The One Strategy Travel Experts Use to Travel Smoothly During the Holidays

Avoid the race of travel chaos by thinking like a travel expert. Video by Kelly.

Every holiday season, airports fill with stressed travelers bracing for delays, long lines, and the possibility that one small disruption could unravel an entire trip. Yet seasoned travel experts move through the same crowded terminals with noticeably less anxiety. They aren’t immune to holiday chaos, and they don’t have secret access to better flights. What they do have is a fundamentally different approach to planning.

The biggest difference is this: travel experts optimize for time and flexibility, not price.

Most travelers approach holiday planning with one primary goal: finding the cheapest possible option. That mindset often leads to tight connections, last flights of the night, basic economy tickets, and non-refundable hotels. These choices can work during slower travel periods, but the holidays are different. During peak travel, the system has very little room for error, and when something goes wrong, it tends to snowball quickly.

Experienced travelers assume disruptions are likely and plan with that reality in mind. Instead of squeezing every dollar, they focus on protecting their schedule and preserving options. This often starts with flight selection. Travel experts are far more likely to book early-morning departures, when aircraft and crews are already in place and delays are less likely to cascade through the day. They prioritize nonstop flights whenever possible, even if a connecting itinerary is cheaper. Fewer segments mean fewer opportunities for something to go wrong.

Flexibility in your travel plans allows you to adjust when things go wrong. Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany. Image by ΘSWΛLD.

Timing also plays a critical role. Experts avoid the last flight of the day, knowing that if it’s canceled, there may be no backup. When it matters, they arrive a day earlier rather than risk missing a holiday gathering or important event. That extra night can feel unnecessary- until it saves the entire trip.

Another key difference is the way experts build in what could be called invisible buffers. They allow more time between connections, avoid stacking important plans immediately after arrival, and schedule ground transportation with breathing room. These cushions don’t show up as line items on an itinerary, but they absorb stress when delays occur. For families traveling with children, this flexibility can mean the difference between a manageable inconvenience and a full-scale meltdown.

Flexibility extends beyond flights. Travel experts tend to avoid the most restrictive fares during peak periods. They skip basic economy tickets that can’t be changed and choose hotels with flexible cancellation policies. While refundable options can cost more upfront, they offer peace of mind when plans shift. During the holidays, flexibility functions like insurance. When weather, mechanical issues, or staffing shortages intervene, flexible travelers can adapt while others are stuck waiting.

Preparation is another quiet advantage. Experienced travelers know airline policies before they need them. They keep screenshots of confirmations and boarding passes, monitor flights earlier in the day, and often have a backup plan in mind, whether that’s an alternate routing or a nearby airport. When disruptions happen, they aren’t scrambling for information- they’re already making decisions.

This approach matters more than ever. Holiday travel volumes continue to rise, while airline and airport systems operate under constant pressure. The margin for error is smaller, and disruptions ripple faster. The good news is that traveling like an expert doesn’t require elite status or insider connections. It simply requires a shift in priorities.

Holiday travel rarely falls apart because people fail to plan. It falls apart because they plan too tightly. By protecting time, choosing flexibility, and leaving room for things to go wrong, travelers dramatically increase their chances of arriving calmly and on schedule.

In the end, the greatest holiday travel luxury isn’t an upgrade or a deal. It’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared for anything the holidays throw your way.

Christianne Klein is an Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning TV Host, journalist, travel and lifestyle expert, and founder of FoodFamilyTravel.com.

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