Parenting Pointers: Holiday Travel Packing Tips

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There’sStill Time to Travel and Pack Smart This Holiday Seasonby Susan Foster, packingexpert and author of Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler
You can minimizeholiday travel stress by using some simple tips to make your holiday airportand flight time enjoyable. Hopefully this sage advice will help you arrive atyour destination more relaxed and ready to enjoy your time away from home.
1. Allow plenty oftime to get to the airport: bad weather, heavy traffic en route, full parkinglots, and crowded airport transportation systems all add to travel stress.
2. Arrive at theairport early! Changing securityprocedures add to the chaos of holiday travel as many infrequent travelers fillplanes. Allow time to have a relaxed meal, shop at interesting airport stores,make phone calls, or check messages.
3. If traveling with acarry-on only, remember the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 3-1-1ruling for liquids/gels/lotions.All carry–on liquids etc must be less than 3 ounces, placed into one 1-quartzip-top baggie (do this at home!), one baggie per passenger. Be sure to removethe 1-quart baggie from your suitcase for separate screening.
If you are bringingfood to your destination for the holiday feast, YOU MAY NOT carry on items ifthey contain more than 3 ounces. If more than 3 ounces, these must be in packedyour checked luggage only: wine, liquor, cranberry sauce, gravy, jam, jelly,creamy dip, soup. You can understand why most of these would be better boughtor made at your destination.
4. Wear clothing thatis screening friendly (think slip-on shoes, tee-shirt under a bulky sweater),remove jewelry and tuck into a zip-top baggie and place into a carry-on bagbefore entering the security line, completely empty pockets into a baggie andtuck into a carry-on, remove coat and place into a bin or pack into a checkedor carry-on bag. In the U.S., travelers must remove shoes and place them in abin for screening. All countries require removal of coats, jackets and heavysweaters for screening.
5. Oversizedelectronics, such as laptop computers, video game consoles, DVD players andvideo cameras must be removed from their cases and placed in a separate bin forscreening. E-readers and small electronics such as the iPad may be screened within a bag.
6. Neatness -- the TSAsays every bag check takes 3 minutes, so pack your bag so they can see thecontents easily and quickly.
7. Don’t wrap gifts!Wrap at your destination, as packages may be unwrapped for security inspection.Better yet, shop in advance and ship, shop at your destination, or buyeasy-to-pack gift cards.
8. Pack survivalsnacks that are not liquid or gel,and that don’t require refrigeration. Crackers, granola bars, trail mix,raisins, fresh fruit (apples, bananas, oranges, grapes) all can successfullypass through airport security screening.
9. Buy a water bottlein the airport after you havecleared security. TSA screeners also allow an empty water bottle to passthrough the security checkpoint to be refilled inside the secure area.
10. If traveling withan infant, be sure to pack extra diapers, baby food and supplies to accommodatepossible delays. Baby formula and breast milk may exceed the 3-ounce, 3-1-1rule limit, as well as other infant/toddler foods.
If you follow theseguidelines, you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and allow the daily troubles toslip away as you head off on your holiday.###

Susan Foster is the author of the fact-filled, well-illustrated book, Smart Packing for Today’sTraveler. Her DVD, Smart Packing – It’s a suitcasenot your closet!, offers visual aid to easily put her tips into action. Her SmartPacking.com website is an importantresource for the travel industry and travelers across the globe. Foster'sregular e-letter keeps travelers informed about how to navigate theever-changing rules and regulations and hassles that now govern domestic andinternational travel.