Make Your "Christmas Vacation" as Far From a Chevy Chase Film As Possible

We’ve all seen the pandemonium that results when the Griswold family gets together for a holiday. Here are some tips to keep your Christmas vacation disaster free.

Divide keys to the hotel room between several people so if someone gets separated from the group they can get back in to the room. Also, if someone loses or forgets their key you will be covered.

Tell the kids that Santa only comes at home and don’t bring Christmas gifts with you. Trying to open gifts at a hotel will only create chaos and risk that the children will lose their gifts. If your kids are a bit older, let them pick out their gifts while you are away. Not only will they have the Christmas present they want, but it will be a souvenir they can treasure for years.

Try to preplan as much of your vacation as possible, but do leave time for new places you spot along the way. It’s good to have an idea of things you want to do and see so you don’t go home feeling that you missed out, but stay relaxed and don’t freak out if things don’t go exactly as planned.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times, keep an eye on your bags, and make sure you have some identification with you anytime you leave your hotel. You don’t want to get caught in a sticky situation and not be able to prove that you’re you.

If you rent a car, choose one that is similar to your car at home. You could get into some embarrassing and costly accidents if you’re not comfortable with your vehicle. If you normally drive a Mini Couper, say no when the rental agency offers the Ford Explorer.

If you’re flying, make sure you bring enough items in your carry-on bag to last you for a few days in case your luggage is lost. If your flight has several stops, you may arrive without your luggage, and you don’t want to spend half your trip in dirty clothes or without extra contact lenses.