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Holiday Ins

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Karen Haymon Long

Published: November 18, 2007

Tampa - Tampa - Tampa - Holiday travel is going to be hectic. That's a given. Airports and highways will be crowded. Nerves will be on edge. Kids will whine.

But you can breeze through it all humming "Joy to the World" with a little pre-emptive planning. Here's some inspiration:

On The Road

Kids grown and it's just you and Sweetie traveling over the river and through the woods to Grandma's condo in Miami? Rent a sporty little convertible — or whatever your dream car may be — to make the journey a fun one.

Leaving behind the family car is also a good idea if you're packing kids, car seats and a pile of presents. Rent an oversized van with space to spread out. Ask for one with a DVD player and a GPS device.

Take along holiday CDs to put the whole family in the mood. Two good ones: "Disney Channel Holiday," sure to be a hit with the kids, and Mannheim Steamroller's new "Christmas Song," the group's first Christmas CD in six years.

When everyone tires of music, put on a comedy CD, or listen to a book on tape. Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory" would be perfect.

Sweeten the ride. Make something from the new cookbook "Christmas Sweets," by Georgeanne Brennan: gingerbread men, cranberry-orange loaf cake, sugared walnuts. Yum.

In The Air

Look for airfare bargains on Web sites such as Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com and Expedia.com. Also try individual airlines, some of which allow you to sign up for sale alerts. People who sign up for Southwest Airlines' Ding! program learn of the airline's special offers on Tuesdays.

To save money and avoid heavier traffic, consider departing from and arriving at smaller airports.

Pack light and make the kids do the same. Nothing is more frustrating than lugging luggage through airports, wheels or no wheels.

Encourage the kids to take along a good book, their iPods or Nintendo DS game systems (an early holiday gift, perhaps?). And save a few weeks worth of Family Fun Pages from the BayLife Insider on Fridays. Each week has a crossword puzzle that kids and adults can work together, along with a kids' Sudoku puzzle. The flight will zoom by.

On A Train

Check out Amtrak's Hot Deals on www.amtrak.com. Kids, especially, might like to travel by rail rather than by plane or car.

If you're heading anywhere close to Washington, D.C., look into taking the Auto Train, which leaves from Sanford, east of Orlando, and goes to Lorton, Va., near the U.S. capital.

Beyond Tradition

Instead of staying with Grandma or cousin Sue, stay in a suites hotel nearby. Then, visit the relatives for holiday dinners and get-togethers. That will give you privacy and downtime, and your relatives will probably appreciate it, too.

Stay in a historical hotel instead of with relatives. Many really do it up for the holidays, with special dinners, decorations, music and activities for kids and adults. The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, N.C. (www.groveparkinn.com), is famous for its holiday decorations and dinners. The nearby Biltmore House (www.biltmore.com) is even better known for its Christmas displays. Accommodations are available on the grounds at The Inn on Biltmore Estate.

Really break out. Go skiing instead of celebrating a traditional Christmas at home or with relatives. Many resorts are family-friendly and offer lessons and ski rentals for kids and adults. Check out Stowe Mountain Resort, Vt. (www.stowe.com), and Keystone Resort in Colorado (www.keystone.snow.com), among many others.

Find good, used and cheap ski clothes at garage sales, Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

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