The holiday season is upon us, which for many people means long days of travel amid grumpy people and massive lines. Whether you're flitting across town or hopping a plane across the country to see friends and family, music will always be a great source of comfort and company. Flight delays, traffic and tight quarters are all par for the course, but thanks to the magic of music you could remain calm and content in your own little world. Of course you've got to hit the road with the proper supplies. So here are a few quick tips to help you create a great music playlist for your travels.

First of all, variety is the spice of life. Even your all-time favorite album will get a bit tiresome if you put it on replay for a flight from New York to London. You've got to mix up the styles, the decades and the artists, so each time through you can find something fresh to hold your interest. Always create a new playlist before you head off on your travels, to make sure you're not stuck with the same music you've been listening to over and over all month. And the more variety the better off you'll be.

That being said, setting your playlist on 'random' isn't always the best way to go. There are two different options you could choose instead that will help you pass the time and maintain interest in your collection. First of all, consider playing full albums. Set up a playlist that incorporates a variety of different artists, but always play their albums in full before moving on to the next one. That way you won't burn through all of the singles during the first leg of your
trip and be stuck with the leftovers when you're most hurting for a diversion.

The other option is to create playlists that fit a particular mood. If you're on a road trip, you'll often need music to keep your energy up as the hours of driving weigh you down. You could put together a rock n' roll or dance music playlist to make sure you don't fall asleep behind the wheel. If you're traveling by bus or train and have the chance to stare out at the landscape you might want something that thematically fits the ground you are covering or the destination ahead. You might even want to go with concept albums or comedy albums to pass the time. When flying long distances you'll often multi-task. That means listening to music while also reading, playing a game or doing a crossword puzzle. In those instances, you may just want something that works as great background music, such as instrumentals, classical pieces or originals scores from film.

Finally, don't forget to bolster your playlist with a couple of new purchases. If you mix things up and have enough music that you only have to repeat your collection once at most on your trip you should stay entertained. But if you don't buy music that often you might want to pick up one or two albums you can sprinkle in with the rest of your collection. With digital music purchases you'll only have to spend $20 or $30 to get a bunch of new tunes, and anticipating listening to those new albums all the way through will keep things interesting on your long trip. Hop on a music news site to see if your favorite artists have any new releases, or just take a chance on something that's been well reviewed. Long car rides will leave you wanting to sing out loud to your favorites, but if you're traveling another way and listening through your headphones you'll have the time and attention to put into something new.