Packing up for the holidays on a family adventure, can be exciting or it can be a headache – depending on how well you plan. Before you put the brakes on your upcoming holiday trip for fear of the hassle of traveling with kids, try out a few of these helpful tips:

Ease the stress of a long trip by getting the kids involved. Kids love to see their name in “lights” so prior to your trip, purchase personalized luggage and accessories to get them excited about their travel adventure. If your little ones are old enough, be sure to purchase wheeled duffle bags, so they can lighten your load and help wheel their pieces through the airport. Also, take the load off of yourself and have your kids help you pack their own luggage. Not only will they be excited to pack in their new personalized luggage but it saves you time as well.

It may be a no-brainer but pack lots of activities before you head on the road. Video games are great for older kids (don’t forget batteries and charger) and portable DVD players, books, coloring pads are perfect for all ages. Better yet, make a trip to the bookstore prior to leaving so your children can pick their own books. Make your outing fun for the entire family and purchase family-friendly books on CD to listen to while on the road. Keep the fun going and play games like spotting cars of a particular color.

Flying by airplane, can provide its own set of challenges, as the security rules change constantly. Be sure to keep all family identification together and book nonstop flights as much as possible. Also, keep your kids “sleepy” time in mind when booking flights so that your little ones don’t have a complete meltdown while on the rental car shuttle or security line. It also saves time to dress kids for a speedy time through security by planning on limited accessories, slip on shoes and no liquid items in their carry-on backpacks.

Don’t fret about your upcoming family trip.

Try a few of these traveling tips and most importantly, have fun!

Shanel Evans, inspired by 5 girlfriends and the desire to relax and reconnect, created Living La Diva Loca, a travel company dedicated to the creation of amazing girlfriend getaway vacations. She’s a working wife, mom with 3, so she knows how to be creative with her time and adventures! Follow her online at Living La Diva Loca (http://www.livingladivaloca.com)