NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - A record number of Americans -- 63.5 million, according to AAA -- are crowding planes, trains, and cars to share the holidays with loved ones.

In today's top 5 Tips we're going to give you the tools to make your holiday travel less stressful.

Snow is the biggest culprit of travel delays. The good news for travelers is that it doesn't look like we'll be having a White Christmas this year, according to John Gresiak, a meteorologist with Accuweather.

Most of the airlines will be operating just fine. But you may want to keep your eye on some storm systems that will develop as you get deeper into the weekend, he says.

There may be some rainstorms that could delay your holiday travel plans. As usual, err on the side of caution and call your airline before you leave the house.

Now when you go to the airport, you're not going to have to remove those scissors from your bags, but you may have to relent to more pat-downs from screeners and more bag inspections, according to the Transportation Security Association.

The new rules took effect Thursday, but they won't impact how long you'll wait to get through a security checkpoint, according to Ann Davis of the TSA. "These changes make it easier for travelers," she says.

The TSA says scissors and small tools made up 25 percent of confiscated items.

But according to Thom Nulty, the senior vice president of Aloha Airlines, security line wait times are unlikely to be shorter since screeners will just focus their attention on other things, like what kind of shoes you're wearing.

Before you leave for the airport, go to the TSA's Web site to check the average checkpoint wait time. That Web site is http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/.

To get a complete list of what you can and can't take on the plane with you, check out the TSA's Web site at www.tsa.gov, then click on "Travelers and Consumers" and then "Air Travel".

Also, hold off wrapping your holiday gifts in advance. You may risk having airport staff open up your presents.

The airline industry has cut the number of available seats this year. According to a recent analysis, there will be about 4 million fewer seats this year than there were last December. But that doesn't mean you can't have the most ideal seats.

To find out how to pick the seats with the most legroom and those seats closest to the power to plug in your laptop or DVD player, check out www.seatguru.com. This Web site lets you select the plane you're flying and view row-by-row seat descriptions.

The service is free, but keep in mind, the site can't change your seat. To do that, you'll still have to call your airline.

Before you even hit the road you can figure out how to avoid traffic jams. At Traffic.com, you can get details on traffic jams in 29 cities. You'll be able to find out how long of a delay to expect, the average speed of your drive and where traffic is moving the slowest.

Another good Web site to keep handy is the Federal Highway Administration's traffic section at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/. Just click on the map and you are directed to local Web sites that will fill you in on all the construction, delays and road conditions.

According to AAA, at least a quarter of all crashes occur because of driver distraction, like having to deal with children in the back seat. To keep kids occupied, we've come up with a few Web sites that can give you ideas on how to keep Junior out of your hair.

Check out www.momsminivan.com. This Web site has over 100 car travel games and ideas for kids, including tips on how not to get carsick!

Road and Travel also has some practical tips for keeping your kids safe and entertained. Check out www.roadandtravel.com and search the site for "travel with children."

You may also want to check out www.amazingmoms.com. This Web site offers ideas for games the whole family can play while in the car.

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Gerri Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News and the host for Open House. E-mail comments to 5tips@cnn.com.