Travel: Small details lead to smooth holiday travel

If you are traveling for the holidays, you will want the experience to go as smoothly as possible.

The following are tips to minimize stress while traveling during the holiday season.

't leave home without your patience and sense of humor.

prepared to show proper identification when checking in to your hotel. Anyone over 18 needs a government-issued photo identification.

request advance seat assignments on your flight. If you don't get the seat of your choice, chances are you can make an adjustment at the airport when you check in, but realize that when you are traveling at the busiest time of year, you may have to put up with less than ideal seating.

sure to check in at least 30 minutes before your flight time. With overbooked flights, last-minute arrivers may find their seats have been given away.

sure to keep all pertinent documents. Boarding passes, ticket copies and rental agreements come in handy if you have problems with your flights, rental cars or hotel reservations.

sure to pack extra contact lenses, eye glasses, medication, etc. Essential items like these should be packed in extra quantity in case of loss or breakage.

Put your name, address and phone number on the inside of your luggage, as well as on a baggage tag. If the tags are torn off, the airline will still have a contact. It is also a good idea to put your travel agent's card on the inside of your luggage, to give the airline another contact.

lock your luggage. If your luggage is lost, don't leave the airport until you have filed a claim with the airline.

Be sure to remove old claim tickets from your luggage before checking it.

Take a fold-up nylon duffel bag inside your luggage for extra space on the trip home

Reconfirm your flights before traveling to be sure that there has not been a schedule change. Either the airline or your travel agent can check for you. On international flights, you should reconfirm your return flights 72 hours in advance.

Try not to book the last flight through airports that are prone to weather delays. This will give you a backup if you miss your connection.

If your flight is canceled or delayed to the point of missing a connecting flight, go to the airline you are booked on and ask them to find an alternate flight for you. You must work with the airline that issued your ticket, unless you are willing to pay for a new ticket.

Always get a confirmation number for your hotel room. If you are arriving after 6 p.m., your room must be guaranteed with a credit card. It could be rented to someone else if the hotel is booked to capacity.

(Marvin McDaniel, CTC, is president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel/Carlson Travel Network.)