We can go through a handful of excuses as to why its too hard and stressful to travel. We are here to give you some tips for stress free travel to help debunk any excuses that you can come up with. Minimizing the stressful side of traveling will only enhance your travel experience and will make you eager for your next adventure. This blog post will serve as a guide for travelers, providing tips to reduce stress and anxiety while maximizing the enjoyment of vacation.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Pre-Trip Planning
First things first, you will need to plan your trip. Leaving your work during busy times is difficult, so when you travel can be an important factor for your relaxation and stress levels. If you have the ability, we recommend choosing a time of the year that your work may be lighter. If you do not have that option, then pick a date far enough in advance that you can plan around your vacation dates in addition to giving appropriate notice to your HR department.
After you pick your dates and destination, you will need to plan out your transportation, accommodations, and activities until your heart is content. Hate planning travel? Send us an email or leave us a comment and we will put you in touch with a great travel agent! Unless you enjoy a “fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants” type of trip, you should be as detailed with your itinerary as possible to be stress free on your vacation.
Make sure your itinerary includes the following:
- Flight information (including your PNR/booking numbers)
- Airport to Hotel transfer or rental car information
- Hotel booking confirmation numbers
- Tour reservation numbers and any pertinent information
Also, make sure you understand your airline’s policies. Each airline has different regulations when it comes to baggage, cancellations, standby options, and even infant policies.
Looking for a few getaway ideas? Check out this comprehensive list of Fun Places to Go on Vacation.
Team Carry On
Repeat after me: I do not need all 5 pairs of heels.
Checking a bag can be a huge source of stress when it comes to traveling. If you are anything like us, the thought of an airline losing your bag can make your anxiety levels soar. So, to eliminate this stress, we are team “carry-on only”. We know some people will disagree but unless you are going on a trip that lasts longer than a week, you should be able to travel with a carry-on rolling suitcase and a backpack.
Souvenir fan? If you know that you will be purchasing a handful of souvenirs that will overflow your carry-ons, then we recommend packing a light folding tote bag that zips up. This will take up very little room in your suitcase and you can easily whip it out when you buy too many souvenirs. This will give you the ability to carry on your tote bag and check your rolling suitcase on your way home. If the worst is to happen and the airline loses your luggage, then you will have a closet full of clothes to go home to. This is a much better scenario than not having your suitcase at your destination.
Pack Smarter
Now lets talk about how to pack for a week in a carry-on.
Packing cubes are perfect for trips where you will be staying put, in the same room, for the entire vacation. When using packing cubes, you can separate each category of clothes out into their designated bags. After arriving to your destination, you can just throw the cube in the drawer at your hotel room and there you go – you’re unpacked.
Now for multi-stop itineraries, we love using Jumbo Hefty slider bags. We utilized these for our 10-night Greek Island Hop and they were perfect. Each stop had its own bag. Whenever you arrive at your destination, you can pull out the appropriate bag and leave everything else in your suitcase. Another benefit is that you can deflate and air seal these bags which allows for you to have a ton of room in your suitcase.
Also check out: The Ultimate 11 Long Haul Flight Essentials to Maximize Your Comfort
Airport and Security Tips
Stress free travel starts when you get to the airport. If you want the least amount of stress when getting through airport security, you should look into getting TSA PreCheck. PreCheck allows you to jump in a shorter and faster security line and proceed through the checks without taking off your shoes or taking out your laptop. It makes your airport security experience so much easier and more pleasant.
TSA PreCheck is around $78 for a multiyear approval. If you plan on traveling internationally, we would recommend that you go ahead and pay $100 to receive TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. Global Entry will help expedite your return to the USA. Many travel credit cards offer a credit if you charge for Global Entry / TSA PreCheck. You will pay as normal and the card will credit the cost back on your monthly bill.
Don’t want to get PreCheck? These tips will help you get through security quickly and will help you not irritate your fellow travelers.
- have your boarding pass and identification in your hand when you approach the security officer
- when packing, make sure you store anything that you may need to get out of your bag at security at the top of your suitcase for easy access
- keep up with your fellow travelers’ traffic
Staying Connected While Abroad
The idea of not being able to contact loved ones when traveling can be a huge cause to stress. In this day and age it is simple to stay connected to your friends and family back home when you are travelling. If you have AT&T, most plans offer a flat rate per international day of around $10. You can use your phone as per usual for this fee and we feel it is worth it. Don’t want to use your phone much at all but still want to be able to call and text your family on occasion? Check out WhatsApp. This free app will allow you to call and text via wifi connection (which most hotels will offer). There are, of course, additional options – these are just a couple of our favorites.
Transportation Tips
Planning your transportation ahead of time will keep you stress free while traveling. Know what kind of transportation you will be using to get from the airport to your hotel. If you don’t want to rent a car, many hotels offer a shuttle, you could take a train, or an uber. Just make sure you arrange ahead of time or have a set plan.
