Don't get us wrong: We love the holiday season, but the one thing we don't love is the stress of holiday travel. And the one thing that makes that stress nearly unbearable? Traveling with a sick child.

Which is why we are taking a mental note of the ten simple but effective tips for keeping kids healthy during the cheerful season that we saw today on Kids Travel Doc. True, some of them are no brainers (no toddlers near open flames!). Still, keeping in mind that children tend to be more susceptible to foodborne illnesses, may mean that we may be more watchful of little hands grabbing at the dwindling buffet tables.

For more ways to keep your tots healthy, check out our travel health kit. Plus, keep your sanity with these helpful holiday travel tips.

We're gearing up for our annual Thanksgiving trip to the in-laws today. So when we caught a glimpse of Olivia Stern's holiday travel ideas yesterday, we had to take a look.

Some are common sense -- like planning plenty of bathroom and leg-stretching breaks if you'll be driving ⿿ but, Olivia suggests, if you leave enough time, you can even organize fun visits to children's museums or parks along the way. Which has us thinking, we have always wanted to check out that odd little naval ship museum we always see on the way.

Plus, if you're flying today, keep an eye peeled for "family lanes," which may help to temper the nightmare of security lines.

Olivia also says you should at least try to squeeze in some time for yourself: going for a walk on the big day will boost your mood, burn some calories, and banish your guilt for indulging in that second slice of pumpkin pie. And we're all for that second piece of pie!

Check out more of our holiday travel tips!

Erin Renzas | Web Editorial Assistant

Earlier we shared our cost analysis of which shipping company will get your gifts to your holiday destination without breaking the bank. Now that you've decided which shipping company to use, it's time to pack those boxes! Here are 5 tips to ensure everything gets there, damage free.

Use new boxes. Boxes become weakened the more they are used, diminishing their strength and ability to protect your shipments. Using a new box, one made for shipping, will help ensure that the delicate glass candle holder you bought your sister won't show up shattered. Plus, using an old box with loads of labels from shipments past can mean confusion for your delivery provider.

Pack everything tightly. Close your box before taping it shut and give it a little shake. If you hear rattling, you haven't packed it tightly enough. Use 1-inch bubble wrap around each item and give the whole box a lining of packing peanuts. But don't get too excited; overstuffing a package can create pressure inside the box that can damage the items. If your box bulges or if you have trouble taping it shut, it's overstuffed.

Choose gifts wisely. Before you buy that lovely smelling new perfume for your sister-in-law, remember, most shipping companies have a "no-no" list for packages that need some air time for shipping. That can include colognes and perfumes, aerosol sprays, nail polish, and cigarette lighters. Plus, it's important to consider how your gift recipients are getting to your holiday gathering. If said sister-in-law is flying, for example, nix anything too delicate, bulky, or heavy, and opt for a more travel-friendly present.

Prevent the cookies from crumbling. 'Tis the season to share your famed sugar cookies with the ones you love. If you decide to bake a batch and include it with the rest of your gifts, place them in a plastic airtight container and fill up any extra space with squares of bubble cushioning. The extra padding will keep the treats from being crushed

Double label. If you heeded the first tip, you shouldn't need to worry about your outside packaging getting damaged. To be on the safe side, though, put an extra mailing label inside the box. If something happens to your outside label, your selected carrier will still know where to bring your goodies.

Erin Renzas | Web Editorial Assistant

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it's time again ask yourself: How to I get these glorious gifts from here to there? With the all the airport security regulations and most airlines charging $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second, we think that it might be easier to ship all of our gifts instead of lugging them with us on the plane.

But, with so many options -- DHL, UPS, USPS, FedEx -- even deciding which shipping company to use can be a headache-inducing process. Fear not! As our holiday gift to you, we packed up a standard 17" x 12" x 12 3/8" package with 10 lbs. of presents to see which company will get your gifts to grandma's house on the cheap. Plus, be sure to check out our "ship by" dates to ensure everything gets there before Santa does.

USPS
Service: Parcel Post will get your gifts there within 5 days. If you choose to send everything Priority, you'll be looking at a 2-day turnaround, but at double the cost.
Price (for Parcel Post):
New York City to Chicago: $12.66
New York City to Los Angeles: $15.83
Chicago to California: $14.45
Ship By: December 16
Get more holiday shipping information from USPS here. 

DHL
Service: Less expensive than all other carriers, DHL's standard Ground Service will deliver your package in 5-7 days. Their tracking system is relatively sophisticated, so you'll know where your box is at all times, but delivery times vary vastly depending on where you're shipping to.
Price:
New York City to Chicago: $9.30
New York City to Los Angeles: $12.83
Chicago to California: $11.34
Ship By: Not specified
Get more holiday shipping information from DHL here.

