The holiday season not only means gifts and togetherness; it also means travel. For out-of-state students and those going on vacation, travel is an important, yet sometimes stressful part of the holidays.

Here are a few tips to making your holiday travels more comfortable and stylish.

Road trips are fun but can be kind of a pain. My advice is if you are going to be stuck in a car for a long period of time, wear whatever makes you comfortable and be prepared to wear that outfit for a while. I don't think anyone is expecting you to drive in high heels or a suit. Also, along with your regular luggage, pack a pillow and a blanket.

Flying, however, is a whole other headache. Normally, I would suggest a put-together outfit when flying, usually a nice pair of pants and a T-shirt or blouse. However, if you prefer to fly in sweats, be my guest.

Depending on where you are flying, keep in mind the climate change going from Kansas to wherever your destination is. If you are going, for instance, to California, your winter coat will be your worst enemy. Also, for the unavoidable situations that occur, like losing your luggage or delayed and canceled flights, my advice would be to pack a simple change of clothes in your carry-on — not a full outfit change, but something to change out of after getting off your plane.

Speaking of carry-ons, the holiday season is an awful time to lose luggage. To avoid the scare of losing your valuables, pack any jewelry or sentimental items in your carry-on because then you are guaranteed to have them at all times.

One aspect passengers forget sometimes is how many carry-ons you are allowed to have on a plane. Make sure to look up how many you can carry onto planes specific to the carrier. If you are allowed to bring two carry-ons, I would suggest packing a few things from your main luggage into your carry-on.

Another flight restriction to keep in mind when packing is how much your luggage weighs. Depending on the carrier, your luggage cannot exceed a certain weight without having to pay extra fees. So, when packing, prioritize what you think you will really need, what you can live without and if you can buy certain items, like toiletries, when you arrive.

A few general guidelines for packing are not to bring more than three pairs of shoes, your entire makeup collection or more than four pairs of jeans or sweats. Also, if you cannot live without it, pack it in your carry-on.

The holidays are for relaxing and spending time with friends and family. Make the holiday travels fun, safe and stylish.

-Jessie Dowell is a sophomore in apparel and textiles. Send comments to edge@spub.ksu.edu