My travel philosophy has evolved over the years from my twenty-something version of “I have to see everything and wear myself and everyone with me out” to an adventurous yet more peaceful experience. I learned to slow it down, breathe, and enjoy the moment. Nowadays, when I return from vacation, I find myself rested, revitalized, and ready for what each day holds. Here are 50 practical and simple stress-free travel tips that I have learned along the way to help you find the same.
Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links throughout this post. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product through that link, then I will receive a small commission for the referral. And that is kinda cool.
Stress-Free Travel Planning Tips.
What many travelers don’t realize is experiencing a stress-free vacation starts during the planning phase. Heading out for vacation thoroughly prepared will eliminate a lot of issues that cause travel stress and anxiety.
So, let’s start with these stress-busting travel planning tips.
1) Get organized. Be intentional about travel planning — here is a great start, a 50-page travel planner that includes all of the following:
- Travel journal prompts.
- Packing lists.
- Bucket list ideas.
- Travel safety tips.
- Fitness advice while on the road.
- How to stay healthy while traveling.
2) Ease your mind that your home is safe while you are gone by preparing for safety before leaving. Here is a comprehensive list of things to do before leaving on vacation.
3) Make plans for your furry friend while you are traveling. Plan for him to stay with a friend or have a friend stay with him.
4) Research your destination.
- Learn about local tourist scams.
- Know the emergency number of the destination where you will be traveling — this website provides a list of emergency numbers and calling codes literally from A to Z.
- Become knowledgeable of places that are known to be unsafe.
- Find out if the water is safe to drink.
- Learn the local laws and cultures so you don’t offend the locals.
- Check the travel advisories for your travel destination. The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs lists travel warnings by levels, from “Exercise Normal Precautions” to “Do Not Travel.” Check here first.
5) Notify your credit card company and your bank that you will be traveling.
6) Make several copies of your passport. Take a picture of your passport to keep on your smartphone. Email a copy to someone back home who can send it to your emergently.
7) Take this extra step — memorize your passport number (this helps on the flight, too, so you won’t be digging around for it when you have to fill out the paperwork). If you lose your passport, it is much easier to obtain a replacement if you have a copy.
8) Book the basics — flights, lodging, transportation, and activities. Print it all and add it to your travel journal.
9) Consider these things when choosing your room in the hotel.
- Ensure the room is away from the elevator, laundry room, pool deck, ice maker, and gym. High rooms are quiet, too.
- The city view is fantastic, but it will come with bright lights and lots of noise.
- Read the reviews. Often, people will comment on room location, good and bad.
- And call the hotel or resort before you book and request a quiet room. Most will oblige.
10) Create a checklist for packing. Better yet, create a packing checklist for every traveling member of the family.
11) Take your time packing; it’s an art. And pack your suitcase one or two days before you travel.
12) Here are a few helpful packing hacks I have perfected (kind of) over the years.
- Pack as light as you can.
- Packing cubes are fantastic for organizing your clothes, shoes, and toiletries.
- You won’t need three pairs of jeans, ever.
- Use the space in your shoes for packing socks or breakables.
- To roll or not to roll? Roll clothes that are easily wrinkled and fold that one pair of jeans. Roll up your underwear, socks, swimsuits, and bras and tuck in last.
- Bring wrinkle release or a handheld steamer like this one to get the wrinkles out.
- Pack your heavy stuff like boots, jeans, and hoodies close to the suitcase’s wheels; it will roll better this way.
- Don’t forget travel-sized laundry products like this.
13) Pack a change of clothes into your carry-on, just in case.
14) Don’t forget your hand sanitizer, wipes, and a mask (at least until the pandemic is over).
15) Once you have packed, weigh your luggage. It isn’t enjoyable having to pay extra cash when your suitcase is too heavy.
16) Now plan your airplane outfit. You want to look stylish but feel comfortable at the same time. Layering is best as sometimes it’s hot and sometimes it’s cold. Plus, add a blanket scarf and use it as a blanket, pillow, wrap, or scarf.
17) Create a “soft itinerary.” Make a list of musts and maybes. Don’t overload your itinerary. No one in your traveling party will like you. And it’s stressful to try to do everything. If you miss something, it’s all good. If the rest of them are too tired to keep going, then go out on your own. But, be careful.
