Tips for Stress- Free Travel

As you all know, TSA lines are only getting longer by the minute due to security being more of an issue, and also being the busiest time of the year can get hectic! I love traveling but going through TSA is a process that I have never liked. There are usually so many people around these machines. The only thing I want at that time is to get checked, grab my things and go! There is nothing about this process that isn’t stressful! I’m so glad now you can at least do something before and during your travel to make the entire experience less dragging.

GET GLOBAL ENTRY/TSA PRE-CHECK

I cannot stress this more, if you fly frequently I strongly recommend that you do this! Some people may see $100 and back off completely from getting TSA pre-check, they might see it as a luxury.  The simple fact that you automatically get Pre-Check Status for all future domestic flights is absolutely worth your money! Not only are you skipping the long lines at the airport but you don’t have to remove your shoes, take out the laptop or anything else in your carry-on. Believe me, this will make the whole TSA screening process a breeze!

PACK SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE YOUR TRIP, NOT THE NIGHT BEFORE

If you ask my close friends they will tell you that I am a firm believer in doing everything in a timely manner. I don’t procrastinate, so that way I have more time to plan on what to take and make sure I don’t forget anything important.  I usually start planning 3-4 days before the flight. For most people, this would be way too early but if you don’t want to stress this will help you tremendously! Also, if you realize that you need something hemmed or clean, you will still have time to do it!

WEIGH YOUR LUGGAGE BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE

Having an overweight checked bag can be a pain to deal with when you are holding up the line at the Airlines’ counter. I bet there isn’t a single person reading this blog that hasn’t dealt with rearranging or removing items from their luggage due to it being overweight. It’s happened to me a bunch of times and these charges add up! Having an overweight check-in bag can be up to $200 depending on how many pounds its over. That’s a lot of money for a checked bag! That’s a little more than getting a brand new bag that you can keep!
Do me a favor and avoid the stress at the airport and weigh your luggage before getting there. That way if the bag is too heavy you can have time and rearrange your luggage calmly. This will make the check-in process at the airport easier and faster!

USE A SPECIFIC POCKET OR POUCH TO KEEP ALL OF YOUR ID’S AND DOCUMENTS

Since I’m always carrying so many things like my cell phone and most likely a drink on my hand, I always like to have a pouch or pocket to store my important documents.  Usually, I carry a backpack that never leaves my side that way my documents are safe and at reach.  For those of you who easily misplace things like me, I recommend getting a see-through pouch like this one here. It’s ideal to keep all your documents in one place and if you want to switch it out to a different bag you can do it with no problem.

BOOK TRANSPORTATION TO HOTEL BEFORE YOU LEAVE

I get very nervous when it comes to ground transportation, especially in countries like Cuba or Mexico.  If you want to know sometimes when traveling to Cuba click here. I always like to book transportation from the airport to the hotel prior to arriving. I believe is safer when going to a country that you have never been to. Taxis are a good option as well but I wouldn’t recommend them for all destinations. Make sure to do your research and find out the safest option.  I find that concierge can be really helpful with recommendations.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT ON A WEEKDAY VS A WEEKEND

Not only will the flight be much cheaper but it will also be less crowded.  I know many people cannot afford to take a lot of time off from work but if you can book your flights during the week! The airport is less crowded on a weekday than on a Saturday.  Also, if you think that booking a flight early in the morning is not as busy, you thought wrong! The busiest hours are 4 am to 10 am.  Booking a flight after 12 pm is better! Traveling on a holiday is a brilliant idea, while everyone is celebrating with their families you are flying with probably tops 10 people. The flight will be super empty!

CREATE AN ITINERARY AND PRINT OUT HARD COPIES

If I’m going to a new destination, I like to create an itinerary and jot down what I’ll like to do.  In the long run, it helps you plan out your trip better and create time for all the sightseeing and additional destinations.  So why not create an itinerary before traveling? Don’t waste your time figuring things out during vacation! Don’t forget to print out an itinerary and give it to your whole group so everyone is on the same page!

BRING AN EXTERNAL CHARGER

Believe it or not, my cell phone dies so quickly since I’m so dependable on it!  I’m not proud of it by the way but nothing stresses me the most then a low battery on my phone.  You need to have your phone charged because you never know when you will need it, especially when traveling to countries that you have never been to.  It’s a great idea to have one of these with you at all times! You can plug it into your phone and bring it back to life just in case you need to call the police or any family member.

Hope this tips help you out on your next trip!