How Were Your Holiday Travels?

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

See recent posts by Carl Unger

Welcome back! Yes, most of us are back to work this Monday morning, meaning we’ve all survived the holidays—and another round of holiday travel. And whether or not that meant taking to the roads or the skies, chances are you had at least one moment of fist-shaking frustration.

For me, it was a rainy six-hour drive from Boston to New Jersey Wednesday afternoon. Normally the ride takes about four hours. But I certainly wasn’t the only one besieged by weather, as wintry storms snarled airports and roads across the country. Some folks even spent Christmas Eve in Chicago’s [[Chicago_O’Hare_-_ORD | O’Hare]] airport.

But how about you? Were you stuck at the airport? Did you spend a little too much of your holiday staring at the taillights ahead of you? Leave a comment below with your story.

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