18) Purchase travel insurance. Stuff happens. Purchasing travel insurance will provide peace of mind that you will be taken care of in the event of an unexpected, unfortunate circumstance.
World Nomads, created by travelers for travelers, is one of the best choices for travel insurance, available to people in over 130 countries. Check out the World Nomads Website here.
19) Exchange your currency before you get to your destination. It’s expensive to exchange money at an airport. And if you don’t, you will be stuck searching for an ATM or bank to help you. Get this done before you arrive at your destination.
20) Get to the airport early — this is an essential stress-free travel tip. Get there early, park, check your bags, get through the TSA interrogation, then find your gate and chill out.
21) One more top tip about the airport — take a picture of where you parked your car so that you can easily refer back when you arrive home after your fantastic stress-free vacation.
22) Here are tips from the pros that will help alleviate stress and anxiety at the airport. And if you have a long layover, take full advantage of all of the things you can do to relax.
23) Download essential travel apps and create a travel folder on the home screen of your smartphone.
- Most hotels have an app, and many include contactless check-in.
- Major airlines have apps that you can use to check into your flight ahead of time and skip the line.
- Google translate is super helpful if traveling to a place with a different language.
- Download a weather app to know the weather days before you arrive so you can pack accordingly.
- You will need a navigation app, especially if you are renting a vehicle and driving yourself. Use Google Maps, Waze, or the iPhone navigation app.
- If you are traveling in the mountains, download an altimeter.
- Uber and Lyft both have apps.
- There are many general travel-related apps you can check out, including Travelocity, Trip Advisor, Trip It, Expedia, and Roadtrippers.
Stress-Free Travel Tips — Safety Edition.
24) Don’t flash your cash, literally and metaphorically. Don’t wear dazzling jewels or carry flashy, expensive bags (leave your Louis behind). You will stand out in the crowd and be an easy target for theft. If you look like money, you are fair game in many places.
25) If there is a safe in your hotel room, use it — no need to tempt anyone by leaving out expensive goods.
26) Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Trust your gut if you feel something is awry. Get out if you feel uncomfortable. Don’t ignore your instincts.
- Do your research about unsafe areas, and don’t go there, especially alone or with your children.
- Don’t fixate on your phone while walking up the street, riding a city bus, the subway, or tube.
27) Pack a first aid kit and be prepared for minor issues. Here is what to include in your first aid kit.
- Imodium.
- Ibuprofen (for adults and kids).
- Acetominophen.
- Pepcid, Pepto, anti-emetic (we use ondansetron).
- Hydrocortisone cream.
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment.
- Antihistamine (for example, Benadryl).
- Bandaids of various sizes.
- Aloe or other sunburn soothing lotion.
If you love a checklist, read this and download the DIY first aid kit checklist.
28) Bring sunscreen and use it. Sunburns are painful, stressful, and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Plus, a sunburn will speed up the aging process of your skin. You know, wrinkles?
29) Pack bug spray and use it. Mosquitoes cause so many problems; malaria, West Nile Virus, dengue, chikungunya, zika, and yellow fever. According to the World Health Organization, mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world. So, use your insect repellent.
30) Pack hand sanitizer and wipes and use them all the time.
31) Wear a mask when in large crowds, and you cannot social distance, at least until the pandemic is over.
32) Teach your kids how to swim — one of the best life skills we can provide as parents. And it’s way more fun to be able to swim.
Stress-Free Travel Tips When You Arrive at Your Destination.
33) Split up your cash between you and your traveling companion. If one of you is robbed or loses money, you still have reserve cash. Plus, stash your extra cash in a hotel safe.
34) Take lots of pictures. However, don’t lose a moment because you are too involved in getting the gram’s perfect shot. Get your photos in, put the camera away, sit and take it all in.
35) Find a market close to your lodging and stock your hotel refrigerator with healthy snacks and some treats, of course. Add portable snacks to your backpack in case someone gets hungry between meals.
36) Plan to eat breakfast at the hotel each morning. It saves money, and you will begin the day in a healthy way. Here are a few ideas for a healthy breakfast.
- Greek yogurt with granola and berries.
- Bagel with peanut butter.
- Oatmeal and bananas (if there is a microwave in your room).
- Power bars and power drinks.
