If you want to visit Houston for the holidays to bask in the city’s attractions, nightlife and delicious dining, come prepared. If you’re a native, you know what the holidays here entail. This is the fourth largest city in the country, and navigating it is bit of a workout unless you’re equipped with the right information on where to go and how to get there with the least amount of hassle. Use this simple guide to make the holidays just a little less stressful this year.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport
2800 N. Terminal Road
Houston, TX, 77032-5569
(281) 230-3100
www.fly2houston.com

The city has three major airports.The George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the busiest and the largest, serving 28 million people annually with more than 18,000 parking spaces in and around the area. Other major airports in the city are the smaller: William P. Hobby Airport and the Ellington Field. Depending on which airport you are coming from, the best advice is to get your travel amenities closest to your docking place.

River Oaks Limo and Transportation
1901 S. Voss Road
Houston, TX 77057
(832) 203-7622

In Houston, having a car to go around the city is a necessity. If you do not want the hassle of driving around and looking for parking all the time, employ the services of a cabbie to hop from one destination to another, or get your own rental car. Hotels can arrange for a cab service for you upon request. If you want to travel in style, you may also try hopping in a luxurious limousine. Of course, prices vary depending on the kind of car and services offered.

Related: Getaway Guru: One Tank Trip to Kemah

MetroRail Station (Fannin South)
9067 Fannin St.
Houston, TX 77054
(713) 635-4000
www.ridemetro.org

Going around Houston without having to drive is not only possible, it can actually be enjoyable. The city offers Metro buses and a Metro Rail for public use. For tourists who want to explore the city’s downtown areas and the museum district, the Metro Rail is the better choice. The Metro Rail system provides information on tourist spots that are lined up along the public transportation’s routes.  You may view schedules and updated fares on its website.

Lynchburg Ferry
1001 S. Lynchburg Road
Baytown, TX 77520
(281) 424-3521
www.historicalcommission.hctx.net/

If you are headed for the beach or the waters, Houston has ferries to transport passengers and their vehicles to their destinations.  The famous Lynchburg Ferry carries passengers and their means of land transportation every day for free from as early as 4:30 a.m. to as late as 8:15 p.m. Galveston also offers the free Galveston Island Ferry, which runs 24 hours a day and has a bigger capacity for carrying vehicles compared to the Lynchburg Ferry.

Galveston Island Ferry
Galveston Ferry Landing
Galveston, TX 77550
(409) 795-2230
www.galveston.com/

Due probably to the distance between major destinations in Houston, local drivers tend to drive fast to get to where they’re going. As normal practice, the right lane is reserved for the slower drivers while cars on the left lane just fly by. Houston people travel mostly in their private vehicles, so the traffic can be a nightmare sometimes. The city gets clogged with traffic during rush hour which is approximately from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. If you’re not going shopping, avoid the areas around the big, popular malls such as the high-end Galleria area. You are guaranteed to get stuck during the holiday rush, so try to find less clogged areas on your way to your destination.

Related: Getaway Guide: One Tank Trip to Galveston

Rainne Mendoza Celespara is a freelance writer living in Houston. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.