Millions of Americans hit the road each holiday season to reunite with family members and celebrate with loved ones. Whether they are heading over the river or through the woods, men and women have very different travel styles. A recent survey conducted by global digital-map content provider Tele Atlas NV confirmed the common belief that men tend to rely on their own sense of direction to avoid getting lost on the road while women prefer to stop and ask for directions. These fundamental differences often result in travel tension, which can cause the holiday spirit to take a backseat.

This year, don't let the battle for the driver's seat spoil the fun of a holiday road trip. With a little planning, flexibility and creativity, your holiday road trip can be a positive experience to remember.

Won't You Guide My

Car Tonight?

When you see nothing but brake lights in the distance or if you hit road closures due to bad weather, it may be time to go to plan B. For peacekeeping and peace of mind, trip-planning software such as Microsoft? Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator can steer you around any unplanned obstacles and get you back on track in no time-right from the car-without having to rely on Dad's sense of direction.

Spice Up The Journey

Remember that it's the unplanned stops that transform an ordinary journey into an adventure. If you take the same route to Grandma's house every year, the family can get bored seeing the same old scenery. Instead, why not try taking a more scenic route or making a special pit stop to keep things interesting?

Let Your Trip Go

Down In History

You don't need to wait until you reach your destination for the vacation to start. By hitting the road with a camera, you can create your own memory lane. Take time to stop at parks, roadside attractions and landmarks to capture memories during your journey to enjoy for years to come.

Plan Your Trip...

And Check It Twice!

Trip-planning software can also put your vacation in the fast lane. Points-of-interest databases offer a wealth of information-from all the touristy hot spots to typical amenities along the way. Before leaving home, everything can be planned ahead of time, including what hotel to stay at, what attractions to see and even how often and where you will need to stop for gas. By planning something that caters to everyone's interests, your family can have a wonderful holiday road trip with minimal conflict.