- Whole-grain muffins.
- Hard-boiled eggs.
37) Stay active during the day and walk or ride a bike to the sights when you can. Only use public transportation when necessary.
Keep Your Mind and Body at Ease with these Healthy Tips.
38) Begin your vacation well-rested and well-fed. Get a peaceful night’s rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and if time permits, go to the gym or for a run before heading to the airport.
39) Don’t tie one on the night before you travel. Nothing worse than a travel day with a hangover, headache, and foggy brain.
40) During your vacation, stay active during the day and walk or ride a bike to the sights when you can. Only use public transportation when necessary.
41) Stick to your exercise routine. You don’t have to go beast mode; just start your day off by moving your body. Take a walk, go for a jog, hit the gym, or practice yoga.
42) Try the local cuisine; it is part of cultural immersion when traveling. But watch out for too many sweets and carbs. AND, too many strange foods may not agree with you.
43) Hydrate all day. Keep your water bottle with you at all times, and stay hydrated.
44) Sleep Tip: Make your room a home away from home or a relaxing spa experience. Here are a few simple ideas.
- Bring a pillow or at least a pillowcase from home—Spritz lavender scent on the pillows and around the room.
- Set up a diffuser and create a spa-like atmosphere with aromatherapy.
- Bring a picture from home and set it up on your nightstand next to your novel.
- Consider a lavender-scented sleep mask and earplugs.
- Use a white noise app to drown out weird sounds.
- Turn the thermostat down to around 67.
- Close the blackout curtains, use a clothespin to secure them if necessary. And off to sleep, you go.
45) And if you are traveling with kids.
- Keep your bedtime routine as close to the usual as possible.
- Stay busy all day.
- Pack security blankets and stuffed animals.
- And keep on with the nighttime snack routine.
46) Read more sleep tips here, including how to sleep on an airplane and what to do when you can’t sleep.
47) Pack your essential oils. Here are the three most versatile essential oils for travel.
- Ginger ~ Helps control motion sickness from flights, boats, car travel. Travel with ginger in the form of ginger candy, tablets, or Ginger Beer. Plus, Ginger Essential Oil should be added to your motion sickness kit, as well.
- Peppermint Oil ~ Try Peppermint oil in a diffuser to purify the air or a drop in your muscle rub to relieve muscle tension. Blend peppermint oil with your carrier oil and rub it on your stomach for nausea and heartburn. And bugs don’t like the smell of peppermint. Purchase peppermint oil in roll-on form and use it on your temples and sore muscles to relieve headaches and hangovers.
- Lavender Essential Oil ~ Use lavender in a diffuser and inhale for relaxation when queasy, especially helpful if your nausea is related to anxiety or nervousness. Lavender is the most common essential oil used for relaxation and sleep. Spritz your blanket and pillow before you lie down in bed to sleep.
48) And if you want the scoop on how to travel with essential oils, read this — includes a beginner’s guide to traveling with essential oils PDF.
49) One final stress-free travel tip — Be Kind.
If there is one thing that will forever stick with me after going through 2020, it doesn’t take much to be kind. When you smile and act in a thoughtful way to people, they will return your kindness.
So, be nice to the people helping you. Be nice to the flight attendants, the hotel and restaurant employees, and your uber driver. Smile at the people on the streets. They will smile back, and you may turn someone’s day around for the better.
Be nice to your family, and be nice to yourself.
50) Spread kindness. It isn’t hard, and it makes your life and the lives of those around you brighter.
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.”
Henry James
What do you do to maintain a stress-free vacation adventure? Drop me a line below, and I will add your tip to this comprehensive list.
We will soon be on the road again, so stay safe, stress-free, and at peace.
I plan to travel in future, so reading posts like this with many useful travel tips is of great help. Thanks for sharing.
We are going to head out soon to travel some, I will need to keep my list close, too. Be safe.
Such a great list of tips to help traveling more stress free! Definitely will utilize these helpful tips when traveling! 🙂
Thank you. I hope they help, keep me posted.
Nothing to add! This is a great list with everything we all need to know! The only thing that was new for me but I found genius is a pillowcase with a lavender scent. As I am a huge lavender fan, this is something that I will definitely try and maybe even at home 😀
I am, too. And lately, eucalyptus. Try that one, too.