Adapted from an article on cheapflights.com

Anticipating the holidays can be stressful, and traveling for them can be even more so. With a little bit of planning, you can avoid the headaches and panic by taking the necessary steps for a successful journey.

Book your flight yesterday.
Avoid unnecessary angst by booking your flights before it's too late. While some last-minute sales are bound to crop up, there's no guarantee they'll be on the days you need them for, and if they don't work out, you'll be stuck with the day-before blues.

Schedule morning flights.
Booking the first flight of the day means you're less likely to deal with delays and hectic situations at the airport. If you're traveling with kids, it's also easier to avoid the

                                                            afternoon tiredness and get the flight over and done with.

Travel on the big day.
Don't have to be somewhere until dinner time? It's a huge risk, but if you're willing to take it, you could save serious cash. Rates plummet on the holidays themselves, and so do crowds at the airport.

Consider alternate airports.
If you're within driving distance to more than one airport, you might want to check if the smaller or further one has a less expensive route.

Ditch connections.
Try to avoid these at all costs, no matter how long your flight is. Bad weather, logistical delays and lost baggage are just a few reasons that connections can ruin your journey - especially if you're traveling with children.

Make peace with the price.
Accept the price for what it is, and learn to save elsewhere. Bring snacks to avoid the high cost of airport food, and bring one bag to bypass luggage fees. Need presents for the folks you're visiting? Buy gifts online and have them shipped to save on lugging them over, and outsmart the possibility of them getting lost.

Stay healthy.
You'll need to think on your feet when it comes to making last-minute travel decisions - the last thing you want to be is sick. Lack of sleep can also make you more susceptible to getting sick from crowds of travelers at the airport or on planes, so get your shut-eye, carry sanitizer, and consider immunity-boosting supplements, like Airborne or Echinacea a few days before your trip.

Prepare a sanity carry-on.
Layovers, delayed flights and long in-flight annoyances require instant remedies. Play the game of "what would you bring to a deserted island" and carry it on your back. Bring reading material, your lap top, an iPod, and snacks. More importantly, bring a light change of clothing and any prescriptions you might need if you get stranded.

Leave earlier than you think you should.
Really early - early enough to feel silly for doing so. Even if you're waiting at the airport for a long time, at least you'll be through security and can unwind with one of the many items in your sanity carry-on, or explore the shops and restaurants in the airport.

Don't underestimate WiFi.
Use it. Airlines like American, Delta, Southwest, United and Virgin all utilize wireless internet service in varying degrees and prices. For a small price (and the weight of your laptop on your back) you won't be restrained to the book in your bag.