Visiting multiple cities? We love utilizing Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from one city to another. This app assists in which route and transportation type will be the quickest and most cost-effective for your selected destinations.
Accommodation Selection
Your accommodation carries a heavy weight when it comes to accomplishing stress free travel. Make sure you find a hotel or rental that meets your priorities. Here are our main priorities when it comes to selecting a hotel:
- Safety: we make sure our hotel is in a safe part of town and the rooms are clean and secure
- Location: for ease, we chose a hotel that is located close to where we want to spend most of our time at that destination
- Price: we of make sure the hotel room is in our price range
- Amenities: we love a good pool and if the hotel includes breakfast, that is an added plus!
Whatever you choose, make sure your accommodations align with your travel style, priorities, and preferences.
Travel Safety
The key to travel safety is staying aware. You can do this in different ways. Here are a couple:
- For obvious reasons, we advise against any destinations that have dangerous conflict occurring.
- Once you arrive to the destination you select, make sure you don’t venture off into sketchy neighborhoods.
- Keep an eye on your surroundings and keep your head on a swivel.
In addition, high tourist areas are home to pickpockets. There are a few great anti-theft bags now on the market that help keep your items secure while travelling.
Coping with Travel Delays and Hiccups
We believe that it is near impossible to have 100% stress free travel. There is always a chance of something going wrong when you travel. From delayed and cancelled flights to lost luggage to cancelled tours. While these things are unfortunate, you have to remember to control the things that you can and just roll with everything else. For example, flight delays happen all of the time so in order to reduce stress and avoid missed connections, make sure you book with an adequate amount of time in between flights.
As we have mentioned, keep track of all of your booking and confirmation numbers and bring them with you on your trip. Having this backup will help you with any reservation hiccups during your trip. In addition, if you book with a 3rd party, reach out directly to the hotel ahead of time and make sure they received your reservation.
Side note: If you use travel credit cards, look into their trip protection coverage. Many provide coverage for lost luggage and flight issues. And finally, buy travel insurance. Just do it. As someone who has needed it on multiple occasions, it is worth the investment. Having this insurance in your back pocket will provide you with an added feeling of security.
Stress Free Travel Summary
Keeping the items that were discussed in this article in mind will help you truly enjoy your vacation instead of stressing out about it. Like we discussed, planning ahead is a huge part of stress free travel. We are not guaranteeing that you will not experience stress at all (as there always seems to be something), but we hope that this guide will help you avoid that tension headache, allow you to unclench your jaw, and relax as you enjoy your adventure.
Save this for later:
Michelle says
I agree, packing cubes are a great invention. It makes finding your clothes so much easier when traveling. I laughed when I read your tip about leaving 5 pairs of heels at home. I constantly have to remind myself to do the same.
Linda (LD Holland) says
I am not sure I can ever remove all the stress from travel. But I agree that great planning sure helps make things go smoother. I wish I could pack in only carry on. But then we are often gone for long periods with changing weather. And you got a big thumbs up from me for Rome2Rio. One of my favourite travel apps.
MicheleinPlaya says
Great tips!! We have been trying to be #teamcarryononly for our travels but we did have to check a bag coming back from Oaxaca. Too many fantastic souvenirs!
kmf says
These are such great tips to reduce stress and anxiety while maximizing the enjoyment of vacation. I follow a lot of these including (my best) to carryon with a tote bag and then check it in the way back if needed.
Marga says
Some amazing tips! And I’m totally team hang luggage now too! I book a place with a washing machine and no more suitcases are needed! One thing less to stress about hahah
simplyjolayne says
So many great tips. I love your line, “I do not need all 5 pairs of heels.” Truth!
Melanie Newdick says
Some handy reminders – packing cubes are super handy as you say and I love the simplicity of just having a carry on as well. Helpful tips. Thanks
Tracy McHugh says
This is such a helpful guide! Definitely the more you do something, the easier it becomes. I am totally team carry-on and efficiently packing. Took me awhile but I finally got there.
Merritt says
Great post and tips! I have limited Pto but am always wanting more travel, thank you!
Ingrid Poole says
Thanks for these great tips. I’m constantly fighting stress when traveling with young kids, so these tips help.
Davindra Ramnarine says
Great tips. I find that I’m always stressed but as soon as I pass through security I instantly relax. I know that there’s there’s nothing I can do now so might as well relax.
Hari says
I agree that stress can be a major factor for people not wanting to travel. Preplanning is the best way to avoid unnecessary tension. Awesome read!
Lenore says
All great tips that make traveling easier!
Cosette says
Great tips for stress-free travel. Packing cubes are so convenient, I used to lose my underwear and socks in my bag or suitcase and now I have them in one place.