor Swift to Teen Beach Movie, and talked about everything under the sun. Suddenly, the whole car ride had passed in a blink!
And back to the Uber thing : there is truly no shame in making friends with those on your bus, plane, or train and ubering back to campus together. On multiple flights to Buffalo I have made friends with a seatmate, or seen a friend of a friend at baggage claim. By splitting an uber, we saved money, and were able to have the reassurance of knowing the person next to you on the drive.
The Hamilton Clause
This one is for my girls whose biggest fear, when it comes to road trips, is finding time to use the bathroom. I am one of you, and my most recent strategy has been my most successful when it comes to keeping rest stops timely. I like to call it the Hamilton clause. And I am talking about the musical. This started because on my most recent trip home, my best friend Lily and I were going to see Hamilton in New York City, so we wanted to listen to get excited. And then I realized, the show’s cast album is about 3 hours long. If we listened to it, in order without stopping, we would be almost halfway through our journey by the time it ended! So we made a deal that my car would be “non-stop” until the album ended. This worked really well for us; the hours flew by, and we were not holding our pee for too long, but of course, always listen to your body and do what is best for you! And if you are the driver and your guests need to pee, stop if you are able to, it is always nice to make sure everyone in your car is as comfortable as possible.
And when it does come to rest stops (are you sensing a theme yet?)…plan ahead! Look at your route, and note where exits may be, and where you may be driving through straight wilderness for hours. My family always loves the gas, snacks and views from Catskills Coffee Lodge, and so we make it a point to stop there!
The Return Trip
Now here is the thing : I love college. I love my school, my classes, my friends, my dorm room, and there is a part of me that loves the independence that stems from being so far from home. However, that does not mean leaving my house with my full sized bed and clean kitchen is easy either. Even after almost 3 semesters away, I can still get a bit choked up when leaving, and there is nothing wrong with that. Loving the end destination, and where you started is such a beautiful problem to have!
All of this to say, our return trip to Buffalo had the potential to be six hours of moping about leaving-but it was not! We gained a passenger in UBHC Board Member, Maddie, grabbed our last Long Island Bagels of the weekend, filled up on gas, enacted the Hamilton clause, and cruised back up to school. Now when we did get back, we were exhausted, but I always find it so much easier to unpack immediately. Maddie and I also went to Trader Joe’s to make sure we had groceries for the week.
Whether you are hitting the road, jumping on a train, or soaring through the clouds to get home this upcoming holiday season, I hope you feel comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your travels. I will be right there with you, singing along to “The Schuyler Sisters” and maybe even stopping f0r coffee too!