Holiday adventures are THE BEST. From quiet getaways with the crew to reconnect and unwind, to full-throttle extravaganzas with the entire extended family – it’s the season of coming together and there are many ways to make your life a little bit easier during your seasonal travels! We’ve rounded up some of our top tips to help keep you sane during a hectic time of year.
Pre-Book & Book Direct
Booking a room, booking a car, an afternoon tour… the list goes on! Make sure you have all your reservations made ahead of time and organized. It’s generally better to book directly, rather than using a 3rd party platform to handle your reservations. That way, ANY issues with your reservation can be handled on-site and all your personal information stays in one place. With Coastal Inns, for example, booking directly with our amazing & local team will ensure you get the best possible rate (and it’s hard to beat our Authentic Maritime Hospitality).
SLOW DOWN
We don’t just mean on the road, although that’s pretty good advice, too 🤣
Take the time to enjoy each other’s company and relax. This is such a busy time of year – almost everything will be “GO, GO, GO” at all times, and it can become stressful pretty quickly. Even if all you can manage is a quiet, slow morning before things kick into high gear, it will do wonders for everyone’s level of calm and make your life a little easier.
Disconnect
Piggy-backing off the last point, it’s a lot easier to slow down if you also take some time to disconnect. There’s a time and a place for screens, but if you’ve managed to carve out a bit of time to take things a bit slower and enjoy each other’s company – those efforts are easily eroded if everyone’s glued to their screens. Good conversation, fun board games, cooking a meal together – there’s no shortage of ways to spend time in each other’s company without screens.
Be Winter-Ready
Road-tripping in colder weather means a bit more prep is necessary. Weather can be unpredictable and wild, so even if the forecast looks clear, you’re wise to have your winter tires on. A seasonal tune-up when you get your tires put on will keep your wheels running smoothly in the winter.
Stock up on warm beverages (we LOVE a good hot chocolate), extra snacks, and a pack with blankets & some basic safety items in the event of a roadside emergency, and you will be all set!
Apps to the Rescue
Not to contradict our “Disconnect” suggestion, but as we said, there IS a time and a place for screen use. Streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube can help keep the young ones entertained on long drives. If music is more up your alley, a family playlist that everyone can contribute to can be a lot of fun!
For your navigational efforts, maps can be downloaded for offline use ahead of time if service is spotty wherever you’re headed.
It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday hustle and lose sight of enjoying each moment as it comes. Use these tips to help make things run a bit smoother – a little effort can go a long way towards minimizing the hectic, stressed-out feelings that start to build up as we navigate such a crazy time of year.
Wherever your seasonal adventures take you, we wish you a wonderful, safe, and happy holiday! From all of us at Coastal Inns.
