10 Surefire Ways to Survive Hectic Holiday Travel

Follow a few simple steps to make traveling during the holiday season a breeze. Budgeting, making lists and planning early can make a lot of the rigors of being on the road during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's more fun.

Frequent travelers don't need to be told that holiday travel needs to be booked in advance. If you see a good deal within your budget grab it.

Sure, travel prices might be slightly lower later on but that doesn't mean your seats or the best itineraries will still be available.

You could save $20 but also enduring a 12-hour layover. Your room rate may be lower but your view is of a dumpster.

If at all possible, try not to travel at the most popular times. Airports are sure to be packed starting a couple of days before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

Traveling on a tight schedule or bringing small children? Choosing the right airline will be important. For those who want to avoid flight delays, pick an airline with a high average of on-time arrivals.

For those traveling with kids, make sure you purchase an airline or an airfare that allows you to select seats together.

In order to make holiday travel as stress-free as possible, set a realistic budget and plan for unexpected expenditures.

When traveling during any peak season, goods and services are priced at a premium and it would be better to come home with extra cash than maxed out credit cards.

One way to avoid extra expenses is to make sure you bring everything you need and don't leave important items behind. Make a list of all the things you will need and check off each item as it's packed and, if you are packing far in advance, it helps to note where the item is so that you can find it later.

Holidays are hectic and if you want to add to your stress level, leaving at the last minute is a sure way to up your heart rate. If you are travel during peak times, leave early to get to the airport, to security, to your gate, etc., and follow these TSA tips.

Don't get held up at the airport when traveling during the holidays because you packed gifts that aren't travel-friendly.

It's important to leave gifts unwrapped so that TSA officials can see what they are and to make sure that gifts are allowed-in both checked and carry-on bags. That knife set you are bringing for your sister can't travel through security.

Airlines, rail service, hotels and car rental companies are maxed out during the holidays. Add to that the unpredictable nature of winter weather and you can have a recipe for disaster. Make sure you protect you, your family and your travel investment with travel insurance.

Just as important as protecting your investment in travel, having an advocate for you if things go wrong is another way to make holiday travel less hectic.

A good travel advisor can also plan your trip for you, alleviating a lot of the added stress to the experience.

Most importantly, pack a positive attitude. While looking on the bright side isn't going to fix or prevent any problems, it will keep your loved ones and travel companions feeling more positively, too.