FedEx
Service: FedEx's Home Delivery will typically get everything to your destination in two business days, but with holiday back-up, you could be looking at a longer turnaround time. The provider is typically thought to be more expensive than their competitors, but when we checked their rate for our package, it was comparable to the others.
Price:
New York City to Chicago: $11.45
New York City to Los Angeles: $15.01
Chicago to California: $13.35
Ship By: December 17
Get more holiday shipping information from FedEx here.

UPS
Service: Depending on the distance between you and your holiday getaway, UPS Ground delivery will take 1 to 5 business days. UPS can be a bit more expensive than competitors, but is known for its quick shipping times.
Price:
New York City to Chicago: $13.10
New York City to Los Angeles: $17.29
Chicago to California: $15.54
Ship By: December 18
Get more holiday shipping information from UPS here.

We've been on a travel book kick as of late. Here's another great one for all of you who are book worms like us.

Around Greece in 80 Stays is written by a mom with impeccable taste. She lives in Greece, and has traveled all around the country, with her kids, finding the most charming, and reasonable, small hotels. It is a lovely book that can function as guide book for do-able family trips, and as a coffee table inspiration.

By Yolanda Edwards | Cookie Travel & Lifestyle Editor

I love this book--even though it is written more for the Europe based travelling family, there are fantastic ideas, lovely photographs, and it is truly mind-opening. Who would have thought of Oman as a magical family destination?  Sarah Siese, the author, has only included properties that were vetted by families, and none of the hotels or operators have paid to be included in the book.

Heaven on Earth Kids: The World's Best Family Holidays

For more pre-trip reading picks, check out these travel books for kids.

As frequent travelers, we know that most of the time, the best tips on where to go and what to see in any city comes from the locals.

But if you are traveling to say Budapest or Tokyo, you may not have too many local connections. Not to worry! Local bloggers can often provide you with the knowledge of a city dweller, and they're just a click away.

So, how do you find all these amazing international blogs? Luckily, Benji Lanyado over at The Guardian rounded up a list of some of the most helpful bloggers, whether you're traveling to Beijing or Brussels.

Yolanda Edwards | Cookie Travel & Lifestyle Editor

We went to Half Moon in Jamaica for three nights...it seemed like it might be too quick to make the trip, but it was so easy to get there, that it was totally worth it.  With so many nonstop flights into Montego Bay, and Half Moon just an eight-minute drive from the airport, it was so hassle free.  As you can see from these pictures, the weather wasn't that great, but that just meant less time at the pool and the beach, and more time exploring the
property, which had so many things going on. The Friday night beach BBQ is amazing--completely caught in time. There was live music that was actually really good, several amazing contortionists, delicious goat curry (lots of regular things as well, but this seemed special), and we ate on wooden picnic benches in the sand, right next to the sea.

There is a kids club there, with a pool, and a playground, which you can use even when the kids club isn't going on. The spa is really good--I opted for a consultation with the 'spa elder,' who talked to me and figured out what treatment and therapist would be best for me, and it ended up being an amazing fit...i would never have opted to get a body scrub and wrap, and it was so so good. The gym is great, too.

The new thing they have there is a children's farm, which is very sweet, and was a nice rainy day option. Clara was able to feed rabbits, goats, donkeys, and go on a pony ride. One of our other favorite moments was walking on the Half Moon beach, searching for shells, and then having a drink in the bar area, listening to the band.  On our way out, we checked out all the old pictures on the wall, and realized that Jackie and John Kennedy came here on a getaway way back when... so perfect, as the glamour of the 1950s seems very alive and well at Half Moon-the architecture, the decor, the crowd (lots of people who have been coming here for years)...it has managed to feel caught in time, with the right amount of update.

Yolanda Edwards | Cookie Travel & Lifestyle Editor

If you have an Eloise, or a future hotel manager, in the making, like we do, this is a super cool DVD to get.  "The BIG Hotel" goes behind the scenes of a large hotel, and shows how it all works. The kids love it, and so do we!

Check out our favorite DVDs for kids .

Yolanda Edwards | Cookie Travel & Lifestyle Editor

This is why we live in New York City--for days like this. Imagine being able to have your child (and yourself) exposed to the music of Thelonius Monk, as performed and explained by none other than Wynton Marsalis and his band.  This past weekend we learned about syncopation, development, and Monk's mantra: "expect the unexpected." We also heard the piece "Stuffy Turkey," which we have since downloaded and have been listening to every day. After that, we rounded out the afternoon with chicken soup and chocolate bouchons at Bouchon Bakery.

New York City has proclaimed today, November 20, as the official Thelonius Monk Day, kicking off the weekend festivities for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Monk Festival!