The time has FINALLY come for Thanksgiving break! (Which actually refers to the annual tradition of leaving school to visit family, friends, and of course, eat until we pass out). Now, for all of my fellow out-of-staters, going home can be quite the hassle. I mean, there is only SO much stuff that I can fit on a cramped train or bus for five hours. Although the anticipation and excitement of going home is what makes it worth it, it can’t hurt to make the time go by a little faster, right? Luckily, I have made this agonizingly long trip back and forth so many times now, that I consider myself kind of a mini-expert! Here are some of travel tips to also help you guys make traveling during the holiday season a little bit easier.
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1.    If you can help it, avoid traveling the day of or day before: From experience, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is an absolute madhouse in terms of traveling. It is a national holiday, meaning that almost every single school and university will be on break the same time as yours will. The train and the roads in general (if you are driving) will be extremely packed. Leaving one day earlier will be sure to eliminate some unnecessary stress! Â
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2.    Book EARLY: I cannot stress this one enough! It is imperative to book your transportation as early in advance as you can. Waiting until the last minute can leave you either stranded because there are no seats left, or paying double the price that you normally would. Take advantage of holiday sales by signing up for sale notifications from selected airlines or Amtrak!
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3.    Pack Smart: I know that with me, packing is always an issue because I either pack way too much or way too little. In order to avoid this, try making a checklist of things that will be necessary for your trip. Also, rolling up your clothes instead of folding them will create more room to add more items. You can even start to bring home the bulkier items for winter break so you have less to carry later- but don’t overload!
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4.    Bring Chargers: The good news about the Amtrak train is that each coach seat has two outlets per seat! This means that you and your travel buddy can each use an outlet without fighting over who gets to charge their phone first. Also make sure to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi in order to keep up with social media and of course, watch Netflix.
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5.    Include Snacks, Books, and other Distractions: Sitting down for more than an hour can be tedious and impatience can set in very quickly. I think that attitude is everything when traveling, and there are many things that can boost your mood! One of the main things is to make sure to bring some sort of snack, because there is nothing worse than being hangry (hungry & angry at the same time). I always pass the time by constantly keeping myself busy through reading magazines, drawing, and even doing homework! (Which I highly recommend to get out of the way so you don’t have to do it later). Whatever it is, make sure you bring something that you find entertaining and you’ll be at your destination in no time!
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Happy Travels!
HCXO -BeckyÂ
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