It is now that time when people are getting ready to make their final trips of the year. Many folks have upcoming vacations to see friends and family, traveling either by car or air.

Over the years, traveling during the holidays has earned a reputation for being chaotic and hectic. Stress, unpredictable weather conditions, and delayed or cancelled flights all seem to accompany travel plans in late December.

It's for these reasons that travelers should have the necessary information to make their journeys as smooth and painless as possible. To this end, the following three tips can be quite beneficial.

Don't wait until the last minute

Many people find themselves strapped for time at the end of the year. Between getting presents ready, preparing for the upcoming trip, and otherwise handling important matters, it's easy to push certain things until the last minute.

Getting to the airport or hitting the road shouldn't be pushed.

Waiting until the last minute to get checked in for a flight or start driving to your destination can make you more susceptible to travel plans going awry. Too many people have ended up missing flights or getting snowed in after running late on pre-arranged travel plans.

In this case, it's better to be early than sorry.

Make sure your kids have some entertainment on the journey

If you're traveling with children, seeing to it that they don't get bored can make the trip more pleasant for everyone. Coloring books, magazines, music, and handheld electronic devices are all great tools that help keep kids occupied.

This then allows adults to ensure everything else runs smoothly. After all, traveling with bored children repeatedly asking "are we there yet" often increases stress that could otherwise be avoided.

Plan for the unexpected as much as possible

Sometimes, the holidays throw surprises our way, even with the best of intentions. Having a plan b (in the event that a flight gets delayed, your kid loses their toys mid-route, etc.) is always a great way to make traveling during Christmas time a little less of a headache.

Here's wishing you and yours a very happy holidays.