There’s no place like home for the holidays. Social media platforms are lighting up with travel plans as people frantically cross things off their to-do lists.  No matter what official-on-the-calendar occasion you celebrate, travel has likely been part of your holiday season.

To help you feel prepared and happily immersed in travel during this busy time, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite holiday tips, suggestions and recommendations for travel this year.

Your days are likely numbered if you haven’t purchased gifts for the travelers on your list, but #traveltuesday led me to a few great suggestions including these:

RT @marilyn_res: #TravelTuesday easy & cheap Christmas present: 1-yr subscription to @NatGeoTraveler for $10: bit.ly/v3DFuP

— Krista Rossow (@NatGeoKrista) December 13, 2011

The holidays are almost here, what are you buying the travelers on your list? Here are a few ideas: ow.ly/7Yof3 #TravelTuesday

— NETC Travel (@NETC_Travel) December 14, 2011

 

Social Media is being used effectively and with hashtags to appeal to the interests of other travelers in their gift giving selection. I don’t have a subscription to National Geographic Traveler, but you can bet I’m going to forward this blog post to my mother to see about getting that changed ASAP!

Twitter and the #traveltuesday hashtag can help you, the traveler, with more than just a holiday gift suggestion. Whether you’re traveling home to be with family, or taking your family to a sunny destination for a more intimate celebration, it’s important to remember that travels during this time can be a bit more complicated. Regardless of your travel experience, it’s always good to look at holiday traveling through a different lens to ensure you have the most comfortable experience possibly.

The US Department of State offers tips for holiday travel on their website such as ‘familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws.’ If you’re traveling with gifts, chances are  you want to ensure those gifts get to their recipients safely and in tact. Budget Travel has put together an excellent list of tips on flying with gifts.

If you haven’t yet made travel plans, but the travel bug has bit and you’re just itching to go somewhere last minute, there are many opportunities to find a great deal on a trip, or more specifically be tempted to visit a certain location. Anyone traveling to New Orleans or Virgina?

#TravelTuesday: How about celebrating Christmas, #NewOrleans Style? bit.ly/smT9y5

— Deep South Magazine (@deepsouthmag) December 20, 2011

Happy #TravelTuesday all! What are your plans for the #holidays? Anyone traveling to #Virginia?

— Virginia Tourism PR (@vatourismpr) December 20, 2011

Among the many other seat sales, holiday offers and general talk about travel, #traveltuesday brings us many holiday greetings from our favorite travel brands, bloggers and destinations. I quite like the tweet from @JourneyWoman encouraging women specifically to get out and travel:

This tweet is our animated holiday wish urging women of the world to get out there + travel: tinyurl.com/y9w7qnk #TravelTuesday

— Evelyn Hannon (@Journeywoman) December 20, 2011

No matter what your holiday and travel plans, there are ideas circulating on this #traveltuesday to help spark and inspire your gift-giving, your visiting and your adventuring. Which brings me to the obvious question of the day: What are your travel plans? Tell us about it below!

Jenn Seeley tweets, talks and blogs about Travel, Entertainment and Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and check out her past posts here.

Tags: Budget Travel, Christmas, holidays, Journeywoman, National Geographic Traveler, New Orleans, travel, Virginia