Mark Cohen, BCG Securities, on Easier Holiday Travel

No matter how prepared you think you are, holiday travel is always a little bit stressful. It can be unpredictable especially when it comes to what weather to expect each year. You can always be better prepared for holiday travel and find new ways to reduce the inevitable stress. Do your research and get ready far beforehand in order to make holiday travel as easy as possible. Here are some tips to make your holiday travel much easier.

Plan as far ahead as possible

It’s never too early to start planning for holiday travel, especially if you’re flying somewhere or traveling long distances. Get your travel plans straight, such as where you’ll be spending your holidays, whether you’re taking a vacation or visiting family. Avoid waiting until a couple of weeks beforehand, because you could forget something important or find out that you can’t make the necessary reservations.

Research the best times to travel

During holidays, there are times when traffic is much worse than usual. Do some research to learn when the best times are to drive or fly to your destination. You’ll want to avoid the crowds as much as possible; it makes travel safer for you and can save you time as well.

Carefully plan out your packing

As you begin getting ready for holiday travel, plan out what you’ll pack far ahead of time. Instead of rushing at the last minute to get everything together, create a packing list well beforehand to make sure you do not forget anything. Look at the weather for where you’re traveling and pack items you’ll need for the climate.

Make gift giving simple

If you’re planning on exchanging presents during your holiday travel, carefully plan what kind of gifts you’ll be exchanging. To make it easier on yourself, consider shipping gifts to your location ahead of time or giving presents in the form of money or gift cards. Instead of having to pack and lug around a large number of physical presents, the less you have to worry about transporting with you and keeping track of, the easier it’ll be.

Roll with the punches

No matter how well you plan your holiday travel, there’s still a chance that something could go wrong. It’s important to remember to simply roll with the punches no matter what happens as you go through your holiday travel. Being prepared to handle what’s thrown at you during holiday travel and work through it makes it much easier instead of expecting everything to go perfectly.

About the Author

Mark Cohen is a financial professional who has previously worked at BCG Securities and Metlife. Mark has extensive experience working as a financial advisor and enjoys being able to help others successfully manage their personal finances. He feels that working in finance provides a challenging environment where there are constant developments and changes. Mark Cohen has enjoyed great success in his career and achieved much at the various companies he's worked at, including building a talented team of investors, being recognized in the top one percent of financial advisors in the country, and being recognized in the top 20 of advisors throughout the country.