#1: You didn’t booked in advance
#2: You travel at the wrong time.
#3: You overpack
Luggage with bulky suitcases and overstuffed gift bags is enough to make someone grumpy. And when you’re traveling by plane, bus, or train, checking extra bags can put a dent in your holiday travel budget.
Focus on basic, durable clothes that can be mixed and matched into entirely new looks. Jeans, solid-colored sweaters, few bottoms . If you have access to a washer and dryer at your destination, it’s even better.
If you’re traveling for a gift-giving holiday, an easy way to lighten your luggage is to ship presents to their recipients, either via the online retailer you bought from or by dropping them at the post office before you leave town.
#4: You don’t pack snacks
“There will be plenty to eat when we get there,” sounds logical, but it can be a trap. Showing up at your destination hungry or with a dehydration headache is not how you want to start your holiday vacation. While there might be treats and hors d’oeuvres when you get there, throw a few healthy snacks in your bag to hold you